Bucklebury Manor

Bucklebury Manor
Bucklebury Manor is located in Berkshire
Bucklebury Manor
Location of Bucklebury Manor in Berkshire
Coordinates51°25′37″N 1°12′03″W / 51.42687°N 1.20092°W / 51.42687; -1.20092
Built1830s
Built forWinchcombe Henry Howard Hartley
Architectural style(s)Regency
Listed Building – Grade II
Designated22 November 1983

Bucklebury Manor is a Grade II listed manor house in the civil parish of Bucklebury in the English county of Berkshire. Since 2012, it has been the home of Michael and Carole Middleton, parents of Catherine, Princess of Wales.

History

Manorial status

The land on which the house stands was part of the Bucklebury Estate, belonging to the Winchcombe family and their descendants for many generations. In 1830, their home, Bucklebury House, was gutted by fire and demolished shortly afterwards, leaving only servants' quarters and associated outbuildings standing.[1] In the mid-1830s, Winchcombe Henry Howard Hartley had a smaller Georgian manor house built on the higher ground immediately south of the old house, calling it 'The Cottage'.[2]

The Hartley family then mostly lived on their estates in Gloucestershire. However, shortly before these were sold in 1906, the chief heiress to the estates, Mrs Nina Webley-Parry, moved to the Cottage and renamed it 'Bucklebury Manor'.[1]

Post-manorial house

The Winchcombe descendants finally left the Manor and it ceased to be the local manor house when Major Derrick Hartley Russell restored the buildings at old Bucklebury House in 1957.

In 2012, Bucklebury Manor and its eighteen acres of grounds were purchased by Michael and Carole Middleton, the parents of Catherine, Princess of Wales.[3]

Architecture

The Georgian Bucklebury Manor contains within its interior an early C17 ashlar fireplace that is carved with panelled pilasters that support a rich cornice.[4] There is also an over-mantel with shallow carved decoration, and a moulded flat arch with Delft type glazed tiles behind.[4] There are seven bedrooms.[3] Bucklebury Manor has been listed as Grade II by English Heritage since 22 November 1983.[4]

Location

Bucklebury Manor is located at Pease Hill in Bucklebury, a village in West Berkshire.[4][3] The house's surrounding estate covers 18 acres.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b Jamison, Catherine (1923). Page, William; Ditchfield, P.H. (eds.). The Victoria History of the County of Berkshire: Volume 3. St. Catherine Press. pp. 291–296. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  2. ^ Money, W. (1901). A Perfect Booke, of All the Landes as Well Arable as Pasture. W.J. Blacket. Retrieved 30 April 2019. Bucklebury Cottage Mrs Webley-Parry.
  3. ^ a b c d Why Prince William and Kate Middleton have chosen Bucklebury as Prince George's first home, Hello, 20 August 2013
  4. ^ a b c d British Listed Buildings: The Manor, Bucklebury