Downton Castle
Encyclopedia
Downton Castle is an 18th-century country house at Downton on the Rock, Herefordshire
, England
, about five miles west of Ludlow
, Shropshire
. It is a Grade I listed building.
The estate was acquired by Richard Knight (1659–1749) a wealthy ironmaster of Madeley, Shropshire
, and in due course passed to his grandson Richard Payne Knight
, who created the new house in a Gothic revival style. Knight, an enthusiast of the ‘picturesque
’ style, commissioned landscape artist, Thomas Hearne to produce several drawings of the grounds.
The original south-facing entrance front has a central square tower, six bays to the left terminating in an octagonal tower and five bays to the right flanked by a square tower, the whole resembling a medieval castle with embattled parapets.
In 1824 Charlotte Knight, daughter and heir to the estate, married Sir William Rouse-Boughton
of Downton Hall
, Shropshire, the 10th of the Boughton Baronets
. She bequeathed the estate to their second son Andrew, who in 1857 changed his name to Rouse-Boughton-Knight. He was High Sheriff of Herefordshire
in 1860 and at that time began improvements and extensions to the house which included a new entrance and porch, a north west tower, and a chapel. Terraced gardens were created in 1865 by WA Nestfield. In 1881 the family were resident with a retinue of twelve servants.
Charles Andrew Rouse-Boughton-Knight died at the house in 1947.
Herefordshire
Herefordshire is a historic and ceremonial county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire" NUTS 2 region. It also forms a unitary district known as the...
, 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...
, about five miles west of Ludlow
Ludlow
Ludlow is a market town in Shropshire, England close to the Welsh border and in the Welsh Marches. It lies within a bend of the River Teme, on its eastern bank, forming an area of and centred on a small hill. Atop this hill is the site of Ludlow Castle and the market place...
, 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...
. It is a Grade I listed building.
The estate was acquired by Richard Knight (1659–1749) a wealthy ironmaster of Madeley, Shropshire
Madeley, Shropshire
Madeley is a town and civil parish in Shropshire, England, now part of the new town of Telford. The parish had a population of 17,935 at the 2001 census.Madeley is recorded in the Domesday Book, having been founded before the 8th century...
, and in due course passed to his grandson Richard Payne Knight
Richard Payne Knight
Richard Payne Knight was a classical scholar and connoisseur best known for his theories of picturesque beauty and for his interest in ancient phallic imagery.-Biography:...
, who created the new house in a Gothic revival style. Knight, an enthusiast of the ‘picturesque
Picturesque
Picturesque is an aesthetic ideal introduced into English cultural debate in 1782 by William Gilpin in Observations on the River Wye, and Several Parts of South Wales, etc. Relative Chiefly to Picturesque Beauty; made in the Summer of the Year 1770, a practical book which instructed England's...
’ style, commissioned landscape artist, Thomas Hearne to produce several drawings of the grounds.
The original south-facing entrance front has a central square tower, six bays to the left terminating in an octagonal tower and five bays to the right flanked by a square tower, the whole resembling a medieval castle with embattled parapets.
In 1824 Charlotte Knight, daughter and heir to the estate, married Sir William Rouse-Boughton
Sir William Rouse-Boughton, 10th Baronet
Sir William Edward Rouse Boughton was a baronet and a member of the British House of Commons representing Evesham....
of Downton Hall
Downton Hall
Downton Hall is a privately owned 18th-century country house at Stanton Lacy, near Ludlow, Shropshire. It is a Grade II* listed building.The house was built about 1733 by Wredenhall Pearce, who had inherited the estate in 1731....
, Shropshire, the 10th of the Boughton Baronets
Boughton Baronets
There have been two Baronetcies created for members of the Boughton and Rouse Boughton family.The Baronetcy of Boughton of Lawford was created in the Baronetage of England on 4 August 1641 for William Boughton of Lawford Hall, near Newbold upon Avon, Warwickshire...
. She bequeathed the estate to their second son Andrew, who in 1857 changed his name to Rouse-Boughton-Knight. He was High Sheriff of Herefordshire
High Sheriff of Herefordshire
The Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been transferred elsewhere or are now defunct, so that its functions are now...
in 1860 and at that time began improvements and extensions to the house which included a new entrance and porch, a north west tower, and a chapel. Terraced gardens were created in 1865 by WA Nestfield. In 1881 the family were resident with a retinue of twelve servants.
Charles Andrew Rouse-Boughton-Knight died at the house in 1947.