Preston Hall
Encyclopedia
Preston Hall is an early 19th century mansion house at Preston on Tees, Stockton-on-Tees
, England
. It has been a museum since 1953 and is owned by Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council
. It is a listed building. The house stands in 100 acre (0.404686 km²) of parkland. The grounds of the house form Preston Park
.
The manor of Preston on Tees was held in 1515 by William Sayer but was lost when the estates of Lawrence Sayer, a Royalist
in the English Civil War
were sequestered
and sold by the Commonwealth of England
. In 1673 the manor was purchased by George Witham and during the residency of the Witham family the manor house was known as Witham Hall. In 1722 William Witham sold the estate to Sir John Eden Bt
of Windlestone Hall
and in 1820 it was sold again to David Burton Fowler.
In 1825 Fowler built the present Preston Hall as a modest two storey three bayed rectangular structure with a service wing. The old manor house was retained in use as a farmhouse until its demolition in 1974.
In 1882 Matthew Fowler sold the estate to Robert Ropner
, a shipping merchant and shipbuilder, who was High Sheriff of Durham in 1896 and who became a Baronet in 1904. He extended the property by the addition of substantial wing blocks and in about 1900 he added a large and recently renovated winter garden
or conservatory
. The Ropner Baronets
lived in the house until 1937 (in which year Leonard Ropner served as High Sheriff
). It was acquired by the Stockton on Tees District Council in 1947.
housed in a special room with dimmed lighting and a protective glass screen. The painting has occasionally been lent out for exhibition elsewhere and is regarded as a very fine example of the artist's work.
The painting was part of a collection left to the borough by a local resident in 1930 but the significance of this item was not realised until 1972.
awarded a grant of £3.7 million towards a major refurbishment of the building and the museum's collections.
Stockton-on-Tees
Stockton-on-Tees is a market town in north east England. It is the major settlement in the unitary authority and borough of Stockton-on-Tees. For ceremonial purposes, the borough is split between County Durham and North Yorkshire as it also incorporates a number of smaller towns including...
, 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 has been a museum since 1953 and is owned by Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council
Stockton-on-Tees (borough)
Stockton-on-Tees is a unitary authority area and borough in the Tees Valley area of north east England, with a population in 2001 of 178,408, rising to 185,880 in 2005 estimates....
. It is a listed building. The house stands in 100 acre (0.404686 km²) of parkland. The grounds of the house form Preston Park
Preston Park, Stockton-on-Tees
Preston Park is a public park located next to the River Tees, in Preston-on-Tees, England. It is highly popular and it hosts many events each year that attract people from across Teesside and further afield...
.
The manor of Preston on Tees was held in 1515 by William Sayer but was lost when the estates of Lawrence Sayer, a Royalist
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...
were sequestered
Sequestration (law)
Sequestration is the act of removing, separating, or seizing anything from the possession of its owner under process of law for the benefit of creditors or the state.-Etymology:...
and sold by the Commonwealth of England
Commonwealth of England
The Commonwealth of England was the republic which ruled first England, and then Ireland and Scotland from 1649 to 1660. Between 1653–1659 it was known as the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland...
. In 1673 the manor was purchased by George Witham and during the residency of the Witham family the manor house was known as Witham Hall. In 1722 William Witham sold the estate to Sir John Eden Bt
Eden Baronets
The Eden Baronetcy, of West Auckland in the County of Durham, and the Eden Baronetcy, of Maryland in North America, are two titles in the Baronetage of England and Baronetage of Great Britain respectively that have been united under a single holder since 1844.The Eden Baronetcy of West Auckland was...
of Windlestone Hall
Windlestone Hall
Windlestone Hall is a 19th century country house in the ownership of Durham County Council, situated near Rushyford, County Durham, England. It is a Listed building....
and in 1820 it was sold again to David Burton Fowler.
In 1825 Fowler built the present Preston Hall as a modest two storey three bayed rectangular structure with a service wing. The old manor house was retained in use as a farmhouse until its demolition in 1974.
In 1882 Matthew Fowler sold the estate to Robert Ropner
Sir Robert Ropner, 1st Baronet
Sir Emil Hugo Oscar Robert Ropner, 1st Baronet 1838-1924, was a British shipbuilder, shipowner, and Conservative Member of Parliament. He was known simply as Robert Ropner....
, a shipping merchant and shipbuilder, who was High Sheriff of Durham in 1896 and who became a Baronet in 1904. He extended the property by the addition of substantial wing blocks and in about 1900 he added a large and recently renovated winter garden
Winter garden
The origin of the winter garden dates back to the 17th to 19th centuries where European nobility would construct large conservatories that would house tropical and subtropical plants and would act as an extension of their living space. Many of these would be attached to their main palaces...
or conservatory
Conservatory (greenhouse)
A conservatory is a room having glass roof and walls, typically attached to a house on only one side, used as a greenhouse or a sunroom...
. The Ropner Baronets
Ropner Baronets
There have been two Baronetcies created for members of the Ropner family, both in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom. Both creations are still extant...
lived in the house until 1937 (in which year Leonard Ropner served as High Sheriff
High Sheriff
A high sheriff is, or was, a law enforcement officer in the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States.In England and Wales, the office is unpaid and partly ceremonial, appointed by the Crown through a warrant from the Privy Council. In Cornwall, the High Sheriff is appointed by the Duke of...
). It was acquired by the Stockton on Tees District Council in 1947.
The Dice Players
The museum contains a valuable painting called The Dice Players by Georges de la TourGeorges de La Tour
Georges de La Tour was a French Baroque painter, who spent most of his working life in the Duchy of Lorraine, which was temporarily absorbed into France between 1641 and 1648...
housed in a special room with dimmed lighting and a protective glass screen. The painting has occasionally been lent out for exhibition elsewhere and is regarded as a very fine example of the artist's work.
The painting was part of a collection left to the borough by a local resident in 1930 but the significance of this item was not realised until 1972.
Restoration grant
In April 2008, the Heritage Lottery FundHeritage Lottery Fund
The Heritage Lottery Fund is a fund established in the United Kingdom under the National Lottery etc. Act 1993. The Fund opened for applications in 1994. It uses money raised through the National Lottery to transform and sustain the UK’s heritage...
awarded a grant of £3.7 million towards a major refurbishment of the building and the museum's collections.
External links
- Preston Hall Museum & Park - official site