Belhus, Essex facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Belhus, Essex |
|
|---|---|
_p1.298_-_Belhus,_Essex.jpg) Belhus c. 1818 |
|
 Belhus, Essex
|
|
| OS grid reference | TQ575815 |
| Unitary authority | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Police | Essex |
| Fire | Essex |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
| UK Parliament |
|
Belhus is a fascinating place in Essex, England. It's now a fun golf course and a beautiful country park. But long ago, it was a grand stately home and a manor. The area was once called "Bellhouse" or "Belhouse." Today, Belhus is part of the Thames Chase woodland. This project aims to create a large forest area.
Contents
The Story of Belhus
Where did the name Belhus come from? It's linked to people who lived there in the 1300s. They might have come from a place called Ramsden Bellhouse. One person, Nicholas de Belhus, may have even taken his name from this manor. Later, the Barrett family lived here. They eventually became the Barrett-Lennard family.
Royal Visits and Famous Art
Imagine a queen visiting your home! In 1578, Queen Elizabeth I herself visited Belhus. This shows how important and grand the house was.
Belhus was also home to many valuable things. Dorothy, Lady Dacre, owned the house for a time. After she passed away, a list was made of all her belongings at Belhus.
A special curtain from the 1600s, which once hung at Belhus, is now in the Victoria and Albert Museum. It was given to the museum by a family member.
Changing Styles and Hidden Treasures
In the mid-1700s, the mansion got a big makeover. It was changed to look like the popular "gothic" style. This style often featured pointed arches and fancy decorations. The Thurrock Museum has a copy of an old painting. It shows what Belhus looked like around 1710.
Many family portraits hung at Belhus. One famous painting was of Mary Neville, Baroness Dacre. It was painted by Hans Eyworth. This painting is now in the National Gallery of Canada. An art expert named Horace Walpole saw it at Belhus in 1761.
Sadly, the Barrett-Lennard family sold everything in the house in 1923. After World War II, the house was torn down. It had been damaged by bombs and by soldiers who stayed there.
Belhus Today
Even though the house is gone, Belhus is still a special place.
The Famous Landscape Designer
The gardens around the mansion were designed by a very famous person. His name was Capability Brown. He worked on the grounds in the 1740s and 1750s. You can still see some of his designs today. There are earthen mounds in the original parkland. This area is now part of the golf course. You can even see the remains of the old mansion on the 10th hole of the golf course!
Ponds and Parks
Another feature designed by Capability Brown is the 'long pond'. It was actually built by Richard Woods. You can still see this pond today. However, the M25 motorway was built nearby. This changed the quiet, rural feel of the area.
A lovely wooded country park has been created. It uses other parts of the old estate grounds. This park is a great place to explore nature.
Rescued History
Some parts of the mansion's inside were saved. A beautiful fireplace is now in the Thurrock Museum. Other parts were rescued when the house was torn down. You can see them at Valence House Museum in Dagenham.
Protecting the Past
In 2018, the grounds of Belhus were put on a special list. It's called the Heritage at Risk Register. This means the site needs protection. In 2021, Historic England did some research there. They discovered the remains of old Tudor gardens! This shows there's still much history hidden at Belhus.
