Wimpole Estate is a large estate containing Wimpole Hall, a

country house image:Blenheim - Blenheim Palace - 20210417125239.jpg, 300px, Blenheim Palace - Oxfordshire 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 Townhou ...

located within the civil parish of

Wimpole Wimpole is a small village and civil parishes in England, civil parish in South Cambridgeshire, England, about southwest of Cambridge. Until 1999, the main settlement on the A603 was officially known and signed as ''New Wimpole and Orwell, Camb ...

Cambridgeshire Cambridgeshire (abbreviated Cambs.) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the East of England and East Anglia. It is bordered by Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the north-east, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfor ...

England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

, about southwest of

Cambridge Cambridge ( ) is a List of cities in the United Kingdom, city and non-metropolitan district in the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It is the county town of Cambridgeshire and is located on the River Cam, north of London. As of the 2021 Unit ...

. The house, begun in 1640, and its of parkland and farmland are owned by the

National Trust The National Trust () is a heritage and nature conservation charity and membership organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Trust was founded in 1895 by Octavia Hill, Sir Robert Hunter and Hardwicke Rawnsley to "promote the ...

. The estate is generally open to the public and received over 335,000 visitors in 2019.

History

Sited close to the great

Roman road Roman roads ( ; singular: ; meaning "Roman way") were physical infrastructure vital to the maintenance and development of the Roman state, built from about 300 BC through the expansion and consolidation of the Roman Republic and the Roman Em ...

Ermine Street Ermine Street is a major Roman road in England that ran from London (''Londinium'') to Lincoln ('' Lindum Colonia'') and York ('' Eboracum''). The Old English name was ''Earninga Strǣt'' (1012), named after a tribe called the ''Earninga ...

, Wimpole was listed in the

Domesday Book Domesday Book ( ; the Middle English spelling of "Doomsday Book") is a manuscript record of the Great Survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086 at the behest of William the Conqueror. The manuscript was originally known by ...

of 1086. At that time there was a moated manor house set in a small deer-park. Situated to the north and south of this were three medieval villages: Bennall End, Thresham End and Green End. The estate was held by the Chicheley family for over 250 years, beginning in 1428 with

Henry Chichele Henry Chichele ( ; also Checheley; – 12 April 1443) was Archbishop of Canterbury (1414–1443) and founded All Souls College, Oxford. Early life Chichele was born at Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire, in 1363 or 1364; Chichele told Pope Eu ...

who was Archbishop of Canterbury. The last of this family to hold the house was the politician Thomas Chicheley, who was responsible for the "new" house that was completed in 1650. Chicheley established the "formal gardens and architectural landscape". He enjoyed the house for 36 years until, weighed down by financial problems, he was forced to sell to Sir John Cutler.Souden, p. 8 In 1689, Sir John gave it as a marriage settlement to his daughter Elizabeth and her husband

Charles Robartes, 2nd Earl of Radnor Charles is a masculine given name predominantly found in English and French speaking countries. It is from the French form ''Charles'' of the Proto-Germanic name (in runic alphabet) or ''*karilaz'' (in Latin alphabet), whose meaning wa ...

. Lord Radnor extended the formal gardens and dug out fishponds. On the death of Elizabeth in 1697, without an heir, the estate passed to Edmund Boulter, nephew of Sir John Cutler. In 1710 it was in the possession of

John Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle-upon-Tyne John Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle (9 January 1662 – 15 July 1711) was an English Peerage of the United Kingdom, peer and politician. Early life Holles was born in Edwinstowe, Nottinghamshire, the son of the Gilbert Holles, 3rd Earl of Clare ...

, who left it to his daughter Lady Henrietta Cavendish Holles upon his death the following year. Upon Henrietta's marriage, in 1713, it became the possession of her husband Edward Harley, 2nd Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer. In 1740, Edward sold Wimpole to Philip Yorke, 1st Earl of Hardwicke, in order to pay off his debts. The Earls of Hardwicke held it until it passed into the hands of Thomas Agar-Robartes, 6th Viscount Clifden, and then his son, Francis Agar-Robartes, 7th Viscount ClifdenSouden, p.40 who, in 1930, departed to Lanhydrock upon the death of his father. On 27 October 1843,

Queen Victoria Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until Death and state funeral of Queen Victoria, her death in January 1901. Her reign of 63 year ...

and Prince Albert visited the hall. They listened to speeches by local politicians including Charles Yorke, 4th Earl of Hardwicke, and dinner was served for 26 people. A ball was held in the evening. On 28 October 1843, Her Majesty visited the farm in the morning before departing for London. In 1938, Capt. George Bambridge and his wife, Elsie, daughter of

Rudyard Kipling Joseph Rudyard Kipling ( ; 30 December 1865 – 18 January 1936)''The Times'', (London) 18 January 1936, p. 12. was an English journalist, novelist, poet, and short-story writer. He was born in British Raj, British India, which inspired much ...

, purchased it after having been tenants since 1932.Clelland, Sarah (2017). ''National Trust Book of Scones: 50 Delicious Recipes and Some Curious Crumbs of History''. London: National Trust Books. p.20 They used the inheritance left to them by her father, and the royalties from his books, for the long-needed refurbishment of the house and grounds. During the War, for instance, the house had no running water nor electricity. During her time at Wimpole Hall, Elsie was known to become irritated by members of the public gathering too close to the house for picnics, so much so, she once returned to an offending couple's property and had her own picnic on their lawn. Elsie Bambridge bequeathed the house to the

when she died in 1976. Over the centuries many notable architects have worked on it, including James Gibbs (between 1713 and 1730),

Henry Flitcroft Henry Flitcroft (30 August 1697 – 25 February 1769) was a major English architect in the second generation of Palladianism. He came from a humble background; his father was a labourer in the gardens at Hampton Court. Flitcroft began his career a ...

(around 1749),

John Soane Sir John Soane (; né Soan; 10 September 1753 – 20 January 1837) was an English architect who specialised in the Neoclassical architecture, Neo-Classical style. The son of a bricklayer, he rose to the top of his profession, becoming professor ...

(1790s), and H. E. Kendall (1840s). There are decorative schemes by the painter James Thornhill (1721). Carved marble busts of the Roman emperors

Trajan Trajan ( ; born Marcus Ulpius Traianus, 18 September 53) was a Roman emperor from AD 98 to 117, remembered as the second of the Five Good Emperors of the Nerva–Antonine dynasty. He was a philanthropic ruler and a successful soldier ...

and Galba were returned to Wimpole in 2014 and placed on the original wooden plinths which had been carved for them by Rattee and Kett in around 1860.

Interior gallery

File:Cmglee Wimpole Hall Yellow Drawing Room.jpg, The Yellow Drawing Room 1793 by Sir John Soane File:Cmglee Wimpole Hall chapel.jpg, The chapel by James Gibbs with murals by Sir James Thornhill completed 1724 File:Cmglee Wimpole Hall bath.jpg, The Plunge Bath c.1792 by Sir John Soane

The grounds

Wimpole Hall's grounds, enclosed in 1302, were laid out and modified by

landscape design Landscape design is an independent profession and a design and art tradition, practiced by landscape designers, combining nature and culture. In contemporary practice, landscape design bridges the space between landscape architecture and garde ...

ers such as George London and Henry Wise (1693–1705), Charles Bridgeman (1720s), Robert Greening (1740s), "Capability" Brown (1767), and Humphry Repton (1801–1809). Bridgeman's formal grand avenue sweeps away from the south front of the house for two and a half miles, in contrast with the remainder of the park which was "naturalised" by Capability Brown. The elms were killed by Dutch elm disease, but the avenue has been replanted. The North Park is particularly attractive with its belts of woodland, gentle rolling hills with individual trees and clumps of trees. The central feature of the North Park is the neo-Gothic Tower, Wimpole's Folly (1768), and the restored lakes in the valley below. In the grounds are a chain of lakes (1695–1767), St Andrew's church (1749), a home farm (1792), a walled garden (18th century), and a stable block (1851). The " Dutch Garden" beneath the hall was established in 1980 with the rest of the garden completed based upon the mid-19th century

parterre A ''parterre'' is a part of a formal garden constructed on a level substrate, consisting of symmetrical patterns, made up by plant beds, plats, low hedges or coloured gravels, which are separated and connected by paths. Typically it was the ...

Listed buildings

The Wimpole Park Estate contains a number of listed buildings and structures. Wimpole Hall, a neo-classical building, is Grade I listed, and the estate itself is Grade I listed on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens. The entrance gates and piers at the west entrance to the hall are listed Grade II, and the stable block is listed Grade II*. In the gardens, a group of five vases and a copy of the sculpture '' Samson Slaying a Philistine'' are listed Grade II, as are the steps to the west of the hall and the wall and railings to the south. On the edge of the ornamental gardens the

ha-ha A ha-ha ( or ), also known as a sunk fence, blind fence, ditch and fence, deer wall, or foss, is a recessed landscape design element that creates a vertical barrier (particularly on one side) while preserving an uninterrupted view of the lan ...

to the north west and to the north are both listed Grade II. The Wimpole's Folly castle on the estate is listed Grade II*. The walled garden and the gardener's cottage on the north side of the walled garden are both listed Grade II, as is the

game A game is a structured type of play usually undertaken for entertainment or fun, and sometimes used as an educational tool. Many games are also considered to be work (such as professional players of spectator sports or video games) or art ...

larder A larder is a cool area for storing food prior to use. Originally, it was where raw meat was larded—covered in fat—to be preserved. This method slowed spoilage by sealing out air, bacteria, and moisture. In colder larders (4°C/40°F or lower) ...

to the north east of the hall.

Community use

Like many other estates managed by the National Trust, a range of organised events and less formal access arrangements now use Wimpole Park. In 2013, a national partnership between the Trust and parkrun led to the establishment of a free, weekly timed run around the park, with over 200 participants every Saturday morning. In December 2019, the National Trust farm hosted the trial of a robot, known as Tom, that maps weeds with absolute precision. After the trial, Wimpole Estate expressed their intention to use the battery-powered prototype during the growing season. In November 2020 there was a break-in at Wimpole Hall and twelve items, including vases and busts, were stolen.

Gallery

Image:Wimpole Hall Morris edited.jpg, Wimpole Hall in 1880 Image:Wimpole Hall - geograph.org.uk - 402693.jpg, parterre on the north front Image:Wimpole folly.JPG, Wimpole's Folly, designed in 1751 by Sanderson Miller, it evokes a medieval castle ruin Image:X. 2006 03 04 2006030404 Wimpole.jpg, The lake and Gothic folly in the grounds of Wimpole Hall Image:Wimpole stables.jpg, Wimpole the stable block designed by Henry Edward Kendall and erected in 1851 Image:Wimpole Hall glasshouse.jpg, Wimpole glasshouses in the kitchen garden Image:Wimpole Church - geograph.org.uk - 2929.jpg, St Andrew's Church Image:St Andrew's Church, Wimpole - geograph.org.uk - 1149816.jpg, Memorials and tombs in St Andrew's Church, Wimpole Image:St Andrew's Church, Wimpole - Chancel - geograph.org.uk - 1149833.jpg, Chancel St Andrew's Church, Wimpole File:William Frederick Witherington (1785-1865) - A Modern Picture Gallery - 207839 - National Trust.jpg, '' A Modern Picture Gallery'' by William Frederick Witherington, 1824. Part of the collection of art at Wimpole Hall

References

Sources

External links