Dudmaston Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dudmaston Hall |
|
|---|---|
Dudmaston Hall
|
|
| General information | |
| Location | Severn Valley |
| Town or city | Shropshire |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 52°29′48″N 2°22′31″W / 52.4966°N 2.3753°W |
| Completed | Late 17th century |
Dudmaston Hall is a beautiful country house in Shropshire, England. It was built in the late 1600s. Today, the National Trust looks after it.
You can find Dudmaston Hall in the Severn Valley. It is close to a village called Quatt. This village is just a few miles south of Bridgnorth, a busy market town.
Contents
Dudmaston Hall: A Look Back in Time
Dudmaston Hall is more than just a house. It is a traditional country estate. This means it includes the main house, lovely gardens, and wide-open parkland. There are also woodlands, a lake, and farmland. Even the village of Quatt was designed for the estate's workers.
The Wolryche Family Story
The Dudmaston estate has been connected to the Wolryche family for a very long time. They first got it in 1403. This happened when William Wolryche married Margaret de Dudmaston. She was the heiress, meaning she was the one who would inherit the property.
It is thought that an older house stood here before the current one. This was likely in the 1500s. Back then, the main way to make money was by raising sheep. Wool was a very important product.
The Wolryche family were loyal to the king. They also supported the Reformation. This was a big change in the Christian church.
Sir Thomas Wolryche (1598–1668) was an important family member. He was given a special title, a Baronet, by King Charles I. This was because Sir Thomas strongly supported the king.
During the English Civil War, Sir Thomas helped the king. He raised troops and was in charge of Bridgnorth Castle. In 1646, when enemy forces came, Sir Thomas's soldiers set fire to the town. They then went into the castle. But they had to give up soon after. Sir Thomas had to pay a large fine because of this.
Building the Hall We See Today
Sir Thomas's grandson, also named Sir Thomas Wolryche (1672–1701), wanted to build a new house. He started a big project. He replaced the old manor house with the beautiful sandstone building we see today. This is the main part of Dudmaston Hall.
The architect who designed it was probably Francis Smith of Warwick. The house was built to be strong and comfortable. It was not meant to be overly grand. It was designed with a large entrance hall and other rooms. Sir Thomas died in 1701 before the house was fully finished.
After Sir Thomas died, his wife, Elizabeth Weld, managed the estate. Their son, Sir John Wolryche (1691–1723), took over later. He spent a lot of money on gambling and hunting. In 1723, he drowned in the Severn river. He had no sons to inherit the estate.
The estate had many debts. It passed to Sir John's sister, Mary. She, her mother, and her uncle worked hard. Over the next 50 years, they managed the estate carefully. They helped it become financially stable again.
- The Wolryches
-
Tomb of Francis and Margaret Wolryche in St. Andrew's church, Quatt. They were ancestors of the Wolryche Baronets.
-
Margaret's memorial to Francis, installed after his death in 1614.
-
Memorial to George Wolryche, a younger brother of Sir Thomas, the first baronet.
-
Inscription on Bridgnorth Museum. It remembers Sir Thomas Wolryche's actions in 1646.
-
Inscription on Sir Thomas Wolryche's tomb. It praises his military achievements.
-
Tomb of Mary Wolryche, who died in 1678. She was the wife of John Wolryche.
Creating the Gardens
After Colonel Weld died, the estate went to William Whitmore (1745–1815). He was a sailor who also inherited other properties. This gave him money to fix up Dudmaston. He spent a lot on repairs and new furniture for the hall.
William Whitmore hired a gardener named Walter Wood. Wood had worked on a "Picturesque" style garden before. This style makes gardens look like beautiful paintings. Wood shaped a small valley called the Dingle. He created small cliffs, waterfalls, and rustic bridges. William's wife, Frances, helped lay out the winding paths and seating areas.
William's son, also named William, added the old family name Wolryche to his own. He was a very energetic man. He worked as a Member of Parliament (M.P.). He also made many changes to the house and grounds.
He added a beautiful staircase and new windows to the hall. He also created a large new dining room. This room is now a modern art gallery. He completely changed the landscape to the west. This is the main view from the hall. He made the "Big Pool" by joining three smaller lakes. He also built terraces with steps and walls.
What You Can See and Do at Dudmaston
Dudmaston Hall has an amazing art collection. The National Trust says it is one of Britain's most important collections of modern art. You can see sculptures by famous artists like Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth. There is also a large collection of Spanish paintings and pottery. These were collected by Sir George Labouchere. He used to live at Dudmaston.
The estate is also a working place. They do pig-farming and grow asparagus. Dudmaston also has a special way of "tushing." This means using a horse to pull logs in the woods. They use a Fell Pony for this. These ponies were once used to carry lead from mines.
Important People Who Lived Here
William Wolryche-Whitmore
William Wolryche-Whitmore (1787–1858) was an important politician. He was the son of William Whitmore. In 1810, he married Lady Lucy Bridgeman. The young couple traveled around Europe. They even visited Napoleon Bonaparte when he was exiled.
When his father died in 1815, William inherited Dudmaston. Five years later, he became a Member of Parliament for Bridgnorth.
William quickly became a strong voice for change. He supported Parliamentary Reform. This meant making Parliament fairer. He also supported Catholic Emancipation. This gave more rights to Catholic people. He spoke out against slavery in the Caribbean. He also warned about the bad effects of British rule in India.
After the Reform Act of 1832, he won a new seat in Parliament for Wolverhampton. He worked hard to help working-class people. He wanted them to have new chances through emigration. He was against using convict and slave labor. His last speech in Parliament was about moving to South Australia.
One of his biggest goals was to repeal the Corn Laws. These laws made food expensive. Many people thought they helped rich landowners. William campaigned against them for a long time. He continued even after he left Parliament. The laws were finally removed in 1846.
While doing his political work, William also updated the house and estate. He brought in new ways to make money. He also made conditions better for his workers.
Charles Babbage
In 1814, Georgiana Whitmore married Charles Babbage. Georgiana was William Whitmore's daughter. Charles Babbage was a pioneer in computing. He is sometimes called the "father of the computer."
Babbage spent a lot of time at Dudmaston Hall. He even designed the central heating system for the house! His son's machine, the Analytical Engine Mill, was at Dudmaston Hall for many years. It was moved to the Science Museum in London in the 1980s.
George and Rachel Labouchere
Rachel Hamilton-Russell (1908–1996) inherited Dudmaston Hall from her uncle. She agreed that it should eventually go to the National Trust. Rachel was an artist who drew plants. She created an important collection of plant paintings at Dudmaston.
She met George Labouchère (1905–1999) during World War II. He was a diplomat. They married in 1943. They agreed that Rachel would go with him on his diplomatic trips. Then they would retire to Dudmaston.
George's job took them to many countries. They lived in China, Argentina, Austria, Hungary, and Belgium. In 1960, George became the ambassador to Spain. While there, the Laboucheres bought many important artworks. These were by artists who were against the government at the time. This collection is now a big part of what you see at Dudmaston.
Rachel and George moved into Dudmaston in 1966. The process of giving it to the National Trust finished in 1978. But they continued to live there. They also kept improving the house and gardens. They built a large collection of modern art.
Rachel was very interested in the history of the Severn Valley. She worked to protect the area's industrial heritage. She was president of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust for 14 years. She was very active at Dudmaston. She often talked with visitors almost until she died.
Rachel and George did not have children. Rachel died in 1996. George died three years later.
Rachel Labouchere wanted Dudmaston to stay a family home. She asked the National Trust to always allow her relatives to live there. Her second cousin, Col. James Hamilton-Russell, was chosen. His family still lives there today.
See also
- Grade II* listed buildings in Shropshire Council (A–G)
- Listed buildings in Quatt Malvern
