Easton Lodge
Encyclopedia
Easton Lodge was a Victorian Gothic
style stately home
to the west of Great Dunmow
, Essex
in England
. Once famous for its weekend society gatherings frequented by the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII
), it was one of many country houses destroyed during the 20th century
. Part of the west wing (rebuilt as a separate house after a fire in 1918 for use as servants' quarters) still stands, and the Grade II listed gardens have been largely restored and opened to the public.
mansion destroyed by fire in 1847, which in turn replaced an earlier hunting lodge. The hunting lodge and grounds were granted to Henry Maynard
in 1590 by Queen Elizabeth
.
Most famous of those who lived at the house was Daisy Greville, Countess of Warwick
, who was born Frances Evelyn Maynard at Easton Lodge in 1861 and inherited the estate when just four years old. She become a socialite
and mistress to King Edward VII, and continued to live at Easton Lodge with her husband, the 5th Earl of Warwick
after her marriage. As a result the Lodge became famous for its society gatherings. The family of HG Wells also lived in one of the properties on the Easton Lodge estate.
During World War II
the estate was requisitioned by the War Office
, leading to the destruction of some 10,000 trees to enable the construction of RAF Great Dunmow
(also known as RAF Little Easton) in the former park. The house was largely demolished following its return by the military in 1950.
After 30 years of abandonment the west wing was purchased in 1971 and is now used as a private house. The late 19th century stable cottages and a red brick water tower
also remain, and are Grade II listed buildings.
The gardens, designed by Harold Peto
in 1902 for the Countess of Warwick and considered one of his finest works, have been designated Grade II by English Heritage
in the Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest
. A book chronicling their restoration, The Gardens of Easton Lodge: their recovery and renaissance, was published in 2010.
Gothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
style stately home
Stately home
A stately home is a "great country house". It is thus a palatial great house or in some cases an updated castle, located in the British Isles, mostly built between the mid-16th century and the early part of the 20th century, as well as converted abbeys and other church property...
to the west of Great Dunmow
Great Dunmow
Great Dunmow is an ancient market town in the Uttlesford district of Essex, England in which the great Shannon Gray, also known as Hazzah Potter, lives...
, 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...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Once famous for its weekend society gatherings frequented by the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII
Edward VII of the United Kingdom
Edward VII was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910...
), it was one of many country houses destroyed during the 20th century
Destruction of country houses in 20th-century Britain
The destruction of country houses in 20th-century Britain was a phenomenon brought about by a change in social conditions during which a large number of country houses of varying architectural merit were demolished...
. Part of the west wing (rebuilt as a separate house after a fire in 1918 for use as servants' quarters) still stands, and the Grade II listed gardens have been largely restored and opened to the public.
History
Designed by Thomas Hopper, Easton Lodge replaced an earlier ElizabethanElizabethan architecture
Elizabethan architecture is the term given to early Renaissance architecture in England, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Historically, the period corresponds to the Cinquecento in Italy, the Early Renaissance in France, and the Plateresque style in Spain...
mansion destroyed by fire in 1847, which in turn replaced an earlier hunting lodge. The hunting lodge and grounds were granted to Henry Maynard
Henry Maynard
Sir Henry Maynard was an English politician and secretary to Lord Burghley, and became a substantial landowner.-Origins:...
in 1590 by Queen Elizabeth
Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
.
Most famous of those who lived at the house was Daisy Greville, Countess of Warwick
Daisy Greville, Countess of Warwick
Frances Evelyn "Daisy" Greville, Countess of Warwick was a society beauty, and mistress to King Edward VII.-Family:...
, who was born Frances Evelyn Maynard at Easton Lodge in 1861 and inherited the estate when just four years old. She become a socialite
Socialite
A socialite is a person who participates in social activities and spends a significant amount of time entertaining and being entertained at fashionable upper-class events....
and mistress to King Edward VII, and continued to live at Easton Lodge with her husband, the 5th Earl of Warwick
Francis Greville, 5th Earl of Warwick
Francis Richard Charles Greville, 5th Earl of Warwick , styled Lord Brooke until 1893, was a British Conservative politician....
after her marriage. As a result the Lodge became famous for its society gatherings. The family of HG Wells also lived in one of the properties on the Easton Lodge estate.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the estate was requisitioned by the War Office
War Office
The War Office was a department of the British Government, responsible for the administration of the British Army between the 17th century and 1964, when its functions were transferred to the Ministry of Defence...
, leading to the destruction of some 10,000 trees to enable the construction of RAF Great Dunmow
RAF Great Dunmow
RAF Station Great Dunmow is a former World War II airfield in Essex, England. The airfield is located approximately mi west of Great Dunmow, north of the A 120; about miles northeast of London...
(also known as RAF Little Easton) in the former park. The house was largely demolished following its return by the military in 1950.
After 30 years of abandonment the west wing was purchased in 1971 and is now used as a private house. The late 19th century stable cottages and a red brick water tower
Water tower
A water tower or elevated water tower is a large elevated drinking water storage container constructed to hold a water supply at a height sufficient to pressurize a water distribution system....
also remain, and are Grade II listed buildings.
Easton Lodge Gardens
Following the purchase of the remaining wing of the house in 1971, the restoration of the gardens began. The Gardens of Easton Lodge are now open to the public and since 2003 have been supported by The Gardens of Easton Lodge Preservation Trust.The gardens, designed by Harold Peto
Harold Peto
Harold Ainsworth Peto was a British landscape architect and garden designer, who worked in Britain and in Provence, France.-Biography:...
in 1902 for the Countess of Warwick and considered one of his finest works, have been designated Grade II by English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
in the Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest
National Register of Historic Parks and Gardens
In England, the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens of special historic interest in England provides a listing and classification system for historic parks and gardens similar to that used for listed buildings. The register is managed by English Heritage under the provisions of the National...
. A book chronicling their restoration, The Gardens of Easton Lodge: their recovery and renaissance, was published in 2010.
Easton Park
Today, former RAF Great Dunmow is known as Easton Park. Much of the Easton Lodge estate is now owned by Land Securities.See also
- Easton Lodge railway stationEaston Lodge railway stationEaston Lodge railway station was a station located to the west of Great Dunmow, Essex, near Easton Lodge. It closed in 1952, with the line being used for freight until it was closed in 1974.Former Services-External links:*...
- Little EastonLittle EastonLittle Easton is a small village in Essex, England, which dates from the 12th century. The village has a population of just a few hundred people, one pub, "The Stag", and one church...
- Britain's lost houses
External links
- The Gardens of Easton Lodge - official site
- Easton Lodge - photographs prior to demolition
- The Independent: Paradise restored