Down Hall
Encyclopedia
Down Hall is a Victorian
country house and estate near Hatfield Heath
in the English
county of Essex
, close to its border with Hertfordshire
.
house, once owned by poet
Matthew Prior
. Prior was acquainted with landscaper Charles Bridgeman
, who he commissioned to landscape the estate's gardens. After Prior's death in 1721 (just one year after buying the property), the house was passed to his friend Edward Harley, 2nd Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer
, who undertook further rebuilding. Twenty years later, and with the house still unfinished, Harley died.
(who had commissioned its full rebuilding in the late 1860s) – the Selwin and Ibbetson lineage died out.
, the house was used as a sanatorium
for wounded soldiers. The estate was affected by the post-World War I recession, and was subsequently sold at auction
.
(1967–1986).
In 1986, the estate was purchased by the Veladail Group, who have operated the site as a four star
hotel
, conference centre and wedding
venue since. British
television personality Jade Goody
wed her partner Jack Tweed
at Down Hall on 22 February 2009. Down Hall is surrounded by 110 acre (0.4451546 km²) of woodland, parkland and landscaped gardens, some of which is protected by the Essex Wildlife Trust
.
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
country house and estate near Hatfield Heath
Hatfield Heath
Hatfield Heath is a village located in the county of Essex, UK with a population of approximately 1500 people. The village sits close to the border of Hertfordshire and Essex and is within close proximity of the towns of Bishop's Stortford and Chelmsford...
in the English
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...
county of Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
, close to its border with Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
.
History
The first Down Hall was a TudorTudor style architecture
The Tudor architectural style is the final development of medieval architecture during the Tudor period and even beyond, for conservative college patrons...
house, once owned by poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
Matthew Prior
Matthew Prior
Matthew Prior was an English poet and diplomat.Prior was the son of a Nonconformist joiner at Wimborne Minster, East Dorset. His father moved to London, and sent him to Westminster School, under Dr. Busby. On his father's death, he left school, and was cared for by his uncle, a vintner in Channel...
. Prior was acquainted with landscaper Charles Bridgeman
Charles Bridgeman
Charles Bridgeman was an English garden designer in the onset of the naturalistic landscape style. Although he was a key figure in the transition of English garden design from the Anglo-Dutch formality of patterned parterres and avenues to a freer style that incorporated formal, structural and...
, who he commissioned to landscape the estate's gardens. After Prior's death in 1721 (just one year after buying the property), the house was passed to his friend Edward Harley, 2nd Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer
Edward Harley, 2nd Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer
Edward Harley, 2nd Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer , styled Lord Harley between 1711 and 1724, was a British politician, bibliophile, collector and patron of the arts.-Background:...
, who undertook further rebuilding. Twenty years later, and with the house still unfinished, Harley died.
Selwin family
Upon Harley's death in 1741, the house was purchased by William for £4500. The estate remained in the Selwin family until 1902, where – on the death of Henry Selwin-Ibbetson, 1st Baron RookwoodHenry Selwin-Ibbetson, 1st Baron Rookwood
Henry John Selwin-Ibbetson, 1st Baron Rookwood , known as Sir Henry Selwin-Ibbetson, Bt, from 1869 to 1892, was a British Conservative politician...
(who had commissioned its full rebuilding in the late 1860s) – the Selwin and Ibbetson lineage died out.
World War I
During the First World WarWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, the house was used as a sanatorium
Sanatorium
A sanatorium is a medical facility for long-term illness, most typically associated with treatment of tuberculosis before antibiotics...
for wounded soldiers. The estate was affected by the post-World War I recession, and was subsequently sold at auction
Auction
An auction is a process of buying and selling goods or services by offering them up for bid, taking bids, and then selling the item to the highest bidder...
.
Modern history
Following its sale, the house was used as a school (Downham School, 1932–c.1967) and an antiques business and conference centreConvention center
A convention center is a large building that is designed to hold a convention, where individuals and groups gather to promote and share common interests. Convention centers typically offer sufficient floor area to accommodate several thousand attendees...
(1967–1986).
In 1986, the estate was purchased by the Veladail Group, who have operated the site as a four star
Star (classification)
Stars are often used as symbols for classification purposes. They are used by reviewers for ranking things such as movies, TV shows, restaurants, and hotels. For example, one to five stars is commonly employed to categorize hotels.-Restaurant ratings:...
hotel
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
, conference centre and wedding
Wedding
A wedding is the ceremony in which two people are united in marriage or a similar institution. Wedding traditions and customs vary greatly between cultures, ethnic groups, religions, countries, and social classes...
venue since. British
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
television personality Jade Goody
Jade Goody
Jade Cerisa Lorraine Goody was an English celebrity. She came into the public spotlight while appearing on the third series of the Channel 4 reality TV programme Big Brother in 2002, an appearance which led to her own television programmes and the launch of her own products after her eviction from...
wed her partner Jack Tweed
Jack Tweed
Jack Andrew Tweed is Jade Goody's widower and was a contestant in the 2007 series of Celebrity Big Brother.- Big Brother :...
at Down Hall on 22 February 2009. Down Hall is surrounded by 110 acre (0.4451546 km²) of woodland, parkland and landscaped gardens, some of which is protected by the Essex Wildlife Trust
Essex Wildlife Trust
The Essex Wildlife Trust is a wildlife trust covering the county of Essex and part of Greater London , England. It is headquartered at Abbotts Hall Farm, Colchester....
.