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- Jan 6, 2013
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1. The History
The original house Manor was a stone mansion built on a wooded hill. This was then nearly all rebuilt circa 1819. A spring near to the house was said to possess medicinal and healing powers. In 1842, a local monied family, the Welby’s, took over and between 1879 and 1884 Sir William Welby-Gregory rebuilt the house based on the designs of architect Sir Arthur Blomfield in a Tudor style.
Engraving of the original house:
Hall engraving_1 by HughieDW, on Flickr
The house, like so many around this time, was ravaged by fire in 1906. Dozens of wagons, traps and other horse-drawn vehicles were chartered in the nearby market town as spectators rushed to watch the blaze. Firemen climbed ladders and stripped away roof tiles for their hose jets and drew water from fishponds 300 metres away. Fire brigades from surrounding towns also turned out and as a result much of the manor was saved as the fire was contained to the upper floors. However, the flames and water caused an estimated damage of £30,000 to fabric and furniture (around £3.1 million in today’s money). The fire began in the chapel and was blamed on an overheating flue. It was discovered by a housemaid while the manor’s lord and lady were in church. Friends and villagers acted fast and helped to remove valuable paintings and furniture.
Aftermath of the fire:
After the fire by HughieDW, on Flickr
Floor plan for the manor:
2020-02-11_10-19-19 by HughieDW, on Flickr
The blaze only strengthened the family's resolve and they rebuild it and restored it to its former glory. However, like so many stately homes of this the area, the upkeep of the manor became too much and in 1938 it was demolished and replaced by the present house, designed by Peter Foster and Marshal Sissons. In 1965 only the filled in cellar of the hall remained. Today, only a small wing of the 17th century house survives. They were the north-west wing of the house. These lower-slung buildings, including a game room, gun room and a boot room, were possibly retained for potential future use that never materialized and now they lay abandoned on the edge of the former manor’s rural estate.
House after the rebuild:
Manor front by HughieDW, on Flickr
2. The Explore
Visited this place multiple times now, including in the lovely company of Bikin Glynn on one occasion and The Wombat on another. In the past it’s been either a bit rushed or poor light or both. This time the light was good and had more time on my hands. What’s left is quite a small and represents less than a quarter of the manor’s original footprint, but all the same, with its location on the edge of the woods, it’s an enchanting place.
3. The Pictures
The statue that greets you:
img5577 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img5578 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Hello again, old friend:
20200209_162222 by HughieDW, on Flickr
View from the rear:
img5596 by HughieDW, on Flickr
20200209_161314 by HughieDW, on Flickr
20200209_155655 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Close up of the tower:
img5628 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Toilet – note butler bell on left hand side:
img5582 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Not a weathervane exactly:
img5588 by HughieDW, on Flickr
But this one is:
img5589 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img5586 by HughieDW, on Flickr
20200209_155101 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Part of the 1880 date stone either side of the carriage entrance:
20200209_155313 by HughieDW, on Flickr
The roof of the game larder:
img5581 by HughieDW, on Flickr
20200209_155108 by HughieDW, on Flickr
This is to stop carriages bashing the wall:
img5591 by HughieDW, on Flickr
The gun room:
20200209_161101 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Inside the game larder:
20200209_160049 by HughieDW, on Flickr
The Drying and Brush room:
20200209_155756 by HughieDW, on Flickr
And inside:
20200209_160236 by HughieDW, on Flickr
20200209_160736 by HughieDW, on Flickr
20200209_160725 by HughieDW, on Flickr
20200209_160542 by HughieDW, on Flickr
An old marble fireplace:
img5610 by HughieDW, on Flickr
And some old stained glass:
20200209_160356 by HughieDW, on Flickr
CONTINUED:
Smashed-up toilet room. This was whole when I first came here:
20200209_160226 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Old electric lighting:
20200209_160208 by HughieDW, on Flickr
The corridor:
img5626 by HughieDW, on Flickr
20200209_160955 by HughieDW, on Flickr
The open-air knives room:
img5620 by HughieDW, on Flickr
On to the back-terrace building. Here’s an archive shot showing its position relative to the main house:
2020-02-11_12-29-46 by HughieDW, on Flickr
And today. In good nick, relatively speaking:
img5629 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img5634 by HughieDW, on Flickr
20200209_161752 by HughieDW, on Flickr
20200209_161641 by HughieDW, on Flickr
And finally, the disused tennis courts:
img5639 by HughieDW, on Flickr
The original house Manor was a stone mansion built on a wooded hill. This was then nearly all rebuilt circa 1819. A spring near to the house was said to possess medicinal and healing powers. In 1842, a local monied family, the Welby’s, took over and between 1879 and 1884 Sir William Welby-Gregory rebuilt the house based on the designs of architect Sir Arthur Blomfield in a Tudor style.
Engraving of the original house:
Hall engraving_1 by HughieDW, on FlickrThe house, like so many around this time, was ravaged by fire in 1906. Dozens of wagons, traps and other horse-drawn vehicles were chartered in the nearby market town as spectators rushed to watch the blaze. Firemen climbed ladders and stripped away roof tiles for their hose jets and drew water from fishponds 300 metres away. Fire brigades from surrounding towns also turned out and as a result much of the manor was saved as the fire was contained to the upper floors. However, the flames and water caused an estimated damage of £30,000 to fabric and furniture (around £3.1 million in today’s money). The fire began in the chapel and was blamed on an overheating flue. It was discovered by a housemaid while the manor’s lord and lady were in church. Friends and villagers acted fast and helped to remove valuable paintings and furniture.
Aftermath of the fire:
After the fire by HughieDW, on FlickrFloor plan for the manor:
2020-02-11_10-19-19 by HughieDW, on FlickrThe blaze only strengthened the family's resolve and they rebuild it and restored it to its former glory. However, like so many stately homes of this the area, the upkeep of the manor became too much and in 1938 it was demolished and replaced by the present house, designed by Peter Foster and Marshal Sissons. In 1965 only the filled in cellar of the hall remained. Today, only a small wing of the 17th century house survives. They were the north-west wing of the house. These lower-slung buildings, including a game room, gun room and a boot room, were possibly retained for potential future use that never materialized and now they lay abandoned on the edge of the former manor’s rural estate.
House after the rebuild:
Manor front by HughieDW, on Flickr2. The Explore
Visited this place multiple times now, including in the lovely company of Bikin Glynn on one occasion and The Wombat on another. In the past it’s been either a bit rushed or poor light or both. This time the light was good and had more time on my hands. What’s left is quite a small and represents less than a quarter of the manor’s original footprint, but all the same, with its location on the edge of the woods, it’s an enchanting place.
3. The Pictures
The statue that greets you:
img5577 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg5578 by HughieDW, on FlickrHello again, old friend:
20200209_162222 by HughieDW, on FlickrView from the rear:
img5596 by HughieDW, on Flickr20200209_161314 by HughieDW, on Flickr20200209_155655 by HughieDW, on FlickrClose up of the tower:
img5628 by HughieDW, on FlickrToilet – note butler bell on left hand side:
img5582 by HughieDW, on FlickrNot a weathervane exactly:
img5588 by HughieDW, on FlickrBut this one is:
img5589 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg5586 by HughieDW, on Flickr20200209_155101 by HughieDW, on FlickrPart of the 1880 date stone either side of the carriage entrance:
20200209_155313 by HughieDW, on FlickrThe roof of the game larder:
img5581 by HughieDW, on Flickr20200209_155108 by HughieDW, on FlickrThis is to stop carriages bashing the wall:
img5591 by HughieDW, on FlickrThe gun room:
20200209_161101 by HughieDW, on FlickrInside the game larder:
20200209_160049 by HughieDW, on FlickrThe Drying and Brush room:
20200209_155756 by HughieDW, on FlickrAnd inside:
20200209_160236 by HughieDW, on Flickr20200209_160736 by HughieDW, on Flickr20200209_160725 by HughieDW, on Flickr20200209_160542 by HughieDW, on FlickrAn old marble fireplace:
img5610 by HughieDW, on FlickrAnd some old stained glass:
20200209_160356 by HughieDW, on FlickrCONTINUED:
Smashed-up toilet room. This was whole when I first came here:
20200209_160226 by HughieDW, on FlickrOld electric lighting:
20200209_160208 by HughieDW, on FlickrThe corridor:
img5626 by HughieDW, on Flickr20200209_160955 by HughieDW, on FlickrThe open-air knives room:
img5620 by HughieDW, on FlickrOn to the back-terrace building. Here’s an archive shot showing its position relative to the main house:
2020-02-11_12-29-46 by HughieDW, on FlickrAnd today. In good nick, relatively speaking:
img5629 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg5634 by HughieDW, on Flickr20200209_161752 by HughieDW, on Flickr20200209_161641 by HughieDW, on FlickrAnd finally, the disused tennis courts:
img5639 by HughieDW, on Flickr
