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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 took over and between 1879 and 1883 rebuilt the house based on the designs of architect Sir Arthur Blomfield. 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 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
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 up-keep of the manor became too much and in 1938 it was demolished. House after the rebuild:
Manor front by HughieDW, on Flickr
2. The Explore
Visited twice. First time around on my own. The visit was rushed and the light poor so a revisit was swiftly organized. Second visit with The Wombat (good to finally meet you fella!) on a relaxed and sunny day. A few reports have showed up on this place and describe the buildings as the stables/coach house. However these buildings are in fact the north-west wing of the house that was not demolished (you need to flip the floor plan on the engraving picture above round through 180 degrees). Maybe these lower-slung buildings (which included a game room, gun room and a boot room) were retained for potential future use. That clearly didn’t happen and now they lay abandoned on the edge of the former manor’s rural estate with nature slowly reclaiming them.
3. The Pictures
Apologies for the number of pics but it was over two trips and the place was incredibly photogenic!
img9114 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9115 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9145 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9139 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9131 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9125 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9123bw by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9119 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9118 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9117bw by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9455 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9454 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9449 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9446 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9445 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9441 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9440 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9439 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9434 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9433 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9428 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9423 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9418 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9417 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9404 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9402 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9397 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9395 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9391 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9384 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9383 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9379 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9456 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 took over and between 1879 and 1883 rebuilt the house based on the designs of architect Sir Arthur Blomfield. 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 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 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 up-keep of the manor became too much and in 1938 it was demolished. House after the rebuild:
Manor front by HughieDW, on Flickr2. The Explore
Visited twice. First time around on my own. The visit was rushed and the light poor so a revisit was swiftly organized. Second visit with The Wombat (good to finally meet you fella!) on a relaxed and sunny day. A few reports have showed up on this place and describe the buildings as the stables/coach house. However these buildings are in fact the north-west wing of the house that was not demolished (you need to flip the floor plan on the engraving picture above round through 180 degrees). Maybe these lower-slung buildings (which included a game room, gun room and a boot room) were retained for potential future use. That clearly didn’t happen and now they lay abandoned on the edge of the former manor’s rural estate with nature slowly reclaiming them.
3. The Pictures
Apologies for the number of pics but it was over two trips and the place was incredibly photogenic!
img9114 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg9115 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg9145 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg9139 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg9131 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg9125 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg9123bw by HughieDW, on Flickrimg9119 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg9118 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg9117bw by HughieDW, on Flickrimg9455 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg9454 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg9449 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg9446 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg9445 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg9441 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg9440 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg9439 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg9434 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg9433 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg9428 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg9423 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg9418 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg9417 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg9404 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg9402 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg9397 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg9395 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg9391 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg9384 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg9383 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg9379 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg9456 by HughieDW, on Flickr
