Quy Hall is a Grade II* listed
English country house
An English country house is a large house or mansion in the English countryside. Such houses were often owned by individuals who also owned a town house. This allowed them to spend time in the country and in the city—hence, for these peopl ...
at
Stow cum Quy
Stow cum Quy , commonly referred to as Quy, is a village and civil parish in Cambridgeshire, England. Situated around north east of Cambridge lying between the Burwell Road (B1102) and the medieval Cambridge to Newmarket road (B1303, formerly A ...
, Cambridgeshire. Originally dating from the late 15th century, it was completely remodelled in 1870.
It stands in its own grounds overlooking a lake in the
Quy Water.
History
A manor house known as Quy Hall had stood on the site since the late 15th century. In the 17th century the hall was occupied by the
Whichcote baronets, the 3rd Baronet of whom sold it c.1720 to James Martin, a London banker. In 1854 the Martins sold it on to Clement Francis, a Cambridge solicitor, who carried out the substantial rebuilding to designs by
William White. The grounds were also progressively extended to cover some 135 acres (55 ha) by the late 19th century.
The property has passed down in the Francis family ever since.
Architecture
The hall is constructed in two storeys to an H-shaped plan of yellow gault brick with plain red roof tiles. It originally dates to the 15th century, and some of the roof trusses remain from that era as well as 16th century ones in the south front roof. The end crosswing gables, three central gables and three service range gables are all in chequered patterned brickwork.
In the 1870s the house was completely remodelled by William White and what is believed to be decorator
Thomas Gambier Parry
Thomas Gambier Parry, J.P., D.L., (22 February 1816 – 28 September 1888) was a British artist and art collector. He is best remembered for his development of the Gambier Parry process of fresco painting, and for forming the significant col ...
, who decorated and painted the drawing room, dining room and library. Gambier Parry was staying in the vicinity during his work on
Ely Cathedral
Ely Cathedral, formally the Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity, is an Anglican cathedral in the city of Ely, Cambridgeshire, England.
The cathedral has its origins in AD 672 when St Etheldreda built an abbey church. The presen ...
. 18th century doors remain on the dining room. Both of the staircases and fireplaces were designed by White.
References
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Country houses in Cambridgeshire
Grade II* listed buildings in Cambridgeshire