Uppark facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Uppark |
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The south front of the house
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| Type | Country house |
| Location | South Harting |
| OS grid reference | SU 77981 17583 |
| Area | West Sussex |
| Built | ca 1690 |
| Architect | William Talman Humphry Repton |
| Architectural style(s) | William & Mary |
| Owner | National Trust |
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Listed Building – Grade I
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| Official name: Uppark (National Trust) | |
| Designated | 18 Jun 1959 |
| Reference no. | 1025979 |
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Uppark is a beautiful old house from the 1600s. You can find it in South Harting, West Sussex, England. It's a very important historical building, known as a Grade I listed building. Today, the National Trust looks after it, so people can visit and learn about its past.
The Story of Uppark
Uppark was built around 1690 for Ford Grey. He was the first Earl of Tankerville. The house sits high up on the South Downs. People believe the architect was William Talman.
In 1747, the Uppark estate was sold to Sir Matthew Fetherstonhaugh and his wife, Sarah. They spent many years, from 1750 to 1760, redecorating the house. They also brought in many of the beautiful items you can see there today. Much of this collection came from their exciting trip around Europe, called a Grand Tour, between 1749 and 1751.
Their only son, Sir Harry Fetherstonhaugh, added even more to the collection. He hired Humphry Repton to design a new entrance with pillars, a dairy, and a lovely landscaped garden. Later, in the 1800s, stables and kitchens were built as separate buildings. They were connected to the main house by underground tunnels.
Sir Harry married Mary Ann Bullock, who was the estate's dairymaid. He was 71 and she was 21. When he passed away in 1846, he left Uppark to her. Mary Ann made many improvements to the house. When she died in 1874, she left Uppark to her sister, Frances.
Frances Bullock, who used the name Miss Fetherstonhaugh, wanted to keep the house special, just like her sister had. She chose two friends, Colonel Keith Turnour and Admiral Herbert Meade, to inherit Uppark after her. They were both second sons, which meant they could take on the Fetherstonhaugh name.
Admiral Meade's wife, Margaret, became the next mistress of Uppark in 1931. She continued to care for the house and its treasures. After World War II, Admiral Meade-Fetherstonhaugh and his son, Richard, talked with the National Trust. In 1954, Uppark became a National Trust property. The house is now open to the public. However, some parts are still lived in as private homes.
H. G. Wells and Uppark
The famous writer H. G. Wells spent time at Uppark when he was 20 years old. This was in the winter of 1887-1888. His mother, Sarah, worked there as a housekeeper from 1880 to 1893. She had also worked there earlier, from 1850 to 1855. Young H. G. Wells visited her many times during his childhood. His father, Joseph, was a gardener at Uppark in 1851. He and Sarah got married in 1853.
The house and its way of life greatly influenced Wells. He saw the big differences between social classes there. This helped him form his ideas about fairness and equality. He also discovered many books in Uppark's large library. He read works by thinkers like Plato, Voltaire, and Thomas Paine.
These experiences appeared in his later books. For example, in The Time Machine, the bright world of the Eloi and the dark caves of the Morlocks might have been inspired by the differences he saw at Uppark. Wells also found a telescope in the house's attic. This gave the future author of The War of the Worlds his first chance to look closely at the night sky.
The Fire of 1989
On August 30, 1989, a terrible fire badly damaged Uppark. It was caused by a workman's blowtorch while he was fixing the roof. This happened just two days before the work was supposed to finish. The fire started while the house was open to visitors.
Many people helped carry valuable art and furniture out of the burning building. This included members of the Meade-Fetherstonehaugh family, National Trust staff, and visitors. The upper floors and attic collapsed. Everything on those floors was lost. However, the floors mostly fell away from the ground-floor walls. This meant much of the beautiful wood panels and decorations on the ground floor survived.
Many items on the ground floor were crushed but not burned. Metal objects could be straightened and cleaned. Crystal chandeliers were put back together. Even the fancy tassels on the chandelier ropes were saved. It was decided to restore the house because it was cheaper for the insurance company than paying for a total loss.
Most of the pictures and furniture were saved. The house has been completely restored since then. Many old skills were relearned during the restoration process. Uppark reopened its doors in 1995. You can still see some "critical markers" today. For example, some floorboards on the main ground floor still have burn marks. These remind visitors of the fire.
Visiting Uppark
Uppark is open to the public most days of the year. It is only closed around Christmas.
