Boyle Farm
Encyclopedia
Boyle Farm was the earlier name of the 'Home of Compassion', a mansion on the banks of the River Thames
in Thames Ditton
, Surrey
. The house was built on the site of Forde's Farm by Charlotte Boyle Walsingham in the late 18th century. Although the estate has been sold and divided into expensive building plots over the past century, some of the farm buildings and outhouses remain. There is a small island in the Thames, which the Home of Compassion almost overlooks, called Boyle Farm Island.
, July 28, 1787):
'...Mrs. Walsingham is making her house at Ditton (now baptized Boyle-farm) very orthodox. Her daughter Miss Boyle who has real genius, has carved three tablets in marble with buoys, designed by herself. Those sculptures are for a chimney-piece; and she is painting panels in grotesque for the library, with pilasters of glass in black and gold.'
Although the builder and architect are unrecorded, he may have been Walpole's chief architect, John Chute, who was responsible for several similar gothic villas of that period. Mrs. Walsingham's daughter, Charlotte Boyle
, who inherited the farm in 1790, was particularly skilled in verre eglomisé. Her 28 black background and gold leaf glass panels—one signed "C. Boyle November 2nd 1786" -- still exist in the first-floor library. The carved frieze and door surround bearing her monogram are also her work and this room has been regarded as one of the finest of its period in Surrey.
Miss Boyle married Lord Fitzgerald
in 1791 and adopted the title 21st Baroness de Ros in 1806. Their eldest son Henry, who inherited the farm, was noted for his lavish society lifestyle and held "The Dandies' Fete" on 30 June 1827 in the grounds for 450 guests. This was described in 'The Summer Fete' by Thomas Moore
(1779–1852):
Sir Edward Sugden Bt
, the highest-paid member of the English Bar and noted for his legal textbooks, purchased Boyle Farm in 1834. Sir Edward was MP for Weymouth. On his appointment as Chancellor of England, he was raised to the peerage as Lord St Leonards. During his time at the Boyle Farm mansion, he had the gothic castellation largely replaced by an over-tall gabled roof with attic rooms above a cloak of early Victorian stucco in a loose gothic perpendicular style. Upon his death the estate passed to his son Hon. Rev Frank Sugden, who lived quietly at the farm for six years.
The estate went to auction in July 1890 and was purchased by Herbert Robertson of Hampton Court. Within three years he had the Victorian stucco and external detailing removed, refacing the mansion with a classical pediment of well laid red brick, with fitted brick window surrounds all under a complex hipped gable roof of green slate.
However the property remained unoccupied and some 11 acres (44,515.5 m²) of the grounds were subdivided for building plots and sold. The house and stables, together with the outbuildings, were purchased by a Church of England religious order, renamed and dedicated as the 'Home of Compassion' in 1905. The stables, renamed 'The Priory', were converted to staff accommodation and the house adapted as a nursing home. The present chapel was built in 1925 of stock brick with stone windows and is still prominent in Thames Ditton
High Street.
In the 1960s, the religious order ceased on the death of the last surviving Sister, but the Home of Compassion has continued to care for the frail and elderly as a registered charity run by Trustees, led by Rosalind Goodfellow.
The house remains the finest mansion on the Surrey
bank of the Thames between Windsor
and Ham House.
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
in Thames Ditton
Thames Ditton
Thames Ditton is a village in Surrey, England, bordering Greater London. It is situated 12.2 miles south-west of Charing Cross between the towns of Kingston upon Thames, Surbiton, Esher and East Molesey...
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
. The house was built on the site of Forde's Farm by Charlotte Boyle Walsingham in the late 18th century. Although the estate has been sold and divided into expensive building plots over the past century, some of the farm buildings and outhouses remain. There is a small island in the Thames, which the Home of Compassion almost overlooks, called Boyle Farm Island.
History
The foundation stone to Boyle Farm, formerly known as Forde's Farm, was laid by Hon. Charlotte Boyle Walsingham, the then new owner in 1786. Mrs Walsingham, a widow, was a close friend of the author and diarist Horace Walpole who also took a great interest in gothic architecture and made several diary references to Boyle Farm. From Walpole's letter 312 To The Earl Of Strafford (Strawberry HillStrawberry Hill House
Strawberry Hill is the Gothic Revival villa of Horace Walpole which he built in the second half of the 18th century in what is now an affluent area of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in Twickenham, London...
, July 28, 1787):
'...Mrs. Walsingham is making her house at Ditton (now baptized Boyle-farm) very orthodox. Her daughter Miss Boyle who has real genius, has carved three tablets in marble with buoys, designed by herself. Those sculptures are for a chimney-piece; and she is painting panels in grotesque for the library, with pilasters of glass in black and gold.'
Although the builder and architect are unrecorded, he may have been Walpole's chief architect, John Chute, who was responsible for several similar gothic villas of that period. Mrs. Walsingham's daughter, Charlotte Boyle
Charlotte FitzGerald-de Ros, 21st Baroness de Ros
Charlotte Fitzgerald-de Ros, 21st Baroness de Ros of Helmsley , also known as Lady Henry FitzGerald, was born Charlotte Boyle-Walsingham in Castlemartyr, County Cork, Ireland or in London, where she died....
, who inherited the farm in 1790, was particularly skilled in verre eglomisé. Her 28 black background and gold leaf glass panels—one signed "C. Boyle November 2nd 1786" -- still exist in the first-floor library. The carved frieze and door surround bearing her monogram are also her work and this room has been regarded as one of the finest of its period in Surrey.
Miss Boyle married Lord Fitzgerald
Lord Henry FitzGerald
Lord Henry FitzGerald PC was the fourth son of the 1st Duke of Leinster and the Duchess of Leinster . A younger brother was the revolutionary Lord Edward FitzGerald.-Life:...
in 1791 and adopted the title 21st Baroness de Ros in 1806. Their eldest son Henry, who inherited the farm, was noted for his lavish society lifestyle and held "The Dandies' Fete" on 30 June 1827 in the grounds for 450 guests. This was described in 'The Summer Fete' by Thomas Moore
Thomas Moore
Thomas Moore was an Irish poet, singer, songwriter, and entertainer, now best remembered for the lyrics of The Minstrel Boy and The Last Rose of Summer. He was responsible, with John Murray, for burning Lord Byron's memoirs after his death...
(1779–1852):
- Accordingly, with gay Sultanas,
- Rebeccas, Sapphos, Roxalanas--
- Circassian slaves whom Love would pay
- Half his maternal realms to ransom;
- Young nuns, whose chief religion lay
- In looking most profanely handsome;
- Muses in muslin-pastoral maids
- With hats from the Arcade-ian shades,
- And fortune-tellers, rich, 'twas plain,
- As fortune-hunters formed their train.
Sir Edward Sugden Bt
Edward Sugden, 1st Baron St Leonards
Edward Burtenshaw Sugden, 1st Baron St Leonards PC was a British lawyer, judge and Conservative politician.-Background:St Leonards was the son of a high-class hairdresser and wig-maker in Westminster, London....
, the highest-paid member of the English Bar and noted for his legal textbooks, purchased Boyle Farm in 1834. Sir Edward was MP for Weymouth. On his appointment as Chancellor of England, he was raised to the peerage as Lord St Leonards. During his time at the Boyle Farm mansion, he had the gothic castellation largely replaced by an over-tall gabled roof with attic rooms above a cloak of early Victorian stucco in a loose gothic perpendicular style. Upon his death the estate passed to his son Hon. Rev Frank Sugden, who lived quietly at the farm for six years.
The estate went to auction in July 1890 and was purchased by Herbert Robertson of Hampton Court. Within three years he had the Victorian stucco and external detailing removed, refacing the mansion with a classical pediment of well laid red brick, with fitted brick window surrounds all under a complex hipped gable roof of green slate.
However the property remained unoccupied and some 11 acres (44,515.5 m²) of the grounds were subdivided for building plots and sold. The house and stables, together with the outbuildings, were purchased by a Church of England religious order, renamed and dedicated as the 'Home of Compassion' in 1905. The stables, renamed 'The Priory', were converted to staff accommodation and the house adapted as a nursing home. The present chapel was built in 1925 of stock brick with stone windows and is still prominent in Thames Ditton
Thames Ditton
Thames Ditton is a village in Surrey, England, bordering Greater London. It is situated 12.2 miles south-west of Charing Cross between the towns of Kingston upon Thames, Surbiton, Esher and East Molesey...
High Street.
In the 1960s, the religious order ceased on the death of the last surviving Sister, but the Home of Compassion has continued to care for the frail and elderly as a registered charity run by Trustees, led by Rosalind Goodfellow.
The house remains the finest mansion on the Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
bank of the Thames between Windsor
Windsor, Berkshire
Windsor is an affluent suburban town and unparished area in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire, England. It is widely known as the site of Windsor Castle, one of the official residences of the British Royal Family....
and Ham House.