Chillington Hall
Encyclopedia
Chillington Hall is a Georgian
country house
near to Brewood
, Staffordshire
, four miles northwest of Wolverhampton
, England
. It is the residence of the Giffard family. The Grade I listed house was designed by Francis Smith in 1724 and John Soane
in 1785. The park and lake were landscaped by Capability Brown
.
In the Domesday Book
, Chillington (Cillintone) is entered under Warwickshire
as forming part of the estates of William FitzCorbucion, and it was the latter's grandson, known as Peter Corbesun of Studley, who granted Chillington to Peter Giffard, his wife's nephew, for a sum of 25 marks and a charger of metal.
The present house is the third on the site. In the 12th Century there was a stone castle upon the site, a small corner of which can be seen in the cellars of the present house, and beside it the original house. This house was replaced in the 16th century by Sir John Giffard (High Sheriff of Staffordshire
on five occasions). Peter Giffard began the third building by demolishing and replacing part of Sir John's Tudor house in 1724. This rebuilding replaced the existing south front of three storeys in red facing brinks with stone dressing.
In about 1725, Peter Giffard planted the long avenue of oak trees which formed the original approach to the house, but he probably incorporated many existing trees. During the 1770s, Lancelot Brown ("Capability" Brown) designed the landscape park and lake to the south of the house for Thomas Giffard the elder.
There are a number of Grade II and Grade II* listed structures on the estate. The Grade II* listed dovecote and stable block are on the Buildings at Risk Register.
Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
country house
English country house
The English country house is a large house or mansion in the English countryside. Such houses were often owned by individuals who also owned a London house. This allowed to them to spend time in the country and in the city—hence, for these people, the term distinguished between town and country...
near to Brewood
Brewood
Brewood refers both to a settlement, which was once a town but is now a village, in South Staffordshire, England, and to the civil parish of which it is the centre. Located around , Brewood village lies near the River Penk, eight miles north of Wolverhampton city centre and eleven miles south of...
, Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
, four miles northwest of Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands, England. For Eurostat purposes Walsall and Wolverhampton is a NUTS 3 region and is one of five boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "West Midlands" NUTS 2 region...
, 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 the residence of the Giffard family. The Grade I listed house was designed by Francis Smith in 1724 and John Soane
John Soane
Sir John Soane, RA was an English architect who specialised in the Neo-Classical style. His architectural works are distinguished by their clean lines, massing of simple form, decisive detailing, careful proportions and skilful use of light sources...
in 1785. The park and lake were landscaped by Capability Brown
Capability Brown
Lancelot Brown , more commonly known as Capability Brown, was an English landscape architect. He is remembered as "the last of the great English eighteenth-century artists to be accorded his due", and "England's greatest gardener". He designed over 170 parks, many of which still endure...
.
In the Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
, Chillington (Cillintone) is entered under Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
as forming part of the estates of William FitzCorbucion, and it was the latter's grandson, known as Peter Corbesun of Studley, who granted Chillington to Peter Giffard, his wife's nephew, for a sum of 25 marks and a charger of metal.
The present house is the third on the site. In the 12th Century there was a stone castle upon the site, a small corner of which can be seen in the cellars of the present house, and beside it the original house. This house was replaced in the 16th century by Sir John Giffard (High Sheriff of Staffordshire
High Sheriff of Staffordshire
This is a list of the High Sheriffs of Staffordshire.The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been transferred...
on five occasions). Peter Giffard began the third building by demolishing and replacing part of Sir John's Tudor house in 1724. This rebuilding replaced the existing south front of three storeys in red facing brinks with stone dressing.
In about 1725, Peter Giffard planted the long avenue of oak trees which formed the original approach to the house, but he probably incorporated many existing trees. During the 1770s, Lancelot Brown ("Capability" Brown) designed the landscape park and lake to the south of the house for Thomas Giffard the elder.
There are a number of Grade II and Grade II* listed structures on the estate. The Grade II* listed dovecote and stable block are on the Buildings at Risk Register.
External links
- Chillington Hall Official Website
- Parks and Gardens UK - Chillington record