Hodsock Priory
Encyclopedia
Hodsock Priory is an English country house
in Nottinghamshire
, 4 miles (6.4 km) north of Worksop
, England
and 1 miles (1.6 km) south of Blyth
. Despite its name, it is not and never has been a priory. Hodsock is renowned for its snowdrop
s in early spring.
and evidence of occupation from the Bronze Age, the Romans
and Saxons
is still found in the gardens. Hodsock was mentioned in the Domesday Book
: In ODESACH. hb.Vlsy .ii . car tre ad gld - 'In Hodsock Wulfsi had 2 carucate
s of land taxable'. (A carucate was 120 acre (0.4856232 km²) of land.)
The Cressey family, who owned Hodsock from the mid-12th century for more than 200 years, were powerful enough to entertain kings of England at their home - Henry II
, John
and Edward I
. In the early 13th century they founded a leper
hospital in nearby Blyth, part of which can still be seen.
The Clifton family took over the estate at the beginning of the 15th century and owned it through 14 generations to 1765. However, it was never their main home, even though they entertained Henry VIII
there in 1541, and they spent little on the upkeep. The family fought with the Royalists
in the English Civil War
in the 1640s and was heavily fined. Following this, the house became little more than a farmhouse.
In 1765, Hodsock was sold by Sir Gervase Clifton, 6th Baronet
for the only time in its history. It was bought by the Mellish family, owners of the neighbouring estate at Blyth, who combined the two estates to give a total landholding of 20000 acres (80.9 km²). William Mellish (d.1971) and his son, Charles
, were leading Nottinghamshire
figures. Charles was a keen historian but died in 1796 before completing his history of the County. His eldest son, Joseph, had been disinherited due to his extravagance and Hodsock passed to another son, Colonel Henry Francis Mellish, a lover of racing whose horses won the St Ledger
in 1805 and 1805. Because of gambling debts, Henry lost the Blyth estate.
During the 19th century, the house was twice rebuilt and was renamed Hodsock Priory. The first rebuilding was by Anne Chambers, sister of Henry, who inherited Hodscok after he had lost his money. She appointed architect Ambrose Poynter to design a south wing in the Gothic Revival
style.
On the death of Anne Chambers, Hodsock was inherited by William Leigh Mellish. In 1873, his widow employed architect George Devey
to alter and enlarge the house, at a cost of £10,044 (£ as of ) . Dewey's speciality was designing country houses in such a way that they appeared to have existed for centuries.
The gardens at Hodsock were developed in the first half of the 20th century under the guidance of head gardener, Arthur Ford. Ford regularly wrote articles for gardening magazines, and was reputedly head-hunted by Kew Gardens
.
During the Second World War
, the flower gardens were turned over to vegetables grown by the Women's Land Army
, who were accommodated in the house.
After 1945, the house remained the property of the Mellish family, though land, furniture, books and paintings were sold off. In 1966, the estate passed to Sir Andrew Buchanan, 5th Baronet, who moved to the property with his wife and family. In 1991, he was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire
.
The papers of the Mellish family and the Clifton family are held by Manuscripts and Special Collections
at the University of Nottingham
.
The House is now owned by George and Katherine Buchanan and their 3 children.
The venue holds weddings at the weekend (View a list of the caterers @ www.hodsockpriory.com
A 20 million gallon irrigation reservoir, constructed in 1997, covers 7.5 acres (30,351.5 m²). Carefully designed to blend with the landscape, the reservoir attracts wild waterfowl, including oyster catchers, great crested grebe
s and shelduck
s. Elsewhere on the estate, bird life includes little owl
s, kingfisher
s, kestrel
s, green woodpecker
s hobbies
, robin
s, wren
s and long-tailed tit
s. Hedgehog
s, fox
es, mole
s, voles, shrew
s, water voles, rabbit
s and hares are common.
The house itself is not open to the public, but the gardens and woods are open to visitors every February during the snowdrop
season.
Hodsock Priory is an approved location for the holding of weddings.
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...
in Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire is a county in the East Midlands of England, bordering South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west...
, 4 miles (6.4 km) north of Worksop
Worksop
Worksop is the largest town in the Bassetlaw district of Nottinghamshire, England on the River Ryton at the northern edge of Sherwood Forest. It is about east-south-east of the City of Sheffield and its population is estimated to be 39,800...
, 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...
and 1 miles (1.6 km) south of Blyth
Blyth, Nottinghamshire
Blyth is a village in the Bassetlaw district of the county of Nottinghamshire, in the East Midlands, north west of East Retford, on the River Ryton.-Geography:...
. Despite its name, it is not and never has been a priory. Hodsock is renowned for its snowdrop
Snowdrop
Galanthus is a small genus of about 20 species of bulbous herbaceous plants in the Amaryllis family, subfamily Amaryllidoideae...
s in early spring.
History
Hodsock has been occupied since at least the Bronze AgeBronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
and evidence of occupation from the Bronze Age, the Romans
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
and Saxons
Saxons
The Saxons were a confederation of Germanic tribes originating on the North German plain. The Saxons earliest known area of settlement is Northern Albingia, an area approximately that of modern Holstein...
is still found in the gardens. Hodsock was mentioned 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...
: In ODESACH. hb.Vlsy .ii . car tre ad gld - 'In Hodsock Wulfsi had 2 carucate
Carucate
The carucate or ploughland was a unit of assessment for tax used in most Danelaw counties of England, and is found for example in Domesday Book. The carucate was based on the area a plough team of eight oxen could till in a single annual season...
s of land taxable'. (A carucate was 120 acre (0.4856232 km²) of land.)
The Cressey family, who owned Hodsock from the mid-12th century for more than 200 years, were powerful enough to entertain kings of England at their home - Henry II
Henry II of England
Henry II ruled as King of England , Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Count of Nantes, Lord of Ireland and, at various times, controlled parts of Wales, Scotland and western France. Henry, the great-grandson of William the Conqueror, was the...
, John
John of England
John , also known as John Lackland , was King of England from 6 April 1199 until his death...
and Edward I
Edward I of England
Edward I , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons...
. In the early 13th century they founded a leper
Leprosy
Leprosy or Hansen's disease is a chronic disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis. Named after physician Gerhard Armauer Hansen, leprosy is primarily a granulomatous disease of the peripheral nerves and mucosa of the upper respiratory tract; skin lesions...
hospital in nearby Blyth, part of which can still be seen.
The Clifton family took over the estate at the beginning of the 15th century and owned it through 14 generations to 1765. However, it was never their main home, even though they entertained Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
there in 1541, and they spent little on the upkeep. The family fought with the Royalists
Cavalier
Cavalier was the name used by Parliamentarians for a Royalist supporter of King Charles I and son Charles II during the English Civil War, the Interregnum, and the Restoration...
in the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
in the 1640s and was heavily fined. Following this, the house became little more than a farmhouse.
In 1765, Hodsock was sold by Sir Gervase Clifton, 6th Baronet
Sir Gervase Clifton, 6th Baronet
Sir Gervase Clifton was 6th Baronet Clifton of Clifton, Nottinghamshire. and High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire from 1767 to 1768.-Family:Gervase was the only son of Sir Robert Clifton, 5th Baronet, and his second wife Judith...
for the only time in its history. It was bought by the Mellish family, owners of the neighbouring estate at Blyth, who combined the two estates to give a total landholding of 20000 acres (80.9 km²). William Mellish (d.1971) and his son, Charles
Charles Mellish
Charles Mellish was a British MPHe was born in London the only surviving son of William Mellish, MP, of Blyth, Nottinghamshire and his wife Catherine da Costa Villa Real. He entered Lincolns Inn in 1761 and was called to the Bar in 1766. He was the Recorder of Newarke, Nottinghamshire from 1770 to...
, were leading Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire is a county in the East Midlands of England, bordering South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west...
figures. Charles was a keen historian but died in 1796 before completing his history of the County. His eldest son, Joseph, had been disinherited due to his extravagance and Hodsock passed to another son, Colonel Henry Francis Mellish, a lover of racing whose horses won the St Ledger
St. Leger Stakes
The St. Leger Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 1 mile, 6 furlongs and 132 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.Established in 1776, the St. Leger...
in 1805 and 1805. Because of gambling debts, Henry lost the Blyth estate.
During the 19th century, the house was twice rebuilt and was renamed Hodsock Priory. The first rebuilding was by Anne Chambers, sister of Henry, who inherited Hodscok after he had lost his money. She appointed architect Ambrose Poynter to design a south wing in the Gothic Revival
Gothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
style.
On the death of Anne Chambers, Hodsock was inherited by William Leigh Mellish. In 1873, his widow employed architect George Devey
George Devey
George Devey was a British architect, born in London, the second son of Frederick and Ann Devey. Devey was educated in London, after leaving school he initially studied art, with an ambition to become a professional artist...
to alter and enlarge the house, at a cost of £10,044 (£ as of ) . Dewey's speciality was designing country houses in such a way that they appeared to have existed for centuries.
The gardens at Hodsock were developed in the first half of the 20th century under the guidance of head gardener, Arthur Ford. Ford regularly wrote articles for gardening magazines, and was reputedly head-hunted by Kew Gardens
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, usually referred to as Kew Gardens, is 121 hectares of gardens and botanical glasshouses between Richmond and Kew in southwest London, England. "The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew" and the brand name "Kew" are also used as umbrella terms for the institution that runs...
.
During the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the flower gardens were turned over to vegetables grown by the Women's Land Army
Women's Land Army
The Women's Land Army was a British civilian organisation created during the First and Second World Wars to work in agriculture replacing men called up to the military. Women who worked for the WLA were commonly known as Land Girls...
, who were accommodated in the house.
After 1945, the house remained the property of the Mellish family, though land, furniture, books and paintings were sold off. In 1966, the estate passed to Sir Andrew Buchanan, 5th Baronet, who moved to the property with his wife and family. In 1991, he was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire
Lord Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire
This is a list of people who have served as Lord Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire. Since 1694, all Lords Lieutenant have also been Custos Rotulorum of Nottinghamshire.*Henry Manners, 2nd Earl of Rutland 1552–1563?*Edward Manners, 3rd Earl of Rutland 1574–1587?...
.
The papers of the Mellish family and the Clifton family are held by Manuscripts and Special Collections
Manuscripts and Special Collections, The University of Nottingham
Manuscripts and Special Collections is part of Information Services at the University of Nottingham. It is based at King's Meadow Campus in Nottingham in England...
at the University of Nottingham
University of Nottingham
The University of Nottingham is a public research university based in Nottingham, United Kingdom, with further campuses in Ningbo, China and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia...
.
The House is now owned by George and Katherine Buchanan and their 3 children.
The venue holds weddings at the weekend (View a list of the caterers @ www.hodsockpriory.com
The estate
Hodsock Priory and gardens is at the centre of the 800 acres (3.2 km²) Hodsock Estate, owned by the Buchanan family since 1765. The farm itself is 700 acres (2.8 km²) and grows carrots, wheat, barley and sugar beet. There is 100 acre (0.404686 km²) of managed woodland.A 20 million gallon irrigation reservoir, constructed in 1997, covers 7.5 acres (30,351.5 m²). Carefully designed to blend with the landscape, the reservoir attracts wild waterfowl, including oyster catchers, great crested grebe
Great Crested Grebe
The Great Crested Grebe is a member of the grebe family of water birds.- Description :The Great Crested Grebe is long with a wingspan. It is an excellent swimmer and diver, and pursues its fish prey underwater. The adults are unmistakable in summer with head and neck decorations...
s and shelduck
Shelduck
The shelducks, genus Tadorna, are a group of large birds in the Tadorninae subfamily of the Anatidae, the biological family that includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl such as the geese and swans....
s. Elsewhere on the estate, bird life includes little owl
Little Owl
The Little Owl is a bird which is resident in much of the temperate and warmer parts of Europe, Asia east to Korea, and north Africa. It is not native to Great Britain, but was first introduced in 1842, and is now naturalised there...
s, kingfisher
Kingfisher
Kingfishers are a group of small to medium sized brightly coloured birds in the order Coraciiformes. They have a cosmopolitan distribution, with most species being found in the Old World and Australia...
s, kestrel
Kestrel
The name kestrel, is given to several different members of the falcon genus, Falco. Kestrels are most easily distinguished by their typical hunting behaviour which is to hover at a height of around over open country and swoop down on prey, usually small mammals, lizards or large insects...
s, green woodpecker
Green Woodpecker
The European Green Woodpecker is a member of the woodpecker family Picidae. There are four subspecies and it occurs in most parts of Europe and in western Asia...
s hobbies
Hobby
A hobby is a regular activity or interest that is undertaken for pleasure, typically done during one's leisure time.- Etymology :A hobby horse is a wooden or wickerwork toy made to be ridden just like a real horse...
, robin
European Robin
The European Robin , most commonly known in Anglophone Europe simply as the Robin, is a small insectivorous passerine bird that was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family , but is now considered to be an Old World flycatcher...
s, wren
Wren
The wrens are passerine birds in the mainly New World family Troglodytidae. There are approximately 80 species of true wrens in approximately 20 genera....
s and long-tailed tit
Long-tailed Tit
The Long-tailed Tit or Long-tailed Bushtit is a common bird found throughout Europe and Asia. There are several extensive accounts of this species, most notably Cramp and Perrins, 1993; Gaston, 1973; and Harrap and Quinn, 1996...
s. Hedgehog
Hedgehog
A hedgehog is any of the spiny mammals of the subfamily Erinaceinae and the order Erinaceomorpha. There are 17 species of hedgehog in five genera, found through parts of Europe, Asia, Africa, and New Zealand . There are no hedgehogs native to Australia, and no living species native to the Americas...
s, fox
Fox
Fox is a common name for many species of omnivorous mammals belonging to the Canidae family. Foxes are small to medium-sized canids , characterized by possessing a long narrow snout, and a bushy tail .Members of about 37 species are referred to as foxes, of which only 12 species actually belong to...
es, mole
Mole (animal)
Moles are small cylindrical mammals adapted to a subterranean lifestyle. They have velvety fur; tiny or invisible ears and eyes; and short, powerful limbs with large paws oriented for digging. The term is especially and most properly used for the true moles, those of the Talpidae family in the...
s, voles, shrew
Shrew
A shrew or shrew mouse is a small molelike mammal classified in the order Soricomorpha. True shrews are also not to be confused with West Indies shrews, treeshrews, otter shrews, or elephant shrews, which belong to different families or orders.Although its external appearance is generally that of...
s, water voles, rabbit
Rabbit
Rabbits are small mammals in the family Leporidae of the order Lagomorpha, found in several parts of the world...
s and hares are common.
Visitors
Snowdrop
Galanthus is a small genus of about 20 species of bulbous herbaceous plants in the Amaryllis family, subfamily Amaryllidoideae...
season.
Hodsock Priory is an approved location for the holding of weddings.