Minster Lovell Hall facts for kids
Minster Lovell Hall is an old, ruined building in the village of Minster Lovell, England. This village is found in the beautiful Oxfordshire Cotswolds area. The ruins stand right next to the River Windrush.
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History of the Hall
Who Built Minster Lovell Hall?
Minster Lovell Hall was built around the year 1440 by a man named William Lovell. The Lovell family had owned land in Minster Lovell for a long time. This hall was likely the second main building they had on this spot.
What Did the Hall Look Like?
The Hall was a grand manor house, which is a large country home. Its buildings formed three sides of a square. The fourth side, facing the River Windrush, was closed off by a wall. A large tower at the south-west corner was probably added later. This meant part of the nearby west wing had to be rebuilt.
Famous Visitors and New Owners
Minster Lovell Hall was the main home for the Lovell family for many years. A famous king, Richard III, even visited the Hall. He was a guest of Francis Lovell, 1st Viscount Lovell, who was William Lovell's grandson.
After a big battle called the Battle of Bosworth, Francis Lovell lost all his lands. Minster Lovell Hall was then given to Jasper Tudor. Jasper Tudor was the uncle of the new king, Henry VII.
Over the next 200 years, the Hall changed owners many times. Some of these owners included important people from the court of King Henry VIII. These included William Compton and Henry Norris.
When the Hall Became a Ruin
In 1603, a man named Sir Edward Coke bought the property. His family owned the manor for several generations. Later, in 1747, Thomas Coke decided to leave Minster Lovell Hall. Many parts of the buildings were taken apart. By the early 1800s, people thought the ruins were from an old monastery.
The Legend of Francis Lovell
There is a famous story about Minster Lovell Hall. In 1718, a skeleton was supposedly found in the basement. People thought it might be Francis Lovell. The legend says he hid there after another battle, the Battle of Stoke, and died from hunger.
However, this story is probably not true. Francis Lovell didn't spend much time at Minster Lovell. It's unlikely he would have had a loyal servant there to hide and feed him for years.
Minster Lovell Hall Today
Today, the large ruins of Minster Lovell Hall are looked after by English Heritage. This organization protects important historical sites. The Hall is a "Grade I listed building" and a "scheduled monument." This means it's a very important historical site.
The most noticeable parts of the ruins are the main Hall itself. It has a fancy entrance porch. The south-west tower is also very clear to see. There is also an old dovecote on the site. A dovecote is a building where doves or pigeons were kept. It was probably built around the same time as the Hall. Even though much of the site has fallen over the years, a lot of it still stands today.
