Barrells Hall
Encyclopedia
Barrells Hall is a small stately home in the Warwickshire
countyside near Henley-in-Arden
. The nearest village is Ullenhall
, which for many years was the estate village, large parts of it having been built by the owners of Barrells Hall, the Newtons of Glencripesdale Estate
. An adjacent house named Barrells Park was built in about 1950 on part of the Barrells estate.
When Catherlough’s son married in 1791 he commissioned the noted Italian architect Joseph Bonomi the Elder
to build an imposing extension, which became the main house at this time.
The Newtons, a wealthy local family bought the Barrells Park estate in 1856, and soon after enlarged the property again, adding a Servants Wing, Winter Garden
Entrance and various other features.
The house was the victim of a serious fire in March 1935. It slowly fell into ruin over the next 65 years, before being extensively restored in 2006.
Robert Knight (1675–1744) became notorious as the cashier of the South Sea Company responsible for the “South Sea Bubble” and absconded to France with a fortune. He built Luxborough House in Chigwell, Essex and never lived at Barrells. His son, also named Robert Knight (1702–1772), became successively Baron Luxborough, Viscount Barrells and Earl of Catherlough
. He purchased Barrells from a cousin in 1730. He banished his wife Henrietta St John to Barrells in 1736 as punishment for an indiscretion. As Henrietta, Lady Luxborough, she was one of the first to establish a ferme ornée and is credited with the invention of the word “shrubbery”. Her friends, a group of poets, became known as The Warwickshire Coterie. His only da. Henrietta married firstly Charles Wymondfold, secondly Hon. Josiah Tylney, an officer in the Royal Navy, younger son of Richard Child, 1st Earl Tylney
.
After his wife Henrietta’s death in 1756, Catherlough began to live at Barrells and had several children by Jane Davies, the daughter of one of his tenants. He was unable to marry her because Lady Le Quesne, whom he married in 1756, refused to release him. But he arranged by Act of Parliament for his son by Jane Davies to take the name of Robert Knight and inherit his fortune, but not his titles. When this next Robert Knight (1768–1855) died the Reverend Henry Charles Knight, who claimed to be his son by the Hon Frances Dormer but was disowned by Robert, attempted to obtain the Barrells estate, but the resulting legal dispute was settled by the sale of Barrells and splitting the proceeds.
(1832–1907), William Newton III, Canon Horace Newton
, and Mary Rosa (who later married Henry Cheetham, Bishop of Sierra Leone
.
Barrells Park became the main house in the family, in addition to the large (26,000 acre) estate in Scotland
at Glencripesdale Estate
, and Canon Horace Newton
's house Holmwood, Redditch
nearby (which was designed for Horace Newton by the architect, and vague relative Temple Lushington Moore
.
Upon William Newton II's death in 1862 Goodwin Newton
inherited the Barrells estate and lived there until his death in 1907. His son, Hugh Goodwin Newton, lived there until 1924, when the property was sold.
Large areas of the village of Ullenhall
were owned by the estate, including the pub, coffee house, school, church, post office etc, and several houses.
The three Newton brothers (Goodwin Newton
, Canon Horace Newton
, & William Newton III) built St Mary's church in Ullenhall
as a dedication to their parents William II & Mary Newton, who originally bought Barrells.
The family owned whole streets of commercial property in Birmingham
, including part of New Street
, as well as welsh slate quarries and mines in Llanberis
, including Bryn Bras Castle
.
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
countyside near Henley-in-Arden
Henley-in-Arden
Henley-in-Arden is a small town in Warwickshire, England. The name is a reference to the former Forest of Arden. In the 2001 census the town had a population of 2,011....
. The nearest village is Ullenhall
Ullenhall
Ullenhall is a village and civil parish in the Stratford district of Warwickshire, England, situated about West of Henley in Arden and West of the county town of Warwick...
, which for many years was the estate village, large parts of it having been built by the owners of Barrells Hall, the Newtons of Glencripesdale Estate
Glencripesdale Estate
Glencripesdale Estate is situated along the south side of Loch Sunart, a sea loch in the west highlands of Scotland.Today, the Isle of Càrna is the last remaining part of the once huge 35,000 acre deer forest and grousemoor based Glencripesdale Estate, which was bought in 1870 by the three Newton...
. An adjacent house named Barrells Park was built in about 1950 on part of the Barrells estate.
History
The earliest mention of Barrels (as it was spelled at that time) was a reference to a Richard Barel in 1405. In 1554 the estate was purchased by Robert Knight of Beoley and remained in the Knight family until 1856. An inventory taken in 1652 shows that it was an ordinary farmhouse, though a Knight appeared in the 1682 visitation of Warwick. When Henrietta St John was banished to Barrells in 1736 (see below) it was still much the same and in very bad condition. On Henrietta’s death her husband, then Lord Catherlough, rebuilt large parts of it.When Catherlough’s son married in 1791 he commissioned the noted Italian architect Joseph Bonomi the Elder
Joseph Bonomi the Elder
Joseph Bonomi the Elder was an Italian architect and draughtsman notable for his activity in England.Born in Rome, he made his early reputation there, then moved to London in 1767....
to build an imposing extension, which became the main house at this time.
The Newtons, a wealthy local family bought the Barrells Park estate in 1856, and soon after enlarged the property again, adding a Servants Wing, Winter Garden
Winter Garden
Winter Garden may refer to:* A winter garden, winter-hardy plants grown for winter interest and decoration, or to be harvested for food between winter and early spring.-Places:* Winter Garden, California, former community in Kern County...
Entrance and various other features.
The house was the victim of a serious fire in March 1935. It slowly fell into ruin over the next 65 years, before being extensively restored in 2006.
Knights
As mentioned above, the Knight family first established themselves at Barrells in 1554.Robert Knight (1675–1744) became notorious as the cashier of the South Sea Company responsible for the “South Sea Bubble” and absconded to France with a fortune. He built Luxborough House in Chigwell, Essex and never lived at Barrells. His son, also named Robert Knight (1702–1772), became successively Baron Luxborough, Viscount Barrells and Earl of Catherlough
Earl of Catherlough
Earl of Catherlough was a title in the Peerage of Ireland.It was created in 1763 for Robert Knight, 1st Baron Luxborough, Member of Parliament for Great Grimsby, Castle Rising and Milborne Port....
. He purchased Barrells from a cousin in 1730. He banished his wife Henrietta St John to Barrells in 1736 as punishment for an indiscretion. As Henrietta, Lady Luxborough, she was one of the first to establish a ferme ornée and is credited with the invention of the word “shrubbery”. Her friends, a group of poets, became known as The Warwickshire Coterie. His only da. Henrietta married firstly Charles Wymondfold, secondly Hon. Josiah Tylney, an officer in the Royal Navy, younger son of Richard Child, 1st Earl Tylney
Richard Child, 1st Earl Tylney
Richard Child, 1st Earl Tylney , was an English Member of Parliament. He held no Office of State, nor any commercial directorship of significance, but is remembered chiefly as the builder of the now long-demolished Palladian "princely mansion" Wanstead House, one of the first in the style...
.
After his wife Henrietta’s death in 1756, Catherlough began to live at Barrells and had several children by Jane Davies, the daughter of one of his tenants. He was unable to marry her because Lady Le Quesne, whom he married in 1756, refused to release him. But he arranged by Act of Parliament for his son by Jane Davies to take the name of Robert Knight and inherit his fortune, but not his titles. When this next Robert Knight (1768–1855) died the Reverend Henry Charles Knight, who claimed to be his son by the Hon Frances Dormer but was disowned by Robert, attempted to obtain the Barrells estate, but the resulting legal dispute was settled by the sale of Barrells and splitting the proceeds.
The Newtons
The house was bought in 1856 by William Newton II, who lived there with his wife Mary Whincopp and children Goodwin NewtonGoodwin Newton
Thomas Henry Goodwin Newton was the Chairman of Imperial Continental Gas Association , one of the United Kingdom's largest energy businesses...
(1832–1907), William Newton III, Canon Horace Newton
Canon Horace Newton
Canon Horace Newton was a well-respected priest within the Church of England, philanthropist, and country landowner.-His life:...
, and Mary Rosa (who later married Henry Cheetham, Bishop of Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
.
Barrells Park became the main house in the family, in addition to the large (26,000 acre) estate in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
at Glencripesdale Estate
Glencripesdale Estate
Glencripesdale Estate is situated along the south side of Loch Sunart, a sea loch in the west highlands of Scotland.Today, the Isle of Càrna is the last remaining part of the once huge 35,000 acre deer forest and grousemoor based Glencripesdale Estate, which was bought in 1870 by the three Newton...
, and Canon Horace Newton
Canon Horace Newton
Canon Horace Newton was a well-respected priest within the Church of England, philanthropist, and country landowner.-His life:...
's house Holmwood, Redditch
Holmwood, Redditch
Holmwood House near Redditch, Worcestershire is a country house built for Canon Horace Newton of Glencripesdale Estate and Barrells Hall in 1893 by the famed Victorian architect Temple Lushington Moore, who was a vague relative of the Newton family...
nearby (which was designed for Horace Newton by the architect, and vague relative Temple Lushington Moore
Temple Lushington Moore
Temple Lushington Moore was an architect working in the Gothic revival style.-Personal life:He was the son of Captain George Frederick Moore and Charlotte Reilly ....
.
Upon William Newton II's death in 1862 Goodwin Newton
Goodwin Newton
Thomas Henry Goodwin Newton was the Chairman of Imperial Continental Gas Association , one of the United Kingdom's largest energy businesses...
inherited the Barrells estate and lived there until his death in 1907. His son, Hugh Goodwin Newton, lived there until 1924, when the property was sold.
Large areas of the village of Ullenhall
Ullenhall
Ullenhall is a village and civil parish in the Stratford district of Warwickshire, England, situated about West of Henley in Arden and West of the county town of Warwick...
were owned by the estate, including the pub, coffee house, school, church, post office etc, and several houses.
The three Newton brothers (Goodwin Newton
Goodwin Newton
Thomas Henry Goodwin Newton was the Chairman of Imperial Continental Gas Association , one of the United Kingdom's largest energy businesses...
, Canon Horace Newton
Canon Horace Newton
Canon Horace Newton was a well-respected priest within the Church of England, philanthropist, and country landowner.-His life:...
, & William Newton III) built St Mary's church in Ullenhall
Ullenhall
Ullenhall is a village and civil parish in the Stratford district of Warwickshire, England, situated about West of Henley in Arden and West of the county town of Warwick...
as a dedication to their parents William II & Mary Newton, who originally bought Barrells.
The family owned whole streets of commercial property in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, including part of New Street
New Street
New Street may refer to:*Birmingham New Street railway station, a railway station in Birmingham, UK*New Street, Birmingham, a street in Birmingham, UK...
, as well as welsh slate quarries and mines in Llanberis
Llanberis
Llanberis is a village in Gwynedd, North Wales, lying on the southern banks of Llyn Padarn in Snowdonia. It takes its name from Saint Peris, an early Welsh saint.According to the United Kingdom Census 2001, the population of Llanberis was 1,954...
, including Bryn Bras Castle
Bryn Bras Castle
Bryn Bras Castle is a Grade II* Listed Building, located on the old road between Llanrug and Llanberis known locally as the Clegir road, in Caernarfon, Gwynedd....
.