Halswell House
Encyclopedia
Halswell House is a country house in Goathurst
, Somerset
, England
.
The Tudor
house was originally purchased by the Tynte family, which was united with the Kemeys family of Cefn Mably
when Jane Kemeys married the Rev. John Tynte (d. 1710), 2nd baronet of Halswell, and rector of Goathurst. The couple were succeeded in turn by their three sons: Halsewell Tynte (1705–30), 3rd baronet, of Halswell and Cefnmabli, whose two daughters died young, the Rev. John Tynte (1707–40, died unmarried), 4th baronet and rector of Goathurst, and Charles Kemeys Tynte (1710–85, dsp.), 5th baronet. Cefn Mably remained in the hands of the Kemeys Tynte family until 1923. http://www.archivesnetworkwales.info/cgi-bin/anw/fulldesc_nofr?inst_id=36&coll_id=1179&expand=
Halswell Park was developed between 1745 and 1785 as a setting for Halswell House. The 17 acres (68,796.6 m²) pleasure garden was created by Sir Charles Kemeys Tynte, with the transformation of the landscape on a grand scale to rank in scope and importance with some of the finest landscape gardens in Europe.
The grounds contain many fanciful buildings, fish ponds, cascades and bridges, including the Temple of Harmony
which stands in Mill Wood. Completed in 1767, it is Grade II listed and has been fully restored. It is open to the public on Sundays from May until September. http://www.somersite.co.uk/temple.htm
The contents of the house were sold in 1948, and the house itself in 1950 when the rest of the estate was auctioned off. Part of the house was converted into flats.
The Halswell Park Trust was established with the aim of acquiring the buildings and surrounding land of Halswell Park, restoring them and opening them to the public. In 1998, the Somerset Buildings Preservation Trust
restored Robin Hood's Hut
(Grade II), which commands views over Somerset, the Bristol Channel
and South Wales
. Robin Hood's Hut is now owned by the Landmark Trust
, who let the building on short holiday leases.
Halswell House is now a Grade I listed building.
Goathurst
Goathurst is a small village and civil parish in the English county of Somerset, around 3 miles from the town of Bridgwater. The parish includes the hamlets of Andersfield and Huntstile.-History:Goathurst was part of the hundred of Andersfield....
, Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
, 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...
.
The Tudor
Tudor style architecture
The Tudor architectural style is the final development of medieval architecture during the Tudor period and even beyond, for conservative college patrons...
house was originally purchased by the Tynte family, which was united with the Kemeys family of Cefn Mably
Cefn Mably
The district of Cefn Mably makes up part of St Mellons, a small suburb on the east side of Cardiff.-External links:* information on the Kemeys-Tynte family...
when Jane Kemeys married the Rev. John Tynte (d. 1710), 2nd baronet of Halswell, and rector of Goathurst. The couple were succeeded in turn by their three sons: Halsewell Tynte (1705–30), 3rd baronet, of Halswell and Cefnmabli, whose two daughters died young, the Rev. John Tynte (1707–40, died unmarried), 4th baronet and rector of Goathurst, and Charles Kemeys Tynte (1710–85, dsp.), 5th baronet. Cefn Mably remained in the hands of the Kemeys Tynte family until 1923. http://www.archivesnetworkwales.info/cgi-bin/anw/fulldesc_nofr?inst_id=36&coll_id=1179&expand=
Halswell Park was developed between 1745 and 1785 as a setting for Halswell House. The 17 acres (68,796.6 m²) pleasure garden was created by Sir Charles Kemeys Tynte, with the transformation of the landscape on a grand scale to rank in scope and importance with some of the finest landscape gardens in Europe.
The grounds contain many fanciful buildings, fish ponds, cascades and bridges, including the Temple of Harmony
Temple of Harmony
The Temple of Harmony is an 18th-century folly in the grounds of Halswell House, Goathurst, Somerset, England.-Description:The Temple of Harmony is a 1767 replica of the 1st-century Temple of Fortuna Virilis in Rome...
which stands in Mill Wood. Completed in 1767, it is Grade II listed and has been fully restored. It is open to the public on Sundays from May until September. http://www.somersite.co.uk/temple.htm
The contents of the house were sold in 1948, and the house itself in 1950 when the rest of the estate was auctioned off. Part of the house was converted into flats.
The Halswell Park Trust was established with the aim of acquiring the buildings and surrounding land of Halswell Park, restoring them and opening them to the public. In 1998, the Somerset Buildings Preservation Trust
Somerset Buildings Preservation Trust
The Somerset Buildings Preservation Trust works to save the architectural heritage of Somerset, England.The Trust is an independent body and consists of up to 18 Trustees who hold Board meetings 3 times a year. It is a Building Preservation Trust with charitable status and a company limited by...
restored Robin Hood's Hut
Robin Hood's Hut
Robin Hood's Hut is a small pavilion in the grounds of Halswell House, Goathurst, Somerset, England.It was built between 1740 and 1760 by Sir Charles Kemeys-Tynte. It had three rooms: an earth-floored hermit's room, a kitchen and a "china room" used for dining...
(Grade II), which commands views over Somerset, the Bristol Channel
Bristol Channel
The Bristol Channel is a major inlet in the island of Great Britain, separating South Wales from Devon and Somerset in South West England. It extends from the lower estuary of the River Severn to the North Atlantic Ocean...
and South Wales
South Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
. Robin Hood's Hut is now owned by the Landmark Trust
Landmark Trust
The Landmark Trust is a British building conservation charity, founded in 1965 by Sir John and Lady Smith, that rescues buildings of historic interest or architectural merit and then gives them a new life by making them available for holiday rental...
, who let the building on short holiday leases.
Halswell House is now a Grade I listed building.