Nonsuch Mansion
Encyclopedia
Nonsuch Mansion is a Grade II listed house located within Nonsuch Park
in north Surrey
, England. In medieval times it was part of the three thousand acre
manor
of Cuddington
. The mansion was built in 1731-43 by Joseph Thompson and later bought by Samuel Farmer in 1799. He employed Jeffry Wyattville
to rebuild it in a Tudor Gothic style in 1802-6. Farmer was succeeded by his grandson in 1838 under whom the gardens became famous.
, whose construction was begun by King Henry VIII in the 16th Century.
The Farmer's family crests are noticeable throughout the mansion, bearing a motto 'Hora e sempre' - now and forever. This is most visible in the South Porch where the crests have been painted above the three internal doorways, leading back to the North Porch, Rose room and the Orchid room.
Nonsuch Mansion was closed due to ownership legalities and a drawn out planning process in 2004. This confusion has been resolved and a new operator is in place.
After careful refurbishment during summer 2009, the mansion is now open to the public as an event venue.
Nonsuch Park
Nonsuch Park is a public park between Stoneleigh, North Cheam, Cheam, and Ewell and the last surviving part of the Little Park of Nonsuch, a deer hunting park established by Henry VIII of England surrounding the former Nonsuch Palace...
in north Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, England. In medieval times it was part of the three thousand acre
Acre
The acre is a unit of area in a number of different systems, including the imperial and U.S. customary systems. The most commonly used acres today are the international acre and, in the United States, the survey acre. The most common use of the acre is to measure tracts of land.The acre is related...
manor
Manorialism
Manorialism, an essential element of feudal society, was the organizing principle of rural economy that originated in the villa system of the Late Roman Empire, was widely practiced in medieval western and parts of central Europe, and was slowly replaced by the advent of a money-based market...
of Cuddington
Cuddington, Surrey
Cuddington was a village in Surrey which was demolished to make way for Henry VIII's Nonsuch Palace near Cheam. Cuddington lay within the Copthorne hundred, an administrative division devised by the Saxons...
. The mansion was built in 1731-43 by Joseph Thompson and later bought by Samuel Farmer in 1799. He employed Jeffry Wyattville
Jeffry Wyattville
Sir Jeffry Wyattville was an English architect and garden designer. His original surname was Wyatt, and his name is sometimes also written as Jeffrey and his surname as Wyatville; he changed his name in 1824.He was trained by his uncles Samuel Wyatt and James Wyatt, who were both leading architects...
to rebuild it in a Tudor Gothic style in 1802-6. Farmer was succeeded by his grandson in 1838 under whom the gardens became famous.
Design
Nonsuch Mansion bears a resemblance in its design to the original design of Nonsuch PalaceNonsuch Palace
Nonsuch Palace was a Tudor royal palace, built by Henry VIII in Surrey, England; it stood from 1538 to 1682–3. Its ruins are in Nonsuch Park.- Background :Nonsuch Palace in Surrey was perhaps the grandest of Henry VIII's building projects...
, whose construction was begun by King Henry VIII in the 16th Century.
Markings on the building
Built within the north porch of the mansion is a block from the original Nonsuch Palace that bears an inscription which means "1543 Henry VIII in the 35th year of His reign."- I S 4 3
- HENRICV OC
- TAVS*3 S
The Farmer's family crests are noticeable throughout the mansion, bearing a motto 'Hora e sempre' - now and forever. This is most visible in the South Porch where the crests have been painted above the three internal doorways, leading back to the North Porch, Rose room and the Orchid room.
Uses of the Building
The park came into public hands in 1937. The authorities were able to throw open its doors and Nonsuch Mansion became the centre piece for celebrations for many decades. Providers and Friends carefully preserved and protected the mansion and its story. The service wing is opened by the Friends of Nonsuch on some afternoons.Nonsuch Mansion was closed due to ownership legalities and a drawn out planning process in 2004. This confusion has been resolved and a new operator is in place.
After careful refurbishment during summer 2009, the mansion is now open to the public as an event venue.