Post by lozwinter on Aug 9, 2005 20:26:59 GMT
Name and location: Elvaston Castle
Description and era: The original house was remodeled into the house we see today from a design by James Wyatt (who made the design in around 1817) for Charles, 3rd Earl Harrington. Wyatt died before the house was completed and the building work was carried out by Robert Walker between 1815 and 1829.This replaced the old brick-built Manor House - part of which you can still see at the right hand end of the south front. This still bears the date 1633. The family had lived in this house for 200 years. The East Front was completed in 1840. The building is now Grade 2* Listed.
History:
- The full history of the Elvaston Estate can be traced back to the 11th Century and earlier.
- It's thought that the some members of the family were involved in the infamous Hell Fire Club.
- In the 'Boudoir' there are stairs up to the Valet's Quarters - it's also speculated that this may have been a handy way for the masters of the house to sneak up to the servant's quarters.
- Oliver Reed and Alan Bates filmed a famous Nude Wrestling scene in front of the fireplace in the Gothic Hall, for the film 'Woman in Love'
- The Anselin family were lords of the manor then the Bardolphs before it was granted to Sir Walter Blount in 1420.
- The estate then passed through several families until it came into the hands of the Stanhope family.
- Henry 8th Granted the Manors of Elvaston and Shelford to Michael Stanhope. Soon after Edward 6th accession to the throne he was Knighted.
- Sir Michael's Grandson, John Stanhope of Elvaston and Shelford was Knighted in 1603. He died in 1610 and his elaborate tomb can still be seen at Elvaston Church. He married twice, his son from his first marriage, Philip, and eldest son from his second, John, shared the estates. John was the one to get Elvaston.
- During the Civil War Sir John Gell led his troops of roundheads against Elvaston, they ransacked the manor and stormed the church, thrusting swords into the family coffins. Although Sir John's tomb was restored it still shows some of the original damage as does the wall of the church where you can still see the marks left by Musket balls.
- William Stanhope was born in about 1690 and brought the third Earldom to the family. He was Secretary of State and also a diplomat. In 1742 he was created Earl of Harrington and Viscount Petersham.
- William Stanhope, 2nd Earl of Harrington, like his father was both a soldier and politician and became a General in 1770. He was also known as an eccentric and became known as 'Peter Shambles' because of the way he walked. His wife Caroline Fitzroy was one of the great beauties of her day and was also known for her wild behaviour.
- Charles Stanhope, the 3rd Earl was a popular man and known as quite a character. He traveled widely as part of his army career and introduced a new style of sword to the British Army whilst he Colonel of the 1st life guards.
- It was Charles Stanhope who carried out the work on the house making it the house we see today.
- Amongst the changes that he made were - adding the gothic facades, adding a new Great Hall to the west and a new wing to the North West. Much of the existing interior was also Wyatt's design including the four-centred arches, niches, fan vaulting and screen in the Great Hall.
- Charles's eldest son, The Fourth Earl of Harrington, Viscount Petersham inherited the title and estate in 1829 when he was nearly 50. He was renowned for his stylish dress, he was tall and handsome and was well known for his charming personality and way with the ladies. He was known as 'Beau' Petersham, he was friends with Prince Regent, loved tea drinking and was addicted to snuff.
- He finally married in 1831, Maria Foote, a Covent Garden actress 17 years younger than him. Their affair had caused a lot of gossip in London and Derbyshire and was frowned upon by the previous Earl and other members of the family. The couple moved into Elvaston shortly after their wedding. After this the Earl wouldn't let Maria out of the grounds nor let visitors in - so strong was his love and obsession for his wife. He set about creating a beautiful oasis for himself and his wife, as a 'shrine to their undying passion', he employed the William Barron to design and create the amazing gardens.
- They lived together at Elvaston for 20 years.
- 'Beau' Petersham's youngest brother, Fitzroy, was a completely different character, a keen sportsman and talented engineer who invented the Stanhope Gig a two seater vehicle very popular in London at the time.
- Leicester Stanhope succeeded his brother as 5th Earl followed in the family tradition and went into the army and political life. In 1823 he went to Missolonghi in Greece. Lord Byron joined him but they didn't get on. Even so, after Byron's death, it was Leicester who brought his body and papers back to England.
- Leicester died in 1862 and was succeeded by his 16 year old son, Seymour, who only survived for 4 more years. The title then passed to his cousin Charles (the son of Fitzroy Stanhope) who was in his late 50's. He was addicted to playing and making violins.
- Leicester died in 1862 and was succeeded by his 16 year old son, Seymour, who only survived for 4 more years. The title then passed to his cousin Charles (the son of Fitzroy Stanhope) who was in his late 50's. He was addicted to playing and making violins.
Ghostly and spooky experiences:
- The 9th Earl, Dudley Stanhope was known as 'Old Whiskers' because of his busy white beard. He was a popular man and was once described as 'the best loved man in the midlands'. He loved horses and when he died he left instructions in his will that his hounds were to hunt on the first suitable day after his death. When they were let out the ran straight to the tree (directly next to the Earl's grave) and refused to leave. The hunt was called off.
- The ghost of a white/grey lady has frequently been seen looking through a window, rocking as if sitting on a rocking chair.
- A scullery maid has been seen in various rooms of the castle, particularly in the kitchen - she allegedly became pregnant by a friend of the Earl of Harrington and committed suicide.
- What sounded like raindrops has been heard in the kitchen, though no water was falling at the time.
- The ghost of a man has been seen in the upper floor atrium. He's thought to be Jim Booth, the old gamekeeper.
Description and era: The original house was remodeled into the house we see today from a design by James Wyatt (who made the design in around 1817) for Charles, 3rd Earl Harrington. Wyatt died before the house was completed and the building work was carried out by Robert Walker between 1815 and 1829.This replaced the old brick-built Manor House - part of which you can still see at the right hand end of the south front. This still bears the date 1633. The family had lived in this house for 200 years. The East Front was completed in 1840. The building is now Grade 2* Listed.
History:
- The full history of the Elvaston Estate can be traced back to the 11th Century and earlier.
- It's thought that the some members of the family were involved in the infamous Hell Fire Club.
- In the 'Boudoir' there are stairs up to the Valet's Quarters - it's also speculated that this may have been a handy way for the masters of the house to sneak up to the servant's quarters.
- Oliver Reed and Alan Bates filmed a famous Nude Wrestling scene in front of the fireplace in the Gothic Hall, for the film 'Woman in Love'
- The Anselin family were lords of the manor then the Bardolphs before it was granted to Sir Walter Blount in 1420.
- The estate then passed through several families until it came into the hands of the Stanhope family.
- Henry 8th Granted the Manors of Elvaston and Shelford to Michael Stanhope. Soon after Edward 6th accession to the throne he was Knighted.
- Sir Michael's Grandson, John Stanhope of Elvaston and Shelford was Knighted in 1603. He died in 1610 and his elaborate tomb can still be seen at Elvaston Church. He married twice, his son from his first marriage, Philip, and eldest son from his second, John, shared the estates. John was the one to get Elvaston.
- During the Civil War Sir John Gell led his troops of roundheads against Elvaston, they ransacked the manor and stormed the church, thrusting swords into the family coffins. Although Sir John's tomb was restored it still shows some of the original damage as does the wall of the church where you can still see the marks left by Musket balls.
- William Stanhope was born in about 1690 and brought the third Earldom to the family. He was Secretary of State and also a diplomat. In 1742 he was created Earl of Harrington and Viscount Petersham.
- William Stanhope, 2nd Earl of Harrington, like his father was both a soldier and politician and became a General in 1770. He was also known as an eccentric and became known as 'Peter Shambles' because of the way he walked. His wife Caroline Fitzroy was one of the great beauties of her day and was also known for her wild behaviour.
- Charles Stanhope, the 3rd Earl was a popular man and known as quite a character. He traveled widely as part of his army career and introduced a new style of sword to the British Army whilst he Colonel of the 1st life guards.
- It was Charles Stanhope who carried out the work on the house making it the house we see today.
- Amongst the changes that he made were - adding the gothic facades, adding a new Great Hall to the west and a new wing to the North West. Much of the existing interior was also Wyatt's design including the four-centred arches, niches, fan vaulting and screen in the Great Hall.
- Charles's eldest son, The Fourth Earl of Harrington, Viscount Petersham inherited the title and estate in 1829 when he was nearly 50. He was renowned for his stylish dress, he was tall and handsome and was well known for his charming personality and way with the ladies. He was known as 'Beau' Petersham, he was friends with Prince Regent, loved tea drinking and was addicted to snuff.
- He finally married in 1831, Maria Foote, a Covent Garden actress 17 years younger than him. Their affair had caused a lot of gossip in London and Derbyshire and was frowned upon by the previous Earl and other members of the family. The couple moved into Elvaston shortly after their wedding. After this the Earl wouldn't let Maria out of the grounds nor let visitors in - so strong was his love and obsession for his wife. He set about creating a beautiful oasis for himself and his wife, as a 'shrine to their undying passion', he employed the William Barron to design and create the amazing gardens.
- They lived together at Elvaston for 20 years.
- 'Beau' Petersham's youngest brother, Fitzroy, was a completely different character, a keen sportsman and talented engineer who invented the Stanhope Gig a two seater vehicle very popular in London at the time.
- Leicester Stanhope succeeded his brother as 5th Earl followed in the family tradition and went into the army and political life. In 1823 he went to Missolonghi in Greece. Lord Byron joined him but they didn't get on. Even so, after Byron's death, it was Leicester who brought his body and papers back to England.
- Leicester died in 1862 and was succeeded by his 16 year old son, Seymour, who only survived for 4 more years. The title then passed to his cousin Charles (the son of Fitzroy Stanhope) who was in his late 50's. He was addicted to playing and making violins.
- Leicester died in 1862 and was succeeded by his 16 year old son, Seymour, who only survived for 4 more years. The title then passed to his cousin Charles (the son of Fitzroy Stanhope) who was in his late 50's. He was addicted to playing and making violins.
Ghostly and spooky experiences:
- The 9th Earl, Dudley Stanhope was known as 'Old Whiskers' because of his busy white beard. He was a popular man and was once described as 'the best loved man in the midlands'. He loved horses and when he died he left instructions in his will that his hounds were to hunt on the first suitable day after his death. When they were let out the ran straight to the tree (directly next to the Earl's grave) and refused to leave. The hunt was called off.
- The ghost of a white/grey lady has frequently been seen looking through a window, rocking as if sitting on a rocking chair.
- A scullery maid has been seen in various rooms of the castle, particularly in the kitchen - she allegedly became pregnant by a friend of the Earl of Harrington and committed suicide.
- What sounded like raindrops has been heard in the kitchen, though no water was falling at the time.
- The ghost of a man has been seen in the upper floor atrium. He's thought to be Jim Booth, the old gamekeeper.