Old Manor House near Grantham, Lincs, February 2020

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HughieD

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1. The History
The original house Manor was a stone mansion built on a wooded hill. This was then nearly all rebuilt circa 1819. A spring near to the house was said to possess medicinal and healing powers. In 1842, a local monied family, the Welby’s, took over and between 1879 and 1884 Sir William Welby-Gregory rebuilt the house based on the designs of architect Sir Arthur Blomfield in a Tudor style.

Engraving of the original house:

33125783834_3d06b3b775_b.jpgHall engraving_1 by HughieDW, on Flickr

The house, like so many around this time, was ravaged by fire in 1906. Dozens of wagons, traps and other horse-drawn vehicles were chartered in the nearby market town as spectators rushed to watch the blaze. Firemen climbed ladders and stripped away roof tiles for their hose jets and drew water from fishponds 300 metres away. Fire brigades from surrounding towns also turned out and as a result much of the manor was saved as the fire was contained to the upper floors. However, the flames and water caused an estimated damage of £30,000 to fabric and furniture (around £3.1 million in today’s money). The fire began in the chapel and was blamed on an overheating flue. It was discovered by a housemaid while the manor’s lord and lady were in church. Friends and villagers acted fast and helped to remove valuable paintings and furniture.

Aftermath of the fire:

33928377236_2649b89185_b.jpgAfter the fire by HughieDW, on Flickr

Floor plan for the manor:

49522946956_9fcaefe57f_b.jpg2020-02-11_10-19-19 by HughieDW, on Flickr

The blaze only strengthened the family's resolve and they rebuild it and restored it to its former glory. However, like so many stately homes of this the area, the upkeep of the manor became too much and in 1938 it was demolished and replaced by the present house, designed by Peter Foster and Marshal Sissons. In 1965 only the filled in cellar of the hall remained. Today, only a small wing of the 17th century house survives. They were the north-west wing of the house. These lower-slung buildings, including a game room, gun room and a boot room, were possibly retained for potential future use that never materialized and now they lay abandoned on the edge of the former manor’s rural estate.

House after the rebuild:

33969602265_8155bdccdc.jpgManor front by HughieDW, on Flickr

2. The Explore
Visited this place multiple times now, including in the lovely company of Bikin Glynn on one occasion and The Wombat on another. In the past it’s been either a bit rushed or poor light or both. This time the light was good and had more time on my hands. What’s left is quite a small and represents less than a quarter of the manor’s original footprint, but all the same, with its location on the edge of the woods, it’s an enchanting place.

3. The Pictures

The statue that greets you:

49515166627_2ecf8ab1ef_b.jpgimg5577 by HughieDW, on Flickr

49514426208_6f2a71600d_b.jpgimg5578 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Hello again, old friend:

49518280291_6a87d39524_b.jpg20200209_162222 by HughieDW, on Flickr

View from the rear:

49514414498_5231a64ed9_b.jpgimg5596 by HughieDW, on Flickr

49518281221_2b26a7250e_b.jpg20200209_161314 by HughieDW, on Flickr

49517764898_8866409250_b.jpg20200209_155655 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Close up of the tower:

49514931451_8246f0ac10_b.jpgimg5628 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Toilet – note butler bell on left hand side:

49514421573_03193863f8_b.jpgimg5582 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Not a weathervane exactly:

49514418063_46e40e98b5_b.jpgimg5588 by HughieDW, on Flickr

But this one is:

49514935551_ea199b8f7f_b.jpgimg5589 by HughieDW, on Flickr

49514937756_86ba8290d6_b.jpgimg5586 by HughieDW, on Flickr

49518290621_ff0077ba89_b.jpg20200209_155101 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Part of the 1880 date stone either side of the carriage entrance:

49518505917_89b2c1f444_b.jpg20200209_155313 by HughieDW, on Flickr

The roof of the game larder:

49514940846_061b97b4db_b.jpgimg5581 by HughieDW, on Flickr

49518290496_0641288b03_b.jpg20200209_155108 by HughieDW, on Flickr

This is to stop carriages bashing the wall:

49514935201_d3cd835972_b.jpgimg5591 by HughieDW, on Flickr

The gun room:

49517757753_4cf3a801e7_b.jpg20200209_161101 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Inside the game larder:

49518286811_3e19a5dc7d_b.jpg20200209_160049 by HughieDW, on Flickr

The Drying and Brush room:

49518504012_b028961ec6_b.jpg20200209_155756 by HughieDW, on Flickr

And inside:

49518501252_d70d4d8f0f_b.jpg20200209_160236 by HughieDW, on Flickr

49517758573_ddd7af7050_b.jpg20200209_160736 by HughieDW, on Flickr

49517758728_9dc680a16f_b.jpg20200209_160725 by HughieDW, on Flickr

49518284321_2ae64ea632_b.jpg20200209_160542 by HughieDW, on Flickr

An old marble fireplace:

49514439718_06e102010b_b.jpgimg5610 by HughieDW, on Flickr

And some old stained glass:

49518284991_70a250c6f2_b.jpg20200209_160356 by HughieDW, on Flickr


CONTINUED:

Smashed-up toilet room. This was whole when I first came here:

49518501477_e162cce8c6_b.jpg20200209_160226 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Old electric lighting:

49517761763_97035348b2_b.jpg20200209_160208 by HughieDW, on Flickr

The corridor:

49514538998_df4ccf7c47_b.jpgimg5626 by HughieDW, on Flickr

49517758448_35d20b83d7_b.jpg20200209_160955 by HughieDW, on Flickr

The open-air knives room:

49515282572_d21299b3a6_b.jpgimg5620 by HughieDW, on Flickr

On to the back-terrace building. Here’s an archive shot showing its position relative to the main house:

49518614331_72d6b2c2e9_b.jpg2020-02-11_12-29-46 by HughieDW, on Flickr

And today. In good nick, relatively speaking:

49515053866_06853e2924_b.jpgimg5629 by HughieDW, on Flickr

49514930751_f4fee147e4_b.jpgimg5634 by HughieDW, on Flickr

49518280126_de12d743d2_b.jpg20200209_161752 by HughieDW, on Flickr

49517755963_a4a44f1a78_b.jpg20200209_161641 by HughieDW, on Flickr

And finally, the disused tennis courts:

49514411798_00c30ba8ae_b.jpgimg5639 by HughieDW, on Flickr
 
Great to see this is hanging together still. Its hard to believe the original house was so grand that this replaced, seems a strange thing to do.
Might head back myself sometime!
 
Great set, cracking little place this, love the statue just in the middle of the woods 👍
 
Great to see this is hanging together still. Its hard to believe the original house was so grand that this replaced, seems a strange thing to do.
Might head back myself sometime!

She's bearing up is the old girl. Just seems like yesterday that we both had a shufty round here...

Great set, cracking little place this, love the statue just in the middle of the woods ��

It's a bit random innit?
 
Those columns in the last pictures are eye catching - so many of them and all seem to have stood up to the ravages of time. If you listen very carefully you can still hear the last game of tennis being played on the court. A bit haunting.
 
What a history the site has. I love the spiral twirl columns. I can taste them as though they are made of barley sugar. Scrumptious.
 

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