Esher Place
Encyclopedia
Esher Place is a Grade-II listed country house
, now used as a college
by the trade union
Unite
, in Esher
, Surrey
, United Kingdom
. The current building is at least the fourth on the site.
, Bishop of Winchester
, for his bishopric early in the 13th century. This house was subsequently torn down in the latter half of the 15th century by William Waynflete
, Bishop of Winchester and Lord Chancellor
, to make way for a large brick residence with a tower gatehouse
(Waynflete's Tower, see below) that still stands today. Cardinal Wolsey, who possessed Esher Place as Bishop of Winchester, was kept under house arrest
here after his fall from power. The estate was then seized by Henry VIII, restored to the Bishop of Winchester by Mary I
, and the lease was then re-purchased by the Crown under Elizabeth I, who granted it to her Lord High Admiral
, Lord Howard of Effingham
, who granted it to Sir Francis Drake's cousin Richard Drake
. After the defeat of the Spanish Armada, three captured Spanish admirals and their retinue were held at Esher for over five years. It remained in the Drake family until 1634. Over the next 75 years, Esher Place was held by at least seven individuals, the last two being Sir Thomas Lynch, an early English governor of Jamaica
, and John Latton, a pluralistic place-holder under William III
.
In 1716 the estate was separated from the manor house, with the estate being sold to the first Duke of Newcastle, who owned nearby Claremont
. The house and grounds, after passing through two more owners, including Peter Delaperte, one of the directors of the South Sea Company, finally came into the ownership of the Duke of Newcastle's younger brother, Henry Pelham
, in 1729. Pelham hired William Kent
to renovate the property: Kent did so by pulling down much of the medieval and Tudor portions of the building—except for the gatehouse—and adding wings and some of the earliest Gothic revival ornamentation in England. In The Seasons, Scots poet James Thomson (author of the lyrics to Rule, Britannia!
) mentions "Esher's peaceful grove/Where Kent and Nature vie for Pelham's love". The inhabitants of Esher Place also had the privilege of using one-half of the Newcastle Pew at St. George's Church, Esher
. After Pelham's death, the property passed to his daughter, and was then purchased in 1805 by London merchant John Spicer.
Spicer pulled down the entire house and used the material to build another, designed by Edward Lapidge
, on a more elevated site. The new house was stuccoed, in imitation of stone, with Ionic porticoes on north and south fronts, and semi-circular wings. In the late 1890s, this building was then incorporated as a wing into the current French Renaissance style
house on the site, designed by G.T. Robinson and Achille Duchêne
at the behest of Edgar Vincent
, later 1st Lord D'Abernon. Vincent had purchased the much-reduced estate in 1895 from Money Wigram
, who had bought it from the Spicer heirs. Vincent—Lord D'Abernon after 1914—had many famed guests, including Edward VII when Prince of Wales
, Cecil Rhodes, and Anna Pavlova. However, in 1930 Lord D'Abernon gave the house to the Ragged School Union
, later the Shaftesbury Society, while most of the grounds were sold to developers who built a housing estate around the mansion. The house became the Shaftesbury Home for young children from 1930 until 1952, when it was sold to the Electrical Trades Union
, which opened it in 1953 as the college it remains today.
, originally built at the same time as the late 15th century house, but much modified by William Kent following Henry Pelham's purchase of the property. Kent added the two three-bay ranges of three stories to the left and right, as well as the one-story porch between the turrets with ogee-arched doorway, triple window above with ogee-headed lights, and quatrefoil windows. However, the rib-vaulted entrance hall was the gateway in Wayneflete's time, though stuccoed over by Kent. The Tower is currently a residence.
Waynflete's Tower was also the subject of a 2006
Time Team
investigation.
English country house
The English country house is a large house or mansion in the English countryside. Such houses were often owned by individuals who also owned a London house. This allowed to them to spend time in the country and in the city—hence, for these people, the term distinguished between town and country...
, now used as a college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
by the trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
Unite
Unite the Union
Unite – the Union, known as Unite, is a British and Irish trade union, formed on 1 May 2007, by the merger of Amicus and the Transport and General Workers' Union...
, in Esher
Esher
Esher is a town in the Surrey borough of Elmbridge in South East England near the River Mole. It is a very prosperous part of the Greater London Urban Area, largely suburban in character, and is situated 14.1 miles south west of Charing Cross....
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The current building is at least the fourth on the site.
History
The first house here was acquired by Peter des RochesPeter des Roches
Peter des Roches was bishop of Winchester in the reigns of King John of England and his son Henry III. Roches was not an Englishman, but a Poitevin.-Life:...
, Bishop of Winchester
Bishop of Winchester
The Bishop of Winchester is the head of the Church of England diocese of Winchester, with his cathedra at Winchester Cathedral in Hampshire.The bishop is one of five Church of England bishops to be among the Lords Spiritual regardless of their length of service. His diocese is one of the oldest and...
, for his bishopric early in the 13th century. This house was subsequently torn down in the latter half of the 15th century by William Waynflete
William Waynflete
William Waynflete , born William Patten, was Bishop of Winchester from 1447 to 1486, and Lord Chancellor of England from 1456 to 1460. He is best remembered as the founder of Magdalen College and Magdalen College School in Oxford....
, Bishop of Winchester and Lord Chancellor
Lord Chancellor
The Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, or Lord Chancellor, is a senior and important functionary in the government of the United Kingdom. He is the second highest ranking of the Great Officers of State, ranking only after the Lord High Steward. The Lord Chancellor is appointed by the Sovereign...
, to make way for a large brick residence with a tower gatehouse
Gatehouse
A gatehouse, in architectural terminology, is a building enclosing or accompanying a gateway for a castle, manor house, fort, town or similar buildings of importance.-History:...
(Waynflete's Tower, see below) that still stands today. Cardinal Wolsey, who possessed Esher Place as Bishop of Winchester, was kept under house arrest
House arrest
In justice and law, house arrest is a measure by which a person is confined by the authorities to his or her residence. Travel is usually restricted, if allowed at all...
here after his fall from power. The estate was then seized by Henry VIII, restored to the Bishop of Winchester by Mary I
Mary I of England
Mary I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from July 1553 until her death.She was the only surviving child born of the ill-fated marriage of Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon. Her younger half-brother, Edward VI, succeeded Henry in 1547...
, and the lease was then re-purchased by the Crown under Elizabeth I, who granted it to her Lord High Admiral
Lord High Admiral
Lord High Admiral can refer to:* Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom * Lord High Admiral of Scotland* Lord High Admiral of the Wash* Lord High Admiral of Sweden-See also:...
, Lord Howard of Effingham
William Howard, 1st Baron Howard of Effingham
William Howard, 1st Baron Howard of Effingham , was the eldest son of Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk by his second wife, Agnes Tilney...
, who granted it to Sir Francis Drake's cousin Richard Drake
Richard Drake
Richard Drake of Esher , Equerry of the Stable to Queen Elizabeth I, was the son of John Drake, of Ashe, and Amy ; he was a brother of Sir Bernard Drake...
. After the defeat of the Spanish Armada, three captured Spanish admirals and their retinue were held at Esher for over five years. It remained in the Drake family until 1634. Over the next 75 years, Esher Place was held by at least seven individuals, the last two being Sir Thomas Lynch, an early English governor of Jamaica
History of Jamaica
Jamaica, the 3rd largest Caribbean island, was inhabited by Arawak natives when it was first sighted by the 2nd voyage of Christopher Colombus on 5th May 1494. bob marley. christian. asmin. david...
, and John Latton, a pluralistic place-holder under William III
William III of England
William III & II was a sovereign Prince of Orange of the House of Orange-Nassau by birth. From 1672 he governed as Stadtholder William III of Orange over Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel of the Dutch Republic. From 1689 he reigned as William III over England and Ireland...
.
In 1716 the estate was separated from the manor house, with the estate being sold to the first Duke of Newcastle, who owned nearby Claremont
Claremont (country house)
Claremont, also known historically as 'Clermont', is an 18th-century Palladian mansion situated less than a mile south of Esher in Surrey, England...
. The house and grounds, after passing through two more owners, including Peter Delaperte, one of the directors of the South Sea Company, finally came into the ownership of the Duke of Newcastle's younger brother, Henry Pelham
Henry Pelham
Henry Pelham was a British Whig statesman, who served as Prime Minister of Great Britain from 27 August 1743 until his death in 1754...
, in 1729. Pelham hired William Kent
William Kent
William Kent , born in Bridlington, Yorkshire, was an eminent English architect, landscape architect and furniture designer of the early 18th century.He was baptised as William Cant.-Education:...
to renovate the property: Kent did so by pulling down much of the medieval and Tudor portions of the building—except for the gatehouse—and adding wings and some of the earliest Gothic revival ornamentation in England. In The Seasons, Scots poet James Thomson (author of the lyrics to Rule, Britannia!
Rule, Britannia!
"Rule, Britannia!" is a British patriotic song, originating from the poem "Rule, Britannia" by James Thomson and set to music by Thomas Arne in 1740...
) mentions "Esher's peaceful grove/Where Kent and Nature vie for Pelham's love". The inhabitants of Esher Place also had the privilege of using one-half of the Newcastle Pew at St. George's Church, Esher
St. George's Church, Esher
St. George’s Church, Esher is a Grade I listed Anglican church in Esher, Surrey, England. Built in the 16th century, it was Esher’s parish church for 300 years, though later worshippers included Queen Victoria. However, by the mid-19th century the building was deemed too small for the growing...
. After Pelham's death, the property passed to his daughter, and was then purchased in 1805 by London merchant John Spicer.
Spicer pulled down the entire house and used the material to build another, designed by Edward Lapidge
Edward Lapidge
Edward Lapidge was an English architect, who held the post of County Surveyor of Surrey and designed Kingston Bridge.-Life:Edward Lapidge was the eldest son of Samuel Lapidge, the head gardener at Hampton Court Palace and one-time assistant of Lancelot "Capability" BrownHe built Esher Place for...
, on a more elevated site. The new house was stuccoed, in imitation of stone, with Ionic porticoes on north and south fronts, and semi-circular wings. In the late 1890s, this building was then incorporated as a wing into the current French Renaissance style
Châteauesque
Châteauesque is one of several terms, including Francis I style, and, in Canada, the Château Style, that refer to a revival architectural style based on the French Renaissance architecture of the monumental French country homes built in the Loire Valley from the late fifteenth century to the...
house on the site, designed by G.T. Robinson and Achille Duchêne
Achille Duchêne
Achille Duchêne was a French garden designer who worked in the grand manner established by André Le Nôtre. The son of the landscaper...
at the behest of Edgar Vincent
Edgar Vincent, 1st Viscount D'Abernon
Edgar Vincent, 1st Viscount D'Abernon, GCB, GCMG, PC, FRS was a British politician, diplomat, art collector and author.-Early life:...
, later 1st Lord D'Abernon. Vincent had purchased the much-reduced estate in 1895 from Money Wigram
Wigram (disambiguation)
Wigram is a placename and surname.* Wigram, suburb of Christchurch, New Zealand.** Wigram , its electorate.** Wigram Aerodrome, former Royal New Zealand Air Force base.*** Wigram Airfield Circuit, motor racing circuit there....
, who had bought it from the Spicer heirs. Vincent—Lord D'Abernon after 1914—had many famed guests, including Edward VII when Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales is a title traditionally granted to the heir apparent to the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the 15 other independent Commonwealth realms...
, Cecil Rhodes, and Anna Pavlova. However, in 1930 Lord D'Abernon gave the house to the Ragged School Union
Ragged school
Ragged Schools were charitable schools dedicated to the free education of destitute children in 19th century England. The schools were developed in working class districts of the rapidly expanding industrial towns...
, later the Shaftesbury Society, while most of the grounds were sold to developers who built a housing estate around the mansion. The house became the Shaftesbury Home for young children from 1930 until 1952, when it was sold to the Electrical Trades Union
Electrical, Electronic, Telecommunications and Plumbing Union
The Electrical, Electronic, Telecommunications and Plumbing Union, known as the EETPU was a British trade union formed in 1968 as a union for electricians.-History:...
, which opened it in 1953 as the college it remains today.
Waynflete's Tower
Waynflete's Tower (51.3738°N 0.3768°W) is a grade-1 listed gatehouseGatehouse
A gatehouse, in architectural terminology, is a building enclosing or accompanying a gateway for a castle, manor house, fort, town or similar buildings of importance.-History:...
, originally built at the same time as the late 15th century house, but much modified by William Kent following Henry Pelham's purchase of the property. Kent added the two three-bay ranges of three stories to the left and right, as well as the one-story porch between the turrets with ogee-arched doorway, triple window above with ogee-headed lights, and quatrefoil windows. However, the rib-vaulted entrance hall was the gateway in Wayneflete's time, though stuccoed over by Kent. The Tower is currently a residence.
Waynflete's Tower was also the subject of a 2006
Time Team (Series 13)
-Series 13:Episode # refers to the air date order. The Time Team Specials are aired in between regular episodes, but are omitted from this list-See also:* Time Team Live* Time Team History Hunters* Time Team Digs* Time Team Extra* Time Team America...
Time Team
Time Team
Time Team is a British television series which has been aired on Channel 4 since 1994. Created by television producer Tim Taylor and presented by actor Tony Robinson, each episode features a team of specialists carrying out an archaeological dig over a period of three days, with Robinson explaining...
investigation.