Woolverstone Hall
Encyclopedia
Woolverstone Hall is a large country house, now in use as a school located 5 miles south of the centre of Ipswich
, Suffolk
, England
. It is set in 80 acres (323,748.8 m²) on the banks of the River Orwell
. Built in 1776 for William Berners by the architect John Johnson
of Leicestershire, it is one of the finest examples of Palladian architecture
in England and is a Grade I listed building. In the 1950s, it was the Inner London Education Authority
's only state-run boarding school
.
. In 1823, alterations and additions were done by Thomas Hoppe, including side wings.
The estate passed to Charles' brother and, in the 1880s, Henry Denny Berners, LL.B., Archdeacon of Suffolk, resided at Woolverstone Hall. H.D. Berners' son, John, became the next owner, and John's brother, Hugh Berners (died 1891), Captain Royal Navy
succeeded him in 1886. The estate became the seat of Charles Hugh Berners, High Steward
for Harwich
, Essex
, great-grandson of William Berners. The manor was sold to Oxford University in 1937. It was requisitioned as a naval training establishment during World War II
and, in 1947, the London County Council
took it over as a boys' boarding school
--Woolverstone Hall School
. In the 1950s, it was the Inner London Education Authority
's only state-run boarding school
. In 1992, the property was sold to the Girls' Day School Trust
, who relocated Ipswich High School
to Woolverstone Hall.
Woolverstone Hall became a Grade I listed building on 22 February 1955.
s.
The central block is of three storeys: a rusticated basement, first floor and attic, and has at the centre of the principal front a pediment supported by four Ionic
columns. The house is built of Woolpit
brick, with Coade stone ornamentation. The main living areas are in the central block while the wings contain offices, the kitchen, larders, laundry room, and a brewhouse. A 20th century renovation added two-storey single-bay links to wings, and the attic.
Internally, the building still contains the original Adam style
fireplaces and ceilings decorated with gold leaf
. The modest staircase has a wrought iron honeysuckle balustrade.
The apartments contain a collection of paintings by ancient and modern artists.
The music room has been converted to a library.
shore. A square obelisk of freestone measured 96 feet (29.3 m) high and, ascended from the interior to the top, it was surmounted by a globe encircled with rays. It was badly damaged by fire during WW2 and demolished.
Ipswich
Ipswich is a large town and a non-metropolitan district. It is the county town of Suffolk, England. Ipswich is located on the estuary of the River Orwell...
, Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
, 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...
. It is set in 80 acres (323,748.8 m²) on the banks of the River Orwell
River Orwell
The River Orwell flows through the county of Suffolk in England. Its source river, above the tidal limit at Stoke Bridge, is known as the River Gipping. It broadens into an estuary at Ipswich where the Ipswich dock has operated since the 7th century and then flows into the North Sea at Felixstowe...
. Built in 1776 for William Berners by the architect John Johnson
John Johnson (architect)
John Johnson was an English architect and Surveyor to the County of Essex. He is best known for designing the Shire Hall, Chelmsford.-Life:...
of Leicestershire, it is one of the finest examples of Palladian architecture
Palladian architecture
Palladian architecture is a European style of architecture derived from the designs of the Venetian architect Andrea Palladio . The term "Palladian" normally refers to buildings in a style inspired by Palladio's own work; that which is recognised as Palladian architecture today is an evolution of...
in England and is a Grade I listed building. In the 1950s, it was the Inner London Education Authority
Inner London Education Authority
The Inner London Education Authority was the education authority for the 12 inner London boroughs from 1965 until its abolition in 1990.-History:...
's only state-run boarding school
Boarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...
.
History
The manor belonged to a Richard Catelyn (when?) and after his death, a dispute arose over his estate. After a bill of foreclosure was filed in the Court of Chancery, the estate remained undecided for half a century until 1773 when the property was sold under a decree of the Court, and was purchased for £14,000 by William Berners (died 1783). William Berners owned a street in London of that name, and the street would be known later for the Berners Street Hoax. He erected Woolverstone Hall in 1776. The obelisk was erected in 1793 to William's memory by his son, Charles Berners (1767–1831), High Sheriff of SuffolkHigh Sheriff of Suffolk
This is a list of High Sheriffs of Suffolk. The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown and is appointed annually by the Crown. He was originally the principal law enforcement officer in the county and presided at the Assizes and other important county meetings...
. In 1823, alterations and additions were done by Thomas Hoppe, including side wings.
The estate passed to Charles' brother and, in the 1880s, Henry Denny Berners, LL.B., Archdeacon of Suffolk, resided at Woolverstone Hall. H.D. Berners' son, John, became the next owner, and John's brother, Hugh Berners (died 1891), Captain Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
succeeded him in 1886. The estate became the seat of Charles Hugh Berners, High Steward
High steward (civic)
High steward is an honorary title bestowed by the councils or charter trustees of certain towns and cities in England. Originally a judicial office with considerable local powers, by the 17th century it had declined to a largely ceremonial role. The title is usually awarded for life, and in some...
for Harwich
Harwich
Harwich is a town in Essex, England and one of the Haven ports, located on the coast with the North Sea to the east. It is in the Tendring district. Nearby places include Felixstowe to the northeast, Ipswich to the northwest, Colchester to the southwest and Clacton-on-Sea to the south...
, Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
, great-grandson of William Berners. The manor was sold to Oxford University in 1937. It was requisitioned as a naval training establishment during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and, in 1947, the London County Council
London County Council
London County Council was the principal local government body for the County of London, throughout its 1889–1965 existence, and the first London-wide general municipal authority to be directly elected. It covered the area today known as Inner London and was replaced by the Greater London Council...
took it over as a boys' boarding school
Boarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...
--Woolverstone Hall School
Woolverstone Hall School
In the early 1950s the London County Council obtained use of Woolverstone Hall near Ipswich, Suffolk, and some of adjoining land for the purpose of establishing a secondary grammar boarding school for London boys...
. In the 1950s, it was the Inner London Education Authority
Inner London Education Authority
The Inner London Education Authority was the education authority for the 12 inner London boroughs from 1965 until its abolition in 1990.-History:...
's only state-run boarding school
Boarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...
. In 1992, the property was sold to the Girls' Day School Trust
Girls' Day School Trust
The Girls' Day School Trust is a group of 26 independent schools - 24 schools and two Academies - in England and Wales, catering for pupils aged 3 to 18. It is the largest group of independent schools in the UK, and educates 20,000 girls each year...
, who relocated Ipswich High School
Ipswich High School
Ipswich High School is a girls' independent school located at Woolverstone, near the town of Ipswich, England. It was founded in 1872 and is one of the schools of the Girls' Day School Trust.-History:...
to Woolverstone Hall.
Woolverstone Hall became a Grade I listed building on 22 February 1955.
Architecture and fittings
Woolverstone Hall comprises a central block of three stories with the flanking wings connected by colonnadeColonnade
In classical architecture, a colonnade denotes a long sequence of columns joined by their entablature, often free-standing, or part of a building....
s.
The central block is of three storeys: a rusticated basement, first floor and attic, and has at the centre of the principal front a pediment supported by four Ionic
Ionic order
The Ionic order forms one of the three orders or organizational systems of classical architecture, the other two canonic orders being the Doric and the Corinthian...
columns. The house is built of Woolpit
Woolpit
Woolpit is a village in the English county of Suffolk, midway between the towns of Bury St. Edmunds and Stowmarket As of 2007 it has a population of 2030. It is notable for the 12th-century legend of the green children of Woolpit and for its parish church, which has especially fine medieval woodwork...
brick, with Coade stone ornamentation. The main living areas are in the central block while the wings contain offices, the kitchen, larders, laundry room, and a brewhouse. A 20th century renovation added two-storey single-bay links to wings, and the attic.
Internally, the building still contains the original Adam style
Adam style
The Adam style is an 18th century neoclassical style of interior design and architecture, as practiced by the three Adam brothers from Scotland; of whom Robert Adam and James Adam were the most widely known.The Adam brothers were the first to advocate an integrated style for architecture and...
fireplaces and ceilings decorated with gold leaf
Gold leaf
right|thumb|250px|[[Burnishing]] gold leaf with an [[agate]] stone tool, during the water gilding processGold leaf is gold that has been hammered into extremely thin sheets and is often used for gilding. Gold leaf is available in a wide variety of karats and shades...
. The modest staircase has a wrought iron honeysuckle balustrade.
The apartments contain a collection of paintings by ancient and modern artists.
The music room has been converted to a library.
Grounds
Originally situated in a 400 acre wooded park extending to the River Orwell, it sat opposite Orwell Park, and contained a herd of fallow deer. The curved front offers views of the river and the NactonNacton
Nacton is a civil parish in the Suffolk Coastal region of Suffolk, England, taking its name from the village within it. The parish is bounded by the neighbouring parishes of Levington to the east and Bucklesham in the north. It is located between the towns of Ipswich and Felixstowe.Nacton abuts...
shore. A square obelisk of freestone measured 96 feet (29.3 m) high and, ascended from the interior to the top, it was surmounted by a globe encircled with rays. It was badly damaged by fire during WW2 and demolished.