Beaulieu Palace House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Beaulieu Palace House |
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Beaulieu Palace House in 2011
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| General information | |
| Type | Country house |
| Location | Beaulieu, Hampshire |
| Coordinates | 50°49′13″N 1°27′5″W / 50.82028°N 1.45139°W |
| Completed | 13th century |
Beaulieu Palace House (pronounced BEW-lee) is a historic house in Beaulieu, Hampshire, United Kingdom. It was first built in the 13th century.
This special house was once part of Beaulieu Abbey. In 1538, a man named Thomas Wriothesley, 1st Earl of Southampton bought the estate. This happened after the Dissolution of the Monasteries, when many religious places were closed down. Today, the house is still owned by the same family, the Barons Montagu of Beaulieu.
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A Look at Beaulieu's Past
Beaulieu Palace House started as the main gatehouse of Beaulieu Abbey in the 1200s. After the monasteries were dissolved, Sir Thomas Wriothesley bought it. He later became the 1st Earl of Southampton.
Over time, the house became part of the Montagu family through marriage. It is still owned by a descendant of the 1st Earl, the 4th Baron Montagu of Beaulieu.
The house was made bigger in the 1500s and again in the 1800s. It is a great example of a Gothic country house. It sits by the Beaulieu River with beautiful lawns. Inside, the house looks much like it did in the Victorian era.
In August 1613, King James visited Beaulieu. He met with the Venetian ambassador, Antonio Foscarini, there.
Visiting Beaulieu Today
Beaulieu Palace House is still home to Lord and Lady Montagu. However, parts of the house and its gardens are open to visitors every day. It is part of the Treasure Houses of England, a group of important historic homes.
The Palace House is a key part of the "Beaulieu" visitor attraction. This large estate offers many things to see and do, including:
- Beaulieu Abbey: The ruins of the old abbey.
- National Motor Museum: A museum full of cars and vehicles.
- Beaulieu Palace House: The historic home itself.
- Secret Army Exhibition: An exhibit about the Special Operations Executive training that happened at Beaulieu during World War II.
- Gardens: Beautiful outdoor spaces to explore.
- A monorail: A fun way to travel around the estate.
- Rides: Other attractions for visitors.
Beaulieu in Movies
Beaulieu Palace House has appeared in films.
- In 1936, a film called Miniature Railway showed a person driving a small train around the grounds.
- The movie Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont also features Beaulieu Palace. In the film, Mrs. Palfrey takes her new friends to see the house. She used to visit it with her husband when they were first married.
Mysteries and Ghost Stories
Beaulieu is known as one of the most haunted places in Britain. People have reported seeing ghosts for over a hundred years. Some stories go back to the mid-1500s. Many people who study ghosts have visited the abbey. Even Arthur Conan Doyle, who wrote the Sherlock Holmes stories, is said to have contacted a ghost during a special meeting at Palace House.
One famous ghost is a lady in blue or grey. People say she walks through walls and makes noises in the private rooms. She is believed to be Lady Isabella, the Countess of Beaulieu, who passed away in 1786.
Another strange event is the smell of incense. This smell is said to mean bad luck for people at the abbey or in the village. Edward Douglas-Scott-Montagu, 3rd Baron Montagu of Beaulieu and others have reported smelling it. This happens in a room of the Palace House that was used as a chapel long ago.
