Hall Place facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hall Place |
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This picture clearly shows the contrast between the 16th-century stone half of Hall Place, and the 17th-century brick half
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| Location | Bourne Road, Bexley |
| OS grid reference | TQ5014574318 |
| Area | London Borough of Bexley |
| Built |
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| Governing body | Bexley Heritage Trust |
| Official name: Hall Place | |
| Designated | 1 May 1948 |
| Reference no. | 1001985 |
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Listed Building – Grade I
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| Official name: Hall Place | |
| Designated | 1 October 1953 |
| Reference no. | 1188277 |
| Official name: Hall Place | |
| Designated | 1 October 1987 |
| Reference no. | 1000247 |
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Hall Place is a grand old house in south-east London. It was built in 1537 for Sir John Champneys. He was a very rich merchant and a former Lord Mayor of London.
The house was made even bigger in 1649 by Sir Robert Austen. He was also a merchant. Hall Place is now a very important historic building. It is surrounded by a large, award-winning garden. You can find it on Bourne Road in Bexley.
Contents
A Look Back: Hall Place Through the Years
Building Hall Place: The Early Years
Building Hall Place began in 1537. Sir John Champneys, a rich merchant, started it. He was once the Lord Mayor of London. Some of the stone used came from a nearby old monastery called Lesnes Abbey.
Sir John's house had a big central Great Hall. It also had special rooms for his family. The outside walls have a cool checkerboard pattern. This pattern is made of flint and stone. It was a popular building style back then.
In 1649, the house was sold to Sir Robert Austen. He was another rich merchant. Sir Robert added a second part to the house. This new part was built with red bricks. It made the house twice as big! The two halves look very different. They were built in totally different styles. Sir Robert was given a special title, a "Baronet," in 1660.
Changes in the 18th and 19th Centuries
The Austen family owned Hall Place until the mid-1700s. Then, Sir Francis Dashwood bought it. He was a politician. He was also a Chancellor of the Exchequer, which is like a finance minister. Sir Francis was also known for starting a secret club.
Hall Place was one of many homes owned by the Dashwood family. Their main home was West Wycombe Park. From 1795, Hall Place was rented out. It became a school for young gentlemen.
Maitland Dashwood, Sir Francis's grandson, made more changes. This was in the 1870s. He added a lodge building. He also connected the house to water pipes. Inside, he added beautiful wood panels and flooring. These changes were made to help rent out the house.
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Hall Place was rented to rich and famous people. These included Baron Emile D’Erlanger. The last person to rent Hall Place was Lady Limerick. She lived there from 1917 to 1943. She added some old-fashioned "mock-Tudor" features. These included beams and fireplaces.
Hall Place During World War II
In 1944, the U.S. Army came to Hall Place. They set up a secret listening station there. It was called "Santa Fe." This station helped British and American spies work together.
The soldiers helped break secret codes. These codes were from the German Air Force. Radio wires were put all over the rooftops. The old Tudor Kitchen became a "set room." It had many radio receivers. The Great Parlour became a dormitory for the soldiers.
After the war, Hall Place was used as part of a girls' school. From 1968 to 1995, it was the main office for Bexley's libraries and museums.
Hall Place and Gardens Today
Today, Hall Place looks much like it did in Tudor times. It also shows its 17th-century additions. A charity called Bexley Heritage Trust manages the property.
In 2005, the Trust received a big grant. This money helped improve the site for visitors. They built a cafe next to the River Cray. They also added a new visitor center. An old stable building became an art gallery. It shows art by local artists. The house itself is used for exhibitions.
Exploring the Gardens
The Hall Place estate has 65 hectares of beautiful gardens. There's a topiary lawn with shaped bushes. There's also a herb garden and a tropical garden. You can see long borders filled with cottage-style flowers.
The gardens at Hall Place first opened to the public in 1952. This was done by the Duchess of Kent. The famous shaped bushes, called "topiary," were planted in 1953. They are shaped like the Queen's Beasts. This was to celebrate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.
The old walled gardens have a butterfly house. They also have an owl sanctuary. You can see special trees in the grounds. These include an Indian Bean Tree and a Redwood. A Black Poplar tree was planted in 2012. This was to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.
The gardens have won a "Green Flag Award" for 20 years in a row. This shows how well they are kept.
