Braxted Park
Encyclopedia
Braxted Park, formerly called Braxted Lodge, is a country house in the Queen Anne style set in a landscaped 2,000 acre park near the village of Great Braxted
, Essex
.
At the Domesday Survey, Eudo Dapifer is shown as owner of the manor. All Saints' Church, originally built in about 1115 and restored in the 18th century, also lies within the park grounds.
The property, recorded as a a 'deer park' in 1342, was held by a series of Essex families including those by the names of Anesty, Montchensy, Valence, Hastings, Grey, Montgomery, Ayloff and Maynard.
The lands were purchased by Thomas Darcy in 1650 from the estate of the then Countess of Pembroke
. Braxted Lodge was built on the property in 1680 by Darcy's son. During his ownership, the property was enlarged and landscaped, with several large man-made ponds being added, including one that is now visible from the main house and is referred to as 'the lake'.
In 1745, the estate was purchased from the Darcy family by Peter Du Cane, Sr. of nearby Coggeshall
, a wealthy cloth merchant, trader and businessman descended from noble Huguenot
ancestors by the name of 'Du Quesne'. Having moved the family to Essex, where he had become High Sheriff
and Member of Parliament
for Colchester
, Du Cane ultimately settled the family at Braxted Park in 1751.
Du Cane, a director of the Bank of England
and the East India Company
, reconstructed and enlarged the house around 1760, assisted by Isaac Ware
, Thomas James
and Robert Taylor (architect)
. Du Cane thoroughly landscaped and upgraded the property, more than doubling its size.
The property passed to Peter Du Cane (II), then 62, when his father died at the age of 90 in 1803. He acccomplished even more improvements and alterations to the building and grounds, bringing the main house and gardens largely to their present state. Peter Du Cane (III) inherited the property in 1823 and continued to add to the holdings, including the restoration of the church (including the building of the Du Cane Family crypt) and the addition of several other buildings.
In 1841, Charles Du Cane
acceded to the property on the death of his cousin Peter, who had by then already formally changed its name to 'Braxted Park'. Member of Parliament
for Maldon
from 1852 to 1854 and for Essex North
from 1857 to 1868, Du Cane served as civil Lord of the Admiralty for two years. Sir Charles was appointed Governor of Tasmania from 1868 to 1874 and died on the estate in 1889.
Braxted Park was acquired by Sir William Boulton, 1st Baronet
, from the Du Cane family in 1919. The Boulton Baronetcy of Braxted Park was created in 1944. The Boulton family sold the estate to The Plessey
Company in 1947. Sir Allen George Clark
, chairman of the company, and his descendants have been its occupants to the present day.
Great Braxted
Great Braxted is a village between Great Totham and Tiptree in Essex, England.-External links:...
, 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...
.
At the Domesday Survey, Eudo Dapifer is shown as owner of the manor. All Saints' Church, originally built in about 1115 and restored in the 18th century, also lies within the park grounds.
The property, recorded as a a 'deer park' in 1342, was held by a series of Essex families including those by the names of Anesty, Montchensy, Valence, Hastings, Grey, Montgomery, Ayloff and Maynard.
The lands were purchased by Thomas Darcy in 1650 from the estate of the then Countess of Pembroke
Countess of Pembroke
Countess of Pembroke is a title that has been borne by several women throughout history, including:* Margaret of England , wife of John Hastings, 2nd Earl of Pembroke; daughter of King Edward III and Philippa of Hainault....
. Braxted Lodge was built on the property in 1680 by Darcy's son. During his ownership, the property was enlarged and landscaped, with several large man-made ponds being added, including one that is now visible from the main house and is referred to as 'the lake'.
In 1745, the estate was purchased from the Darcy family by Peter Du Cane, Sr. of nearby Coggeshall
Coggeshall
Coggeshall is a small market town of 3,919 residents in Essex, England, situated between Colchester and Braintree on the Roman road of Stane Street , and intersected by the River Blackwater. It is known for its almost 300 listed buildings and formerly extensive antique trade...
, a wealthy cloth merchant, trader and businessman descended from noble Huguenot
Huguenot
The Huguenots were members of the Protestant Reformed Church of France during the 16th and 17th centuries. Since the 17th century, people who formerly would have been called Huguenots have instead simply been called French Protestants, a title suggested by their German co-religionists, the...
ancestors by the name of 'Du Quesne'. Having moved the family to Essex, where he had become High Sheriff
High Sheriff
A high sheriff is, or was, a law enforcement officer in the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States.In England and Wales, the office is unpaid and partly ceremonial, appointed by the Crown through a warrant from the Privy Council. In Cornwall, the High Sheriff is appointed by the Duke of...
and Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Colchester
Colchester
Colchester is an historic town and the largest settlement within the borough of Colchester in Essex, England.At the time of the census in 2001, it had a population of 104,390. However, the population is rapidly increasing, and has been named as one of Britain's fastest growing towns. As the...
, Du Cane ultimately settled the family at Braxted Park in 1751.
Du Cane, a director of the Bank of England
Bank of England
The Bank of England is the central bank of the United Kingdom and the model on which most modern central banks have been based. Established in 1694, it is the second oldest central bank in the world...
and the East India Company
East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
, reconstructed and enlarged the house around 1760, assisted by Isaac Ware
Isaac Ware
Isaac Ware was an English architect and translator of Italian Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio.He was apprenticed to Thomas Ripley, 1 August 1721, and followed him in positions in the Office of Works, but his mentor in design was Lord Burlington.Ware was a member of the St...
, Thomas James
Thomas James
Thomas James was an English librarian, first librarian of the Bodleian Library, Oxford.James became a fellow of New College, Oxford in 1593...
and Robert Taylor (architect)
Robert Taylor (architect)
Sir Robert Taylor was a notable English architect of the mid-late 18th century.Born at Woodford, Essex, Taylor followed in his father's footsteps and started working as a stonemason and sculptor, spending time as a pupil of Sir Henry Cheere...
. Du Cane thoroughly landscaped and upgraded the property, more than doubling its size.
The property passed to Peter Du Cane (II), then 62, when his father died at the age of 90 in 1803. He acccomplished even more improvements and alterations to the building and grounds, bringing the main house and gardens largely to their present state. Peter Du Cane (III) inherited the property in 1823 and continued to add to the holdings, including the restoration of the church (including the building of the Du Cane Family crypt) and the addition of several other buildings.
In 1841, Charles Du Cane
Charles Du Cane
Sir Charles Du Cane, KCMG was a British Conservative Party politician and colonial administrator who was a Member of Parliament from 1852–1854 and Governor of Tasmania from 1868 to 1874....
acceded to the property on the death of his cousin Peter, who had by then already formally changed its name to 'Braxted Park'. Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Maldon
Maldon (UK Parliament constituency)
Maldon is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election...
from 1852 to 1854 and for Essex North
North Essex (UK Parliament constituency)
North Essex was a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom between 1997 and 2010...
from 1857 to 1868, Du Cane served as civil Lord of the Admiralty for two years. Sir Charles was appointed Governor of Tasmania from 1868 to 1874 and died on the estate in 1889.
Braxted Park was acquired by Sir William Boulton, 1st Baronet
Sir William Boulton, 1st Baronet
Sir William Whytehead Boulton, 1st Baronet DL was a British soldier and Conservative Party politician.-Background:...
, from the Du Cane family in 1919. The Boulton Baronetcy of Braxted Park was created in 1944. The Boulton family sold the estate to The Plessey
Plessey
The Plessey Company plc was a British-based international electronics, defence and telecommunications company. It originated in 1917, growing and diversifying into electronics. It expanded after the second world war by acquisition of companies and formed overseas companies...
Company in 1947. Sir Allen George Clark
Allen George Clark
Sir Allen George Clark was an American born, British industrialist who helped to build the former Plessey company into one of Europe's largest manufacturers of telecommunications equipment, military electronics and aircraft components.-Early life:Allen George Clark was born in Brookline,...
, chairman of the company, and his descendants have been its occupants to the present day.