Fanhams Hall
Encyclopedia
Fanhams Hall is an 18th century Queen Anne House-style
hotel Ware, Hertfordshire
in the south east of England
.
, who was the youngest son of Richard Hale School
benefactor Richard Benyon Croft and Winston Churchill
's appointed Under-Secretary of State for War
until 1945. The south-east wing of the house served as his living quarters, and the present-day bedrooms numbered 207-210 were Lord Croft's maisonette. In 1874, Fanhams Hall was also the birthplace and home of his sister, Anne, who later became the second wife of Liverpool Brewer Sir Charles Nall-Cain
; they lived at Brocket Hall
, Welwyn
until Lord Brocket's death in 1934, when Lady Brocket returned to Fanhams Hall where she resided until her death in 1949.
It was Lady Brocket's interest in horticulture
that influenced the employment of Japanese gardeners to create the Hall's formal gardens. Her ornamental lakes and choice of trees (such as Japanese maples
) can still be seen in the present-day formal grounds, as can the "Fuji-yama Mound" which was built with earth from the Hall's lakes.
The house was sold as a training centre to the Westminster Bank
in 1951, to the Building Societies Association
in 1971, and to J Sainsbury plc in February 1986.
as part of their sister brand, EH Venues. The Hall is still open to the public as a local meeting point. For example, the local branch of the Ancient Order of Foresters
holds meetings within the grounds, and its buildings are also a location for political fundraising events within the town.
Queen Anne Style architecture
The Queen Anne Style in Britain means either the English Baroque architectural style roughly of the reign of Queen Anne , or a revived form that was popular in the last quarter of the 19th century and the early decades of the 20th century...
hotel Ware, Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
in the south east of 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...
.
History
Fanhams Hall is noteworthy for being the birthplace and home of the first Lord Croft, Sir Henry Page-CroftHenry Page Croft, 1st Baron Croft
Henry Page Croft, 1st Baron Croft was a British Conservative Party politician.-Early life and family:He was born at Fanhams Hall in Ware, Hertfordshire, England. He was the son of Richard Benyon Croft a naval officer and a major benefactor of the Richard Hale School, and Anne Elizabeth...
, who was the youngest son of Richard Hale School
Richard Hale School
Richard Hale School is a boys' school located in Hertford, Hertfordshire, in the south east of England. In the 2007 – 2008 academic year the school had over 1,000 pupils, including students attending the optional sixth form, which is also open to girls....
benefactor Richard Benyon Croft and Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
's appointed Under-Secretary of State for War
Under-Secretary of State for War
The position of Under-Secretary of State for War was a British government position, first applied to Evan Nepean . In 1801 the offices for War and the Colonies were merged and the post became that of Under-Secretary of State for War and the Colonies...
until 1945. The south-east wing of the house served as his living quarters, and the present-day bedrooms numbered 207-210 were Lord Croft's maisonette. In 1874, Fanhams Hall was also the birthplace and home of his sister, Anne, who later became the second wife of Liverpool Brewer Sir Charles Nall-Cain
Charles Nall-Cain, 1st Baron Brocket
Charles Alexander Nall-Cain, 1st Baron Brocket , born Charles Alexander Cain, was a British businessman and philanthropist....
; they lived at Brocket Hall
Brocket Hall
Brocket Hall is a country house in Hertfordshire, England, from London by road. It was built for Sir Matthew Lamb, 1st Baronet, in around 1760 to designs by the architect James Paine. It stands on the site of two predecessors, the first of which was built in 1239 and the second in about 1430. It...
, Welwyn
Welwyn
Welwyn is a village and civil parish in Hertfordshire, England. The parish also includes the villages of Digswell and Oaklands. It is sometimes called Old Welwyn to distinguish it from the newer settlement of Welwyn Garden City, about a mile to the south.-History:Situated in the valley of the...
until Lord Brocket's death in 1934, when Lady Brocket returned to Fanhams Hall where she resided until her death in 1949.
It was Lady Brocket's interest in horticulture
Horticulture
Horticulture is the industry and science of plant cultivation including the process of preparing soil for the planting of seeds, tubers, or cuttings. Horticulturists work and conduct research in the disciplines of plant propagation and cultivation, crop production, plant breeding and genetic...
that influenced the employment of Japanese gardeners to create the Hall's formal gardens. Her ornamental lakes and choice of trees (such as Japanese maples
Acer palmatum
Acer palmatum, called Japanese Maple or Smooth Japanese Maple is a species of woody plant native to Japan, North Korea, South Korea, China, eastern Mongolia, and southeast Russia. Many different cultivars of this maple have been selected and they are grown worldwide for their attractive leaf...
) can still be seen in the present-day formal grounds, as can the "Fuji-yama Mound" which was built with earth from the Hall's lakes.
The house was sold as a training centre to the Westminster Bank
Westminster Bank
Westminster Bank was a British retail bank which operated in England and Wales from 1834 until its merger into the National Westminster Bank in 1970; it remains a registered company but is dormant...
in 1951, to the Building Societies Association
Building Societies Association
The Building Societies Association is the trade organisation of the building societies in the United Kingdom. In 2011 the 48 building societies in the UK had total assets of over £317 billion. 15 million adults have building society saving accounts and over 2.9 million adults are currently buying...
in 1971, and to J Sainsbury plc in February 1986.
Current Use
The Hall currently serves as a hotel and events venue, and is owned by the hotel group Exclusive HotelsExclusive Hotels
Exclusive Hotels are a hotel chain based in Surrey, England. The hotel group has a portfolio of several hotels across the south, and operates mainly in the five star sector.-Portfolio:...
as part of their sister brand, EH Venues. The Hall is still open to the public as a local meeting point. For example, the local branch of the Ancient Order of Foresters
Ancient Order of Foresters
The Ancient Order of Foresters is a friendly society which was formed in 1834. The society is now known as Foresters Friendly Society, and has approximately 70,000 members...
holds meetings within the grounds, and its buildings are also a location for political fundraising events within the town.