Farnborough Hall facts for kids
Farnborough Hall is a beautiful old country house in Warwickshire, England. It's located near the town of Banbury. This special house is owned by the National Trust, a charity that protects historic places. However, the Holbech family still lives there and helps manage it. Farnborough Hall is a Grade I listed building, meaning it's very important and protected.
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A Long History
The Farnborough estate has a long story. The Ralegh family owned it for centuries, starting in the 1200s! In 1684, Ambrose Holbech bought the estate. Before that, the Raleghs had already moved the house to a new spot in the 1600s. The new house was built using strong Hornton stone from the Cotswolds.
Early Renovations
Ambrose's son, William Holbech, started making big changes to the house. He began renovating it around 1692, after he married Elizabeth Arlington. Later, in the 1730s, William inherited the estate. He had just returned from a "Grand Tour" of Europe. He wanted to make the house perfect for showing off his new art collection.
Art and Architecture
William's collection included amazing ceramics, sculptures, and paintings. He even had works by famous artists like Canaletto and Giovanni Paolo Panini. Around 1745 to 1750, the hall was updated in the Palladian style. This style was popular for its grand, balanced look. A designer named Sanderson Miller might have helped with this. Inside, you can see beautiful plasterwork done by William Perritt.
Later Generations and Wars
Another William Holbech inherited the estate in 1771. The National Trust has been working to restore the parkland to its 1772 design. From 1815 to 1816, a new coach-house was built by Henry Hakewill.
During the First World War, Farnborough Hall became a hospital. It was known as Farnborough Auxiliary Hospital. After the war, some of the original Canaletto and Panini paintings were sold. The house was also used as a military hospital during the Second World War.
Becoming a National Trust Property
In 1960, Geoffrey Holbech gave the estate to the National Trust. This helped protect the house and its history for everyone. As of 2022, the Holbech family still lives in the hall. They help manage visits for people who want to explore this historic place.
Gardens and Parkland
The parkland at Farnborough Hall is very special. It's a rare example of a "ferme ornée." This means "ornamental farm." It was designed to be both practical for farming and beautiful to look at. Farm buildings were made to be pretty features in the landscape. Sanderson Miller helped redesign the parkland for William Holbech II.
The Terrace Walk
One of the most important parts of the garden is the Terrace Walk. It was built on a natural slope. This walk is 1200 meters long and has 26 different spots to enjoy the views! Close to the house, you'll find the Ionic Temple. After that, there's the Oval Pavilion.
At the end of the Terrace Walk stands the Obelisk. This tall monument is 18 meters high and looks out over the Warmington Valley. The Obelisk was first mentioned in 1746. It collapsed in 1823 but was rebuilt in 1828. You can still see names etched into its base by visitors, including an Italian prisoner of war from the Second World War. The Terrace also had a small waterfall, which was repaired in 2016. There was even a Georgian amphitheatre in the park!
Water Features
Miller also made the parkland look more natural. He created a winding pond called the Serpentine. It was designed to look like a flowing river. Repairs to this pond were done in 2015. Miller also raised part of the River Sor by 5 meters. This created an ornamental pool called the Oval Pond, which could be seen from the house. This pond has since dried out, but you can still see its outline. Above it was Sourland Pond, built on naturally wet land.
Trees and Plants
Miller used trees like Scots pines to highlight different parts of the landscape. These trees drew attention to features both near and far from the house. Between 1786 and 1790, Mrs. William Holbech received several Cedar of Lebanon trees. These were a gift from her great-grandson, Lord Warwick.
The gardens also have the remains of an orangery, a special greenhouse for citrus trees. You can also find a lovely rose garden there.
Legacy
Farnborough Hall and its gardens are important for several reasons. They show us a rare example of the "ferme ornée" style of landscaping. They also represent a key step in how landscape gardens developed in the early 1700s. It is a Grade I listed building, recognized for its historical and architectural value.
Gallery
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Ionic Temple
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Oval Pavilion
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Game Larder
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Obelisk
