Clevedon Court
Encyclopedia
Clevedon Court is a manor house on Court Hill
in Clevedon
, North Somerset
, England
, dating from the early fourteenth century. It is now owned by the National Trust
. It has been designated by English Heritage
as a Grade I listed building.
After the Conquest of 1066, the manor of Clevedon was granted by the King to Matthew de Mortagne, who in turn granted it to his sub-tenant, Hildebert. It is thought that Sir John was a descendant of either Matthew or Hildebert. Perhaps because of the distance to the parish church, the manor house included a chapel dedicated to St. Peter. The house has undergone considerable change since it was built, almost every century seeing structural alterations, but it still retains many features of a mediaeval manor.
The de Clevedon family line ended in 1376, and the manor eventually passed, by marriage, to the Northamptonshire
family of Wake, who were Lords of the manor
until 1630. John Wake made major additions to the house in the late 16th century, including a new west wing. The manor was sold by Sir John Wake to Sir John Digby
in 1630. Digby's estates were confiscated during the English Civil War
, but were recovered after the Restoration
by his heir. In 1709 the house was bought by Abraham Elton, a merchant from Bristol
.
The Eltons were a prominent Bristol family, and Abraham 1st was Sheriff
of Bristol in 1702, a member of the Society of Merchant Venturers
becoming Master in 1708, Mayor
of Bristol in 1710, and High Sheriff of Gloucestershire
in 1716. He became a Member of Parliament
for the five years preceding his death in 1727. He was created a Baronet
in 1717 (see Elton Baronets
). The family wealth originally came from copper and brass (including mining in the Mendip Hills and other commerce, and property. His descendants, not only at Clevedon, also profited from the slave trade.
Sir Abraham Elton was succeeded by four further Sir Abraham Eltons. Sir Abraham Elton, 2nd Baronet, and his son Sir Abraham Elton, 3rd Baronet, were also Sheriff and Mayor of Bristol in their time, and the second Baronet was also MP for Taunton
1722 - 1727, succeeding to his father's seat of Bristol in 1727 until his own death in 1742, despite being nearly ruined in the South Seas Bubble crisis, following which his father had to pay his debts. The third Baronet died bankrupt, and the estate (which had been entailed to protect it from his creditors) passed in 1761 to his brother, Sir Abraham Isaac Elton, 4th Baronet. He made substantial changes to the house and grounds in the then fashionable Gothic revival style, and was succeeded in 1790 by his son, Sir Abraham Elton, 5th Baronet. He was ordained as a young man, and was a curate in West Bromwich
before inheriting the title. He was a supporter of Hannah More
, and a fervent opponent of Methodism
, at one time inducing the vicar of Blagdon
to sack his curate, causing national scandal. His second wife Mary made further alterations to the house in the early 19th century, and also made many improvements to the town, including a school. One of the town's modern primary schools is named after her.
The line of Abrahams came to an end in 1842 when Sir Charles Abraham Elton
, 6th Baronet, succeeded his father. Sir Charles was a writer, and contributed to several periodicals including The Gentleman's Magazine
. Sir Charles' sister Julia was married to the historian Henry Hallam
, and his nephew Arthur Hallam
is buried in the Elton family vault at St Andrew's church. Arthur Hallam is the subject of Alfred Tennyson's In Memoriam. Tennyson visited Clevedon Court in 1850, the year in which "In Memoriam" was published, and also in which he was created Poet Laureate. William Makepeace Thackeray
was a visitor to the court during Sir Charles's time and it was the inspiration for the house Castlewood which featured in his novel The History of Henry Esmond
although, contrary to common belief, it is improbable that he wrote any of it at Clevedon Court. Samuel Taylor Coleridge
lived in Clevedon briefly during this period and may have visited the Court.
Sir Arthur Elton, 7th Baronet
, inherited the house and title in 1853, and like his father was a writer. He resigned as Member of Parliament
(MP) for Bath
in 1859 and spent the rest of his life improving the town, setting up a lending library and allotments, and building and funding the cottage hospital (still in existence). All Saints' Church, near the Court, was built in 1860 on the orders of Sir Arthur, and he also made additions to the fabric of the Court itself. The West Wing of the house was largely destroyed by a fire in 1882 and rebuilt, with C. E. Davis as the architect. During these building works, the chapel was rediscovered, the East window having been filled and and altar broken off (perhaps during the English Protestant Reformation
), and the room having been known until then as the "Lady's Bower".
Sir Edmund Elton, 8th Baronet
, nephew and son-in-law of Sir Arthur, inherited the estate and title in 1883. He was an enthusiastic voluntary fireman, and inventor of one of the first forked bicycle
brakes, as well as a device to prevent ladies' skirts from becoming entangled in bicycle wheels. He was also a well-known potter, setting up his "Sunflower Pottery" in the Court grounds with the help of a local boy called George Masters. "Elton ware" became popular, especially in America where it was marketed by Tiffany & Co.
Elton and Masters' work typically has a variety of rich colours, bas-relief decoration of flowers in a style similar to Art Nouveau
, and in the later works metallic glazes are often used.
Sir Edmund's son Sir Ambrose succeeded him in 1920. His son Sir Arthur was one of the pioneers of documentary film making in the years prior to, during and after the Second World War, working with John Grierson
. He inherited the title on his father's death in 1951. The house was acquired by the Nation in lieu of death duties, and was given to the National Trust in part-payment of death duties in 1960. The West Wing was immediately demolished, being considered to have no architectural or historical significance, to reduce running costs and to return the house to its supposed mediaeval ground plan. Sir Arthur died in 1973 and was succeeded by Sir Charles. The Elton family is still resident in the house, which is now open to the public.
. The medieval hall with part of the original screens passage arrangement (entrances to kitchen, buttery etc.) survives behind the projecting porch. Alterations and additions to Clevedon Court included a new West wing by John Wake about 1570. The West front was rebuilt in 1761-88 and again in 1862 The Great Hall window between these blocks is now in Tudor style but actually dates from 1912,an earlier pointed arch of 18th century origins replaced the previous Tudor window. The rest of the south front has gabled ranges in Elizabethan style with stone mullioned and transomed windows. The top storey windows in the gables have pediments containing carved heads, and finial
s above. To the rear of the East range is attached a four storey tower.
glass and prints of bridges and railways.
The barn to the east of the stable block , containing a lot of mediaeval stonework is in fact Georgian. The stables themselves date from the 18th century. The crenellated wall and circular tower running from the north-east corner of the court maybe contemporary with the main part of the surviving mediaeval building but their dates and purposes remain obscure. The rear wall of the terrace garden is probably 18th century, while the octagonal summer house and gazebo date from the later 18th century. The lodge at the South entrance was built in 1851.
An early picture of the court shows a building, known as Wake's Tower on Court Hill. It is included in Saxton's map of 1570 but was demolished before 1738. Towers such as this were popular Elizabethan features (of Chatsworth) and were lookouts or summerhouses. A summerhouse was built on the site but this too was in ruins by the early 19th century.
Court Hill
Court Hill is a 10.45 hectare geological Site of Special Scientific Interest near the town of Clevedon, North Somerset, England; notified in 1997....
in Clevedon
Clevedon
Clevedon is a town and civil parish in the unitary authority of North Somerset, which covers part of the ceremonial county of Somerset, England...
, North Somerset
North Somerset
North Somerset is a unitary authority in England. Its area covers part of the ceremonial county of Somerset but it is administered independently of the non-metropolitan county. Its administrative headquarters is in the town hall in Weston-super-Mare....
, 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...
, dating from the early fourteenth century. It is now owned by the National Trust
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
. It has been designated by English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
as a Grade I listed building.
History
Much of the present house was built in the early 14th century by Sir John de Clevedon. There is speculation, that it may lie on the site of a Roman building, but the evidence, based on excavations to the South of the house in 1961/62 is now known to be uncertain. . The house incorporates remnants of a 13th century building which lie at an angle to the rest of the house. It was situated nearly two miles inland from the parish church of St. Andrew, which stands on the coast.After the Conquest of 1066, the manor of Clevedon was granted by the King to Matthew de Mortagne, who in turn granted it to his sub-tenant, Hildebert. It is thought that Sir John was a descendant of either Matthew or Hildebert. Perhaps because of the distance to the parish church, the manor house included a chapel dedicated to St. Peter. The house has undergone considerable change since it was built, almost every century seeing structural alterations, but it still retains many features of a mediaeval manor.
The de Clevedon family line ended in 1376, and the manor eventually passed, by marriage, to the Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...
family of Wake, who were Lords of the manor
Lord of the Manor
The Lordship of a Manor is recognised today in England and Wales as a form of property and one of three elements of a manor that may exist separately or be combined and may be held in moieties...
until 1630. John Wake made major additions to the house in the late 16th century, including a new west wing. The manor was sold by Sir John Wake to Sir John Digby
John Digby, 1st Earl of Bristol
John Digby, 1st Earl of Bristol , was an English diplomat and a moderate royalist during the English Civil War.- Early career :...
in 1630. Digby's estates were confiscated during the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
, but were recovered after the Restoration
English Restoration
The Restoration of the English monarchy began in 1660 when the English, Scottish and Irish monarchies were all restored under Charles II after the Interregnum that followed the Wars of the Three Kingdoms...
by his heir. In 1709 the house was bought by Abraham Elton, a merchant from Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
.
The Eltons were a prominent Bristol family, and Abraham 1st was Sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
of Bristol in 1702, a member of the Society of Merchant Venturers
Society of Merchant Venturers
The Society of Merchant Venturers is a private entrepreneurial and charitable organisation in the English city of Bristol, which dates back to the 13th century...
becoming Master in 1708, Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Bristol in 1710, and High Sheriff of Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
in 1716. He became a Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for the five years preceding his death in 1727. He was created a Baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
in 1717 (see Elton Baronets
Elton Baronets
The Elton Baronetcy, of Bristol, is a title in the Baronetage of Great Britain. It was created on 31 October 1717 for Abraham Elton, Mayor of and Member of Parliament for Bristolfrom 1722 to 1727. The second Baronet was also Mayor of Bristol and represented Taunton and Bristol in the House of...
). The family wealth originally came from copper and brass (including mining in the Mendip Hills and other commerce, and property. His descendants, not only at Clevedon, also profited from the slave trade.
Sir Abraham Elton was succeeded by four further Sir Abraham Eltons. Sir Abraham Elton, 2nd Baronet, and his son Sir Abraham Elton, 3rd Baronet, were also Sheriff and Mayor of Bristol in their time, and the second Baronet was also MP for Taunton
Taunton (UK Parliament constituency)
Taunton was a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and its predecessors from 1295 to 2010, taking its name from the town of Taunton in Somerset...
1722 - 1727, succeeding to his father's seat of Bristol in 1727 until his own death in 1742, despite being nearly ruined in the South Seas Bubble crisis, following which his father had to pay his debts. The third Baronet died bankrupt, and the estate (which had been entailed to protect it from his creditors) passed in 1761 to his brother, Sir Abraham Isaac Elton, 4th Baronet. He made substantial changes to the house and grounds in the then fashionable Gothic revival style, and was succeeded in 1790 by his son, Sir Abraham Elton, 5th Baronet. He was ordained as a young man, and was a curate in West Bromwich
West Bromwich
West Bromwich is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Sandwell, in the West Midlands, England. It is north west of Birmingham lying on the A41 London-to-Birkenhead road. West Bromwich is part of the Black Country...
before inheriting the title. He was a supporter of Hannah More
Hannah More
Hannah More was an English religious writer, and philanthropist. She can be said to have made three reputations in the course of her long life: as a poet and playwright in the circle of Johnson, Reynolds and Garrick, as a writer on moral and religious subjects, and as a practical...
, and a fervent opponent of Methodism
Methodism
Methodism is a movement of Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations, claiming a total of approximately seventy million adherents worldwide. The movement traces its roots to John Wesley's evangelistic revival movement within Anglicanism. His younger brother...
, at one time inducing the vicar of Blagdon
Blagdon
Blagdon is a village and civil parish in the ceremonial county of Somerset, within the unitary authority of North Somerset, in England. It is located in the Mendip Hills, a recognised Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. According to the 2001 census it has a population of 1,172...
to sack his curate, causing national scandal. His second wife Mary made further alterations to the house in the early 19th century, and also made many improvements to the town, including a school. One of the town's modern primary schools is named after her.
The line of Abrahams came to an end in 1842 when Sir Charles Abraham Elton
Charles Abraham Elton
Sir Charles Abraham Elton, 6th Baronet was an English officer in the British Army and an author.-Life:Charles was eldest of three sons of the Rev. Sir Abraham Elton, 5th of the Elton Baronets, by Elizabeth, daughter of Sir John Durbin, alderman of Bristol, and was born at Bristol on 31 October 1778...
, 6th Baronet, succeeded his father. Sir Charles was a writer, and contributed to several periodicals including The Gentleman's Magazine
The Gentleman's Magazine
The Gentleman's Magazine was founded in London, England, by Edward Cave in January 1731. It ran uninterrupted for almost 200 years, until 1922. It was the first to use the term "magazine" for a periodical...
. Sir Charles' sister Julia was married to the historian Henry Hallam
Henry Hallam
Henry Hallam was an English historian.-Life:The only son of John Hallam, canon of Windsor and dean of Bristol, Henry Hallam was educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford, graduating in 1799...
, and his nephew Arthur Hallam
Arthur Hallam
Arthur Henry Hallam was an English poet, best known as the subject of a major work, In Memoriam A.H.H., by his best friend and fellow poet, Alfred Tennyson...
is buried in the Elton family vault at St Andrew's church. Arthur Hallam is the subject of Alfred Tennyson's In Memoriam. Tennyson visited Clevedon Court in 1850, the year in which "In Memoriam" was published, and also in which he was created Poet Laureate. William Makepeace Thackeray
William Makepeace Thackeray
William Makepeace Thackeray was an English novelist of the 19th century. He was famous for his satirical works, particularly Vanity Fair, a panoramic portrait of English society.-Biography:...
was a visitor to the court during Sir Charles's time and it was the inspiration for the house Castlewood which featured in his novel The History of Henry Esmond
The History of Henry Esmond
The History of Henry Esmond is a historical novel by William Makepeace Thackeray, originally published in 1852. The book tells the story of the early life of Henry Esmond, a colonel in the service of Queen Anne of England...
although, contrary to common belief, it is improbable that he wrote any of it at Clevedon Court. Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Samuel Taylor Coleridge was an English poet, Romantic, literary critic and philosopher who, with his friend William Wordsworth, was a founder of the Romantic Movement in England and a member of the Lake Poets. He is probably best known for his poems The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and Kubla...
lived in Clevedon briefly during this period and may have visited the Court.
Sir Arthur Elton, 7th Baronet
Sir Arthur Hallam Elton, 7th Baronet was a writer and Liberal party politician in the United Kingdom.He was appointed High Sheriff of Somerset for 1857...
, inherited the house and title in 1853, and like his father was a writer. He resigned as Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for Bath
Bath (UK Parliament constituency)
Bath is a constituency in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, previously of the House of Commons of England. It is an ancient constituency which has been constantly represented in Parliament since boroughs were first summoned to send members in the 13th century...
in 1859 and spent the rest of his life improving the town, setting up a lending library and allotments, and building and funding the cottage hospital (still in existence). All Saints' Church, near the Court, was built in 1860 on the orders of Sir Arthur, and he also made additions to the fabric of the Court itself. The West Wing of the house was largely destroyed by a fire in 1882 and rebuilt, with C. E. Davis as the architect. During these building works, the chapel was rediscovered, the East window having been filled and and altar broken off (perhaps during the English Protestant Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
), and the room having been known until then as the "Lady's Bower".
Sir Edmund Elton, 8th Baronet
Sir Edmund Elton, 8th Baronet
Sir Edmund Harry Elton, 8th Baronet was an English inventor and studio potter noted for his production of Elton Ware at the Clevedon Elton Sunflower Pottery....
, nephew and son-in-law of Sir Arthur, inherited the estate and title in 1883. He was an enthusiastic voluntary fireman, and inventor of one of the first forked bicycle
Bicycle
A bicycle, also known as a bike, pushbike or cycle, is a human-powered, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a cyclist, or bicyclist....
brakes, as well as a device to prevent ladies' skirts from becoming entangled in bicycle wheels. He was also a well-known potter, setting up his "Sunflower Pottery" in the Court grounds with the help of a local boy called George Masters. "Elton ware" became popular, especially in America where it was marketed by Tiffany & Co.
Tiffany & Co.
Tiffany & Co. is an American jewelry and silverware company. As part of its branding, the company is strongly associated with its Tiffany Blue , which is a registered trademark.- History :...
Elton and Masters' work typically has a variety of rich colours, bas-relief decoration of flowers in a style similar to Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau is an international philosophy and style of art, architecture and applied art—especially the decorative arts—that were most popular during 1890–1910. The name "Art Nouveau" is French for "new art"...
, and in the later works metallic glazes are often used.
John Grierson
John Grierson was a pioneering Scottish documentary maker, often considered the father of British and Canadian documentary film. According to popular myth, in 1926, Grierson coined the term "documentary" to describe a non-fiction film.-Early life:Grierson was born in Deanston, near Doune, Scotland...
. He inherited the title on his father's death in 1951. The house was acquired by the Nation in lieu of death duties, and was given to the National Trust in part-payment of death duties in 1960. The West Wing was immediately demolished, being considered to have no architectural or historical significance, to reduce running costs and to return the house to its supposed mediaeval ground plan. Sir Arthur died in 1973 and was succeeded by Sir Charles. The Elton family is still resident in the house, which is now open to the public.
Architecture
The centre of the present South front belongs to the original house. It has a two-storey buttressed porch with plain parapet. The pointed moulded archway has a portcullisPortcullis
A portcullis is a latticed grille made of wood, metal, fibreglass or a combination of the three. Portcullises fortified the entrances to many medieval castles, acting as a last line of defence during time of attack or siege...
. The medieval hall with part of the original screens passage arrangement (entrances to kitchen, buttery etc.) survives behind the projecting porch. Alterations and additions to Clevedon Court included a new West wing by John Wake about 1570. The West front was rebuilt in 1761-88 and again in 1862 The Great Hall window between these blocks is now in Tudor style but actually dates from 1912,an earlier pointed arch of 18th century origins replaced the previous Tudor window. The rest of the south front has gabled ranges in Elizabethan style with stone mullioned and transomed windows. The top storey windows in the gables have pediments containing carved heads, and finial
Finial
The finial is an architectural device, typically carved in stone and employed decoratively to emphasize the apex of a gable or any of various distinctive ornaments at the top, end, or corner of a building or structure. Smaller finials can be used as a decorative ornament on the ends of curtain rods...
s above. To the rear of the East range is attached a four storey tower.
Interior
The house contains many family portraits and other pictures as well as collections of Eltonware and NailseaNailsea
Nailsea is a town in the unitary authority of North Somerset within the ceremonial county of Somerset, England, approximately to the southwest of Bristol and about to the northeast of the seaside resort of Weston-super-Mare. The nearest village is Backwell, which lies south of Nailsea on the...
glass and prints of bridges and railways.
Grounds
Surrounding the house there are 18th century terraced gardens and parkland with various buildings.The barn to the east of the stable block , containing a lot of mediaeval stonework is in fact Georgian. The stables themselves date from the 18th century. The crenellated wall and circular tower running from the north-east corner of the court maybe contemporary with the main part of the surviving mediaeval building but their dates and purposes remain obscure. The rear wall of the terrace garden is probably 18th century, while the octagonal summer house and gazebo date from the later 18th century. The lodge at the South entrance was built in 1851.
An early picture of the court shows a building, known as Wake's Tower on Court Hill. It is included in Saxton's map of 1570 but was demolished before 1738. Towers such as this were popular Elizabethan features (of Chatsworth) and were lookouts or summerhouses. A summerhouse was built on the site but this too was in ruins by the early 19th century.