Mapledurham House facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mapledurham House
Location	Mapledurham, Oxfordshire, England
Built	c.1585
Governing body	Mapledurham Estate
Listed Building – Grade I
Official name: Mapledurham House
Designated	24 October 1951
Reference no.	1368944
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Mapledurham House is a grand old country house from the Elizabethan period (around the late 1500s). You can find it in the village of Mapledurham in Oxfordshire, England. It's considered a very important historical building, known as a Grade I listed building.

Discovering Mapledurham House

A Glimpse into History

The land where Mapledurham House stands was bought in 1490 by Richard Blount. However, the house we see today was started by Sir Michael Blount around 1585. This was a time when England was preparing for the Spanish Armada. The house was built in a special "E-shape," which was a popular style during the Elizabethan period. It has stayed in the same family, the Blount-Eyston family, ever since.

The house also has a chapel that was added later, in the late 1700s. It was built in a style called "Strawberry Hill Gothic," which means it looked like old medieval churches, but with a fancy, decorative touch.

Secret Passages and Faith

For many years, the owners of Mapledurham House were Roman Catholic. At that time, it was difficult for Catholics to practice their faith openly in England. Because of this, the house had secret hiding places called "priest holes." These were hidden rooms or passages where priests could hide if there was danger. Some of these secret spots were only found in recent years! The family would also secretly hold church services, sometimes using a special altar hidden inside a writing desk.

In 1612, Anne of Denmark, who was the Queen of England and Scotland, even stayed at Mapledurham House as a guest of Sir Richard Blount.

Famous Visitors and Filming Locations

Mapledurham House has attracted many famous people and has been featured in movies and TV shows. The famous poet Alexander Pope often visited the house. He was good friends with Teresa and Martha Blount, who lived there.

The house and the village around it were used as a setting for the 1976 movie The Eagle Has Landed. It has also appeared in several television series, including Midsomer Murders. Many people believe that Mapledurham House was the inspiration for E. H. Shepard's drawings of Toad Hall in Kenneth Grahame's famous book, The Wind in the Willows. However, other places also claim to be the inspiration for Toad Hall!

Images for kids

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  Mapledurham House

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  The Church at Mapledurham House

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  Majestic Tree

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  "The Marriage of Figaro"