Baylis House
Encyclopedia
Baylis House is a Grade I listed building in Slough
, Berkshire
, England
. It is representative of the plain Dutch style that was popular in England after post-Civil war restoration of the English monarchy in 1660.
Little is known of the original building that stood on the site of the current house. In the 16th century it was recorded as the 'manor of Bailis'. It formed part of the estate of Abraham Sybells's at his death in 1501. The house, which was also known as "Whitmarsh" was excepted from a 1689 settlement between Dr. Sancroft, Archbishop of Canterbury
, and Sir Robert Gayer and sold to Dr. Gregory Hascard, who had become Dean of Windsor
in 1684.
Hascard rebuilt the house at the end of the 17th century. The designer is uncertain, but is likely to have been John James of Greenwich, Sir Christopher Wren or Hascard himself. The doctor owned Baylis House from the date of its completion in 1696 to his death in 1708 when Dr Henry Godolphin
took ownership.
John James added a third storey in 1726 for Thomas Rowland, the Clerk of works to Windsor Castle
. James continued extension and alteration work throughout the following decade, especially from 1733 to 1735 when Dr. Henry Godolphin, brother of Sidney Godolphin
(Queen Anne's Lord High Treasurer) took ownership. He is credited with building the east wing stable block. The latter is now Godolphin Court, which has also been designated a Grade I listed building.
The Osborne family acquired the house in 1733, and tenants from this time included the fourth Earl of Chesterfield
, and Alexander Wedderburn
, Baron Loughborough. The Earl of Rosslyn
died in the house in 1805.
From 1830 to 1907, Baylis House became the Saint James Roman Catholic School under William and James Butt. The school had previously operated from Richmond but moved due to size restrictions. The school farmed about 100 acre (0.404686 km²) and ran its own dairy, bakery and brewery. Even though these served most of the school's needs, it went bankrupt in 1907. George Godolphin Osborne
, the tenth Duke of Leeds, sold it to a Mr Woods, who turned it in to the Food Reform Establishment.
The house began to decline, and this did not change when it was operated as a hotel between 1924 and 1936, even though a swimming pool was added. Mr J B Whaley was the tenant at this time.
To prevent further deterioration, the house was bought by Slough Borough Council
in 1939. Planned improvements were postponed with the onset of war in 1939. It became the headquarters of Air Raid Precautions
.
Post war changes included development of the grounds as a sports and recreation centre.
Urwick
Orr and Partners (now the Urwick Group) leased Baylis House from 1958. It became a centre for management training, and was an incubator for the first wave of experts involved in the introduction and development of computers into the business world.
A fire in 1954 forced the removal of the 1726 third storey.
Baylis House is now operating as a business centre, function rooms and hotel.
Slough
Slough is a borough and unitary authority within the ceremonial county of Royal Berkshire, England. The town straddles the A4 Bath Road and the Great Western Main Line, west of central London...
, Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is representative of the plain Dutch style that was popular in England after post-Civil war restoration of the English monarchy in 1660.
Little is known of the original building that stood on the site of the current house. In the 16th century it was recorded as the 'manor of Bailis'. It formed part of the estate of Abraham Sybells's at his death in 1501. The house, which was also known as "Whitmarsh" was excepted from a 1689 settlement between Dr. Sancroft, Archbishop of Canterbury
Archbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group...
, and Sir Robert Gayer and sold to Dr. Gregory Hascard, who had become Dean of Windsor
Dean of Windsor
The Dean of Windsor is the spiritual head of the Canons of St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. The Dean chairs meetings of the Chapter of Canons as primus inter pares.-List of Deans of Windsor:* William Mugge, 1348* Walter Almaly, 1380...
in 1684.
Hascard rebuilt the house at the end of the 17th century. The designer is uncertain, but is likely to have been John James of Greenwich, Sir Christopher Wren or Hascard himself. The doctor owned Baylis House from the date of its completion in 1696 to his death in 1708 when Dr Henry Godolphin
Henry Godolphin
Henry Godolphin was an English Provost of Eton College and Dean of St. Paul's Cathedral, a position in which he clashed with Sir Christopher Wren in the period when the new cathedral had reached the finishing touches.-Life:...
took ownership.
John James added a third storey in 1726 for Thomas Rowland, the Clerk of works to Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is a medieval castle and royal residence in Windsor in the English county of Berkshire, notable for its long association with the British royal family and its architecture. The original castle was built after the Norman invasion by William the Conqueror. Since the time of Henry I it...
. James continued extension and alteration work throughout the following decade, especially from 1733 to 1735 when Dr. Henry Godolphin, brother of Sidney Godolphin
Sidney Godolphin, 1st Earl of Godolphin
Sir Sidney Godolphin, 1st Earl of Godolphin, KG, PC was a leading English politician of the late 17th and early 18th centuries...
(Queen Anne's Lord High Treasurer) took ownership. He is credited with building the east wing stable block. The latter is now Godolphin Court, which has also been designated a Grade I listed building.
The Osborne family acquired the house in 1733, and tenants from this time included the fourth Earl of Chesterfield
Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield
Philip Dormer Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield PC KG was a British statesman and man of letters.A Whig, Lord Stanhope, as he was known until his father's death in 1726, was born in London. After being educated at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, he went on the Grand Tour of the continent...
, and Alexander Wedderburn
Alexander Wedderburn, 1st Earl of Rosslyn
Alexander Wedderburn, 1st Earl of Rosslyn was Lord Chancellor of Great Britain from 1793 to 1801.-Life:He was the eldest son of Peter Wedderburn , and was born in East Lothian....
, Baron Loughborough. The Earl of Rosslyn
Earl of Rosslyn
Earl of Rosslyn is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1801 for Alexander Wedderburn, 1st Baron Loughborough, Lord Chancellor from 1793 to 1801, with special remainder to his nephew Sir James St Clair-Erskine, 6th Baronet...
died in the house in 1805.
From 1830 to 1907, Baylis House became the Saint James Roman Catholic School under William and James Butt. The school had previously operated from Richmond but moved due to size restrictions. The school farmed about 100 acre (0.404686 km²) and ran its own dairy, bakery and brewery. Even though these served most of the school's needs, it went bankrupt in 1907. George Godolphin Osborne
George Osborne, 10th Duke of Leeds
George Godolphin Osborne, 10th Duke of Leeds JP , styled Earl of Danby from birth until 1872 and subsequently Marquess of Carmarthen until 1895, was a British peer and Conservative politician.-Background:...
, the tenth Duke of Leeds, sold it to a Mr Woods, who turned it in to the Food Reform Establishment.
The house began to decline, and this did not change when it was operated as a hotel between 1924 and 1936, even though a swimming pool was added. Mr J B Whaley was the tenant at this time.
To prevent further deterioration, the house was bought by Slough Borough Council
Slough Borough Council
Slough Borough Council is the local authority for the Borough of Slough, in the South East England Region of the United Kingdom.This article deals mainly with the unitary authority which was first elected, on a shadow basis, in 1997. It became the local authority for Slough on 1 April 1998...
in 1939. Planned improvements were postponed with the onset of war in 1939. It became the headquarters of Air Raid Precautions
Air Raid Precautions
Air Raid Precautions was an organisation in the United Kingdom set up as an aid in the prelude to the Second World War dedicated to the protection of civilians from the danger of air-raids. It was created in 1924 as a response to the fears about the growing threat from the development of bomber...
.
Post war changes included development of the grounds as a sports and recreation centre.
Urwick
Lyndall Urwick
Lyndall Fownes Urwick was an influential business management consultant and thinker in the United Kingdom. He is recognized for integrating the ideas of earlier theorists like Henri Fayol into a comprehensive theory of management administration. He wrote an influential book called The Elements...
Orr and Partners (now the Urwick Group) leased Baylis House from 1958. It became a centre for management training, and was an incubator for the first wave of experts involved in the introduction and development of computers into the business world.
A fire in 1954 forced the removal of the 1726 third storey.
Baylis House is now operating as a business centre, function rooms and hotel.