Eydon Hall

Eydon Hall is a Palladian stately home near the village of Eydon, in Northamptonshire. It is a Grade I listed building, and is currently in use as a private residence.

Architecture

The house, built of ironstone, remains broadly as it was originally designed, with nine bedrooms and four major reception rooms across two main floors. The top floor, with servants quarters, is hidden from view by balustrades around the side of the roof, and there is a large basement. The house has a number of unusual features - perhaps the most interesting being that the large portico traditional on such houses is placed at the rear, not the front. Each of the four facades are designed differently, with the west facade having a large semi-circular bow in it to contain an oval drawing room. [ [http://www.banburyguardian.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=687&ArticleID=792064 Elegance at a price] , "Banbury Today", 15 May 2004]

History

The site was originally occupied by Eydon Lodge, which was acquired in 1788 for £6,600 by the Reverend Francis Annesley. He demolished the existing building, and employed James Lewis to create the replacement, completed in 1789. [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/main.jhtml?xml=/property/2004/05/19/peye19.xml The £11m acid test] , Ross Clark, "The Telegraph", 19th May 2004]

Eydon Hall was later owned by Colonel Henry Cartwright, member of parliament for South Northamptonshire from 1858 to 1868, who died there in 1890. [Obituary in the "Times", 29th July 1890] In 1913 it was taken by Lady Fermor-Hesketh [Court Circular in the "Times", 26th June 1913] and after that purchased in 1923 by David Margesson. ["Estate Market" article in the "Times", 13th July 1923] By 1927 it was occupied by W. G. Waldron ["Forthcoming Marriages" note in the "Times", 29th December 1927] , and in 1929 was again announced for sale. ["Estate Market" article in the "Times", 24th April 1929]

The buyer was Robert Brand (later Lord Brand); the house passed to his daughter on his death in 1963. In 1982 it returned to the market, and was eventually purchased by the Thoroughbred racehorse owner/breeder, Gerald W. Leigh. After his death, when his widow chose to sell the estate, it returned to the market in 2004 with an estimated price of around £11m. Much to the surprise of the property industry, it sold within two months for £17m, to Tim Stamper, the current owner. [ [http://property.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,14029-1391497,00.html It's not so tough at the top] , Helen Davies, "Sunday Times", 5th December 2004]

References