Enjoying retirement
In The Red Rose County
One of the four best black and white houses in the country (as per Pevsner : all the others are in the North West) and as yet unvisited by us. Today was the day. Driving through 'posh' Manchester, Wilmslow, Bramhall etc was quite an experience. So many people with so many nice houses. Our first view of Bramall was from the West side as seen here. But before entering you go to the visitor centre just through to the left of the picture and watch a brief but extremely interesting video about the history of the house and the Davenport family who were the main owners through the centuries. You enter into what was the Great Hall where we had a very friendly welcome and spent some time discussing the house with a Guide who was very happy to chat away and answer questions. A fascinating feature here is the heavy door on the opposite wall to the modern porch in which there is a smaller wicket door and much old metalwork. An interesting theory is that this served a defensive purpose in that anyone attempting entry through the wicket was at an immediate disadvantage in terms of brandishing weapons, having to both bend down and raise their knees. Stockport Council acquired the house as more or less as an empty shell and with various grants have undertaken major restoration, and also tried to re-create some of the atmosphere of when the last major restorer (and rescuer of the house), Charles Nevill, lived here up to the First World War. They have done an amazing job. The fabric of the house speaks for itself, but the internal additions do indeed create a wonderful feeling of a home that was lived in. And we are lucky that the Art Council acquired for the Hall paintings and chattels from the Davenport family under the Acceptance in Lieu scheme. The chapel resonates with its history. On the left you can see the unglazed windows looking through to the Library, a feature which is suggestive that this wing was once a separate building from the Great Hall. The Ten Commandments are painted on the wall, but they reveal an even older painting - probably A Passion Painting - overpainted with The Ten Commandments some time during the reign of Elizabeth I, an indication of how careful this Catholic family had to be. The ancient box pew is believed to come from the Davenport chapel in Stockport parish church Above the Davenport arms is the shield of the Plantagenets a rose and fetterlock, which dates the pew as not later than Richard III. The Banqueting Hall..... The Solar upstairs...... which houses what is considered to be one of the only full suites of medieval paintings in the country. Breathtaking. Project manager Alison Farthing said: “The paintings depict a code for living that is highly ordered and moral. In contrast, this would have been a room for drinking, feasting and other things that are counter to the moral code depicted on the walls”. The painted walls would have served instead of tapestries which were of course phenomenally expensive. The oldest parts of Bramall Hall are constructed with wattle and daub. This ancient method of wall-building consists of interwoven sticks (wattle) covered in a mud or clay material (daub). Wattle and daub was common in many timber-framed houses and was popular for its durability and low cost - this example, which can be found in the Nevill room, is over 500 years old. Charles Nevill was painstaking in his earlier restoration and added much good work reflecting the Arts and Crafts Movement, especially in woodwork details and ironwork. This heraldic carpet is a rare survival of a once commonplace object, a table mat or cover, and a splendid example of the high art of Elizabethan embroidery. It hangs now on the wall of the Plaster Room so-called because it has plaster floor as well as ceiling (under the present floorboards). Remarkable. Never heard of such a thing. Off the Plaster Room is the Paradise Room, a name used historically for a favoured bedroom. The plaster frieze is noteworthy here. Behind the panelling to the side of the fireplace is what may have been a Priest's Hole. Views are over the splendid grounds towards the Derbyshire hills. The Withdrawing Room, the finest of many fine rooms, is particularly famous for its ceiling. It dates from the Elizabethan Period and shows the wealth of the Davenport family. Its creators could well have been itinerant Italian craftsmen. The ceiling is sometimes referrred to as Venetian. Alison and the restoration project team were keen to make sure Mary Nevill, wife of Charles, and an avid writer and philanthropist, was properly represented in her boudoir, and sought out some of her original belongings to reinstate them in this very quirky room. I mentioned some of Charles Nevill's restoration details, and throughout the house they are just wonderful........ The glazing thoughout is also worthy of mention. The building’s numerous lead stained glass windows have been carefully restored by hand by Burnley firm Pendle Stained Glass. They sought to preserve as many original panes as possible, by reinforcing them with extra leading, and only fully replaced panes which were completely beyond repair with contemporary replacements. Next, to the servants' quarters....... Washroom..... Maid's bedroom with very rare vauum cleaner..... Undermaids' bedroom........ Sewing room...... Housekeeper's room....not bad! Even within the servants' quarters there was still attention to detail by Nevill......... Butler's pantry.... Victorian Kitchen dresser...... Servants' dining room..... Game pantry....... Ah, yes....clothes drying. Hard work. My Nan had one of these. The Nevill's private dining room.... We will return in Spring/Summer when the grounds will be at their best. All in all I have to say of the many dozens of houses I have visited over the years Bramall Hall was the best, the most interesting, the most surprising, a real gem of a place. WE then headed for another gem - Knutsford. In King Street alone there are a host of fascinating buildings, shops, restaurants, pubs..... An inviting doorway........ We didn't have time to visit the Georgian church just set back from King Street. Another visit. We lunched in the Church Inn at nearby Mobberley. I had read good things about this pub and it lived up to expectations. Real fires and lit candles on every table is always a good start. Our last stroll was along Legh Road in Knutsford. As Pevsner says, worth it for "one of the most extraordinary sequences of villas in all England." No-one could disagree. Many by Watt and his practice. A house designed for Royce of Rolls Royce fame. A fitting tribute to Watt himself. What an amazing imaginary architect. And what a delightful day.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Keith & Frances SmithArchives
August 2023
Categories |