Benthall Hall
Encyclopedia
Benthall Hall is a 16th century English
country house located in Benthall
close to the town of Broseley
, Shropshire
, England
, and a few miles from the historic Ironbridge Gorge
. It retains much of its fine oak
interior, and an elaborate 17th century staircase. It is still occupied by the Benthall family, but has been owned by the National Trust
since 1958, and is open to the public two to three afternoons a week during the summer season (March–September).
The Hall was built around 1580, probably on the site of an earlier 12th century medieval manor
and manor house
. During the Civil War
it was garrisoned, and was a site of several skirmishes.
The garden is largely the product of two tenants. George Maw (1832–1912), local pottery manufacturer and crocus
enthusiast developed the garden from around 1865 onwards. Subsequently, the Victorian era
Romantic painter and sculptor Robert Bateman
(1842–1922), who was the son of a famous horticulturalist, added the rockeries and terraces of the current garden.
The Commonwealth
era church of St. Bartholomew stands close by the Hall. The Shropshire Way
, a waymarked long-distance footpath, passes through the extensive woodland
that lies to the north, between the estate and the River Severn
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
country house located in Benthall
Benthall, Shropshire
Benthall is a village in Shropshire, in England. It is situated to the south of Telford, about a mile south of Ironbridge on the River Severn. It is almost continuous with the town of Broseley.-See also:*Benthall Hall...
close to the town of Broseley
Broseley
Broseley is a small town in Shropshire, England with a population of 4,912 . The River Severn flows to the north and east of the town. Broseley has a town council and is part of the area controlled by Shropshire Council. The first iron bridge in the world was built in 1779 to link Broseley with...
, Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, and a few miles from the historic Ironbridge Gorge
Ironbridge Gorge
The Ironbridge Gorge is a deep gorge formed by the River Severn in Shropshire, England.Originally called the Severn Gorge, the gorge now takes its name from its famous Iron Bridge, the first iron bridge of its kind in the world, and a monument to the industry that began there...
. It retains much of its fine oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
interior, and an elaborate 17th century staircase. It is still occupied by the Benthall family, but has been owned by the National Trust
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
since 1958, and is open to the public two to three afternoons a week during the summer season (March–September).
The Hall was built around 1580, probably on the site of an earlier 12th century medieval manor
Manorialism
Manorialism, an essential element of feudal society, was the organizing principle of rural economy that originated in the villa system of the Late Roman Empire, was widely practiced in medieval western and parts of central Europe, and was slowly replaced by the advent of a money-based market...
and manor house
Manor house
A manor house is a country house that historically formed the administrative centre of a manor, the lowest unit of territorial organisation in the feudal system in Europe. The term is applied to country houses that belonged to the gentry and other grand stately homes...
. During the Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
it was garrisoned, and was a site of several skirmishes.
The garden is largely the product of two tenants. George Maw (1832–1912), local pottery manufacturer and crocus
Crocus
Crocus is a genus in the iris family comprising about 80 species of perennials growing from corms. Many are cultivated for their flowers appearing in autumn, winter, or spring...
enthusiast developed the garden from around 1865 onwards. Subsequently, the Victorian era
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
Romantic painter and sculptor Robert Bateman
Robert Bateman (artist)
Robert Bateman was an English painter, illustrator, sculptor, architect and scholar.He was the third son of James Bateman , the accomplished horticulturist and landowner, who built Biddulph Grange and its gardens, in Staffordshire.Robert attended the Royal Academy schools in the 1860s, and from...
(1842–1922), who was the son of a famous horticulturalist, added the rockeries and terraces of the current garden.
The Commonwealth
Commonwealth of England
The Commonwealth of England was the republic which ruled first England, and then Ireland and Scotland from 1649 to 1660. Between 1653–1659 it was known as the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland...
era church of St. Bartholomew stands close by the Hall. The Shropshire Way
Shropshire Way
The Shropshire Way is a waymarked long distance footpath running through the English county of Shropshire. It runs 224 kilometres / 139 miles around the interior of the county in a large loop.- The Waymarked Route :...
, a waymarked long-distance footpath, passes through the extensive woodland
Woodland
Ecologically, a woodland is a low-density forest forming open habitats with plenty of sunlight and limited shade. Woodlands may support an understory of shrubs and herbaceous plants including grasses. Woodland may form a transition to shrubland under drier conditions or during early stages of...
that lies to the north, between the estate and the River Severn
River Severn
The River Severn is the longest river in Great Britain, at about , but the second longest on the British Isles, behind the River Shannon. It rises at an altitude of on Plynlimon, Ceredigion near Llanidloes, Powys, in the Cambrian Mountains of mid Wales...
.