Fretherne Court

Fretherne Court was a handsome residential sporting mansion with picturesque grounds and deer park estate of some 676 acres, situated in the Severn Vale between the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal

Gloucester and Sharpness Canal

The Gloucester and Sharpness Canal or Gloucester and Berkeley Canal is a canal in the west of England, between Gloucester and Sharpness; for much of its length it runs close to the tidal River Severn, but cuts off a significant loop in the river, at a once-dangerous bend near Arlingham...

 and the River Severn

River Severn

The River Severn is the longest river in Great Britain, at about , but the second longest on the British Isles, behind the River Shannon. It rises at an altitude of on Plynlimon, Ceredigion near Llanidloes, Powys, in the Cambrian Mountains of mid Wales...

, in Fretherne

Fretherne

Fretherne is a settlement in Gloucestershire, England. It forms the civil parish of Fretherne with Saul with the village of Saul.In the Domesday Book of 1086 it is recorded as held by Turstin FitzRolf....

, Gloucestershire

Gloucestershire

Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....

. It was owned by the Darell family who were Baronets of Richmond Hill

Darell Baronets

There have been two Baronetcies created for persons with the surname Darell, one in the Baronetage of England and one in the Baronetage of Great Britain. One creation is extant as of 2008....

.

It was built in around 1864 by Sir Edward Tierney (Tierney Baronets

Tierney Baronets

The Tierney Baronetcy, of Brighthelmstone in the County of Sussex and of Dover Street in the County of Middlesex, was a title that was created twice in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom, both times in favour of Matthew Tierney, Physician-in-Ordinary to George III and George IV. The first...

) who also enlarged Fretherne church from one aisle to three.
A good description of Sir Edwards renovations can be read in Sir Lionel E. H. M. Darell's memoirs - written about 1950:-

"My grandfather - Rev. Sir Lionel William Darell, 4th Baronet (1817-1883) - had come from Richmond Hill, London

Richmond Hill, London

Richmond Hill in Richmond, London is a hill that rises gently on its northern side from the ancient Thames meadowlands around the site of Richmond Palace up to and slightly beyond the Richmond Gate entrance to Richmond Park, the former royal hunting grounds enclosed by Charles I...

 to a little village of Fretherne, the living being presented to him by Sir Edward Tierney. Sir Edward completely transmogrofied the humble little refectory of Fretherne, building on to it many extra reception rooms, a ballroom, billiard room, water towers and halls, and last but no means least, a charming little chapel just inside the front entrance hall. Our airey nurseries were on the second floor, but in those days there was no electric light, central heating, or bathroom of any description. The Kitchens were large, designed after the big kitchen at Christ Church, Oxford

Christ Church, Oxford

Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...

, but the food had to be brought up many passages".

Auctioned off

The Court was sold off in 26 parcels or lots in an auction by Bruton Knowles at the Bell Hotel Gloucester on Saturday 6 September 1919 when Sir Lionel Edward Darell (5th Baronet) 1845-1919 died, by his son Sir Lionel Edward Hamilton Marmaduke Darell 1876-1954 (6th Baronet - who called himself 'Ratcatcher Baronet' in his privately published biography).

From his biography Lionel describes why he had to sell Fretherne Court:-

"...And so we return to my poor father who died in February 1919 beloved by all, and I succeeded him. It was soon very evident after reading his will and consultation with the family lawyer, that my old home would have to go - there was no question about it. The estate had to be split up amongst the seven surviving children, with of course provisions for my mother, so I at once settled to sell Fretherne Court Estate, which had been in my family for say some ninety years. or so, my grandfather having come there as a squarson (squire clergyman) from Richmond. It was very sad, but Fretherne Court had no modern requirements, no central heating, and they said we used to burn a ton of coal a day there - fancy the price now, and of course you could not have got it - no electricity, although my uncle had advocated this so many years before, the kitchens about a quarter of a mile, or so to speak, from the dining rooms water supply very indifferent, only one or two bathrooms, and the drainage system - well, I finish with this...."

The mansion was described in the auction literature as of hansome elevation, facing south and east and commanding fine views over the Severn, approached by a carriage Drive, through well-timbered grounds with picturesque lodge entrance, delightful pleasure grounds of terrace formation. A fine walled kitchen garden with glass houses excellent stabling for 16 horses, garage for 5 cars.

This was some house, what a shame we have lost it - The auction literature goes on to describe every room in detail, e.g the entrance hall fitted with two fire places having old carved over mantels, with small Chapel adjoining in all 50 feet by 14 feet....

Demolished

The mansion was eventually demolished in the mid 1920s, and much of the high quality materials was sold to local builders for renovations to local buildings.

Primary sources

• Sir Lionel Edward Hamilton Marmaduke Darell, 6th Baronet (1876–1954). His biography titled - Ratcatcher Baronet: The Memoirs of Schoolboy, Soldier, Sportsman and County Councillor during Five Reigns - 1951. (with a forward by The Right Reverend The Lord Bishop of Gloucester) - privately printed.

External links

• The sale of Fretherne Court
• Lost Country Houses
• The Darell Baronets from Richmond Hill
  Darell Baronets
  There have been two Baronetcies created for persons with the surname Darell, one in the Baronetage of England and one in the Baronetage of Great Britain. One creation is extant as of 2008....
  
  
• The old rectory was demolished around 1850 to make way for Fretherne Court
• Deeds relating to conveyance of Estate from Sir Lionel 1795