Stapleford Park
Encyclopedia
Stapleford Park is a Grade I listed country house in Stapleford
near Melton Mowbray
in Leicestershire, England, now used as a hotel. It was originally the seat of the Sherard family, later the Earls of Harborough
and from 1894, of Baron Gretton
.
American hotelier Bob Payton bought it in 1988 to convert into an hotel. He restored the buildings, hiring Wedgwood, Turnbull & Asser, Crabtree & Evelyn to decorate its rooms.
St Mary Magdalene's Church
in the park was built in 1783 by George Richardson
for the 4th Earl of Harborough.
through Stapleford Park along the course of the River Wreake
. Its construction would threaten the struggling Oakham Canal
of which he was a shareholder. The dispute led to a series of brawls and confrontations between the Earl's men and canal employees on one side and the railway's surveyors on the other with up to 300 involved in each skirmish. The dispute has been called the "Battle of Saxby".
Eventually the railway ran around Stapleford Park in what is known as "Lord Harborough's Curve". The tight bend was a nuisance for the express trains and, later when the Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway
built a branch to Saxby
, the opportunity was taken to reduce the curve with Saxby station being moved in the process. Lord Harborough had died in the meantime and the estate had been bought by Lord Gretton
who was more sympathetic to the railway.
Ironically, in 1958, the Stapleford Miniature Railway
was constructed by the second Lord Gretton in the parkland , as part of a public attraction which also included a Lion reserve. The park and house became a major tourist attraction through the 1960s and 70's. The park though closed in 1982 and was sold to become an exclusive country hotel. The railway and parkland however is still owned by the Gretton family and opens for charity in the summer a few times a year
Stapleford, Leicestershire
Stapleford is a village in the Melton district of Leicestershire, England, east of Melton Mowbray. It is just south of the River Eye, and is part of the civil parish of Freeby....
near Melton Mowbray
Melton Mowbray
Melton Mowbray is a town in the Melton borough of Leicestershire, England. It is to the northeast of Leicester, and southeast of Nottingham...
in Leicestershire, England, now used as a hotel. It was originally the seat of the Sherard family, later the Earls of Harborough
Earl of Harborough
Lord Sherard, Baron of Leitrim, was a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1627 for Sir William Sherard, of Stapleford, Leicestershire. He was succeeded by his eldest son, the second Baron. He sat as Member of Parliament for Leicestershire and served as Lord-Lieutenant of Leicestershire...
and from 1894, of Baron Gretton
Baron Gretton
Baron Gretton, of Stapleford in the County of Leicester, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1944 for the brewer and Conservative politician John Gretton. He was head of the brewery firm of Bass, Ratcliff & Gretton Ltd of Burton upon Trent and also represented...
.
American hotelier Bob Payton bought it in 1988 to convert into an hotel. He restored the buildings, hiring Wedgwood, Turnbull & Asser, Crabtree & Evelyn to decorate its rooms.
St Mary Magdalene's Church
St Mary Magdalene's Church, Stapleford
St Mary Magdalene's Church, Stapleford, is a redundant Anglican church near the village of Stapleford, Leicestershire, England . It has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade I listed building, and is under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust...
in the park was built in 1783 by George Richardson
George Richardson (architect)
George Richardson was a Scottish architectural and decorative draftsman and writer on architecture.One of his few remaining architectural works is St Mary Magdalene's Church at Stapleford, Leicestershire, built in 1783 for the Earl of Harborough.His main output, however, was in the form of books...
for the 4th Earl of Harborough.
Lord Harborough's Curve
The 6th Earl objected to a proposal in 1844 to run the Syston and Peterborough RailwaySyston and Peterborough Railway
The Syston and Peterborough Railway was an early railway in England opened between 1845 and 1848 to form a branch from the Midland Counties Railway at Syston just north of Leicester to Peterborough.-Origins:...
through Stapleford Park along the course of the River Wreake
River Wreake
The River Wreake is a river in Leicestershire, England. It is a tributary of the River Soar. The river between Stapleford Park and Melton Mowbray is known as the River Eye and becomes the Wreake below Melton Mowbray....
. Its construction would threaten the struggling Oakham Canal
Oakham Canal
The Oakham Canal ran from Oakham, Rutland to Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire in the East Midlands of England. It opened in 1802, but it was never a financial success, and it suffered from the lack of an adequate water supply. It closed after 45 years, when it was bought by the Midland Railway to...
of which he was a shareholder. The dispute led to a series of brawls and confrontations between the Earl's men and canal employees on one side and the railway's surveyors on the other with up to 300 involved in each skirmish. The dispute has been called the "Battle of Saxby".
Eventually the railway ran around Stapleford Park in what is known as "Lord Harborough's Curve". The tight bend was a nuisance for the express trains and, later when the Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway
Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway
The Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway, was a joint railway owned by the Midland Railway and the Great Northern Railway in eastern England, affectionately known as the 'Muddle and Get Nowhere' to generations of passengers, enthusiasts, and other users.The main line ran from Peterborough to...
built a branch to Saxby
Saxby railway station
Saxby railway station was a station serving the villages of Saxby and Freeby, Leicestershire.-History:The Syston and Peterborough Railway was opened in stages; the third and last section of line, between and opened for goods traffic on 20 March 1848, and for passengers on 1 May 1848...
, the opportunity was taken to reduce the curve with Saxby station being moved in the process. Lord Harborough had died in the meantime and the estate had been bought by Lord Gretton
John Gretton, 1st Baron Gretton
John Gretton, 1st Baron Gretton PC CBE , was a British businessman and Conservative politician. Gretton won two gold medals in the 1900 Olympic Games.-Biography:...
who was more sympathetic to the railway.
Ironically, in 1958, the Stapleford Miniature Railway
Stapleford Miniature Railway
Stapleford Miniature Railway is a historic steam locomotive-hauled gauge railway at Stapleford Park, Stapleford near Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire, England....
was constructed by the second Lord Gretton in the parkland , as part of a public attraction which also included a Lion reserve. The park and house became a major tourist attraction through the 1960s and 70's. The park though closed in 1982 and was sold to become an exclusive country hotel. The railway and parkland however is still owned by the Gretton family and opens for charity in the summer a few times a year
External links
- http://www.staplefordpark.com
- Stapleford Miniature Railway official site