Hanstead House
Encyclopedia
Hanstead House is a Georgian-style country house estate near Bricket Wood
in Hertfordshire
, England
. It was built in 1925.
, Scotland
and he spent most of his life in India
, which is where he was knight
ed by King George V
in 1911.
Sir David Yule joined Andrew Yule and Company Ltd.
, which was begun by his uncle. Its business was to produce tea, jute
and paper in India and export them to Britain
. Among his other business interests were directorships of Midland Bank, Mercantile Bank of India, Vickers Ltd., the Royal Exchange Assurance Company and ownership of the Daily Chronicle
newspaper. In 1900 he married Annie Henrietta, oldest daughter of his uncle Andrew Yule of Calcutta, India
.
Herbert W. Armstrong
who later bought the house, wrote in his booklet The Seven Laws of Success: "In 1925 Sir David decided to build for himself a mansion on this 1200 acre (4.9 km²) estate, located only five miles (8 km) from the northwest edge of London. Prior to this he had built a 'modest' two-story house of some 14 rooms to live in during construction of the mansion. It was later to become the guest house."
Hanstead House became the home of Miss Gladys Yule, the only child of Sir David and Lady Annie. She lived in the mansion with the servants while her mother lived in the guest house. Sir David spent most of his time in India. Upon his death in 1928 his widow inherited an estimated £15 million and she returned to England
. Commented Herbert W. Armstong: "He lies buried in an admirably designed carved stone tomb, covered overhead by a stone and wood canopy, enclosed by an ornate iron fence inside a small wooded park, the whole being encircled by another iron fence." The tomb of Sir David Yule, which depicts various aspects of his life is located on the grounds of Hanstead House.
Lady Annie Henrietta Yule
and her daughter Gladys were world travellers who reportedly shared an interest in big game hunting and a love of animals. Hanstead House was said to have been adorned by a large stuffed bear which they had killed in the Rocky Mountains
of Colorado
. On the grounds they kept a seal, penguins wallabies and beginning in 1925 they expanded their interests to Arabian
horse breeding
. To that end stables which later gained fame in their own right, were built on the expansive grounds.
In 1934 Lady Yule also played a key part with J. Arthur Rank
in the formation of Pinewood Film Studios and in the promotion of the British film industry
.
Following the death of Miss Gladys Yule in 1957, Hanstead House was put on the market where it remained uncared for over a considerable period of time.
who arrived in England looking for a larger office for his Radio Church of God staff. The existing office had been opened in London
by his eldest son Richard David Armstrong, brother of Garner Ted Armstrong
. While Herbert W. and his wife Loma were on their trip, Richard David was killed in a car crash in the USA.
In 1959 Herbert W. Armstrong bought Hanstead House, stables and grounds as the site for his second Ambassador College
campus. By the time of the purchase the guest house had already been sold separately to another buyer, who used the property as a private home like an island within the campus. (The first Ambassador College opened in 1947 at Pasadena
, California
; in 1964 a third college opened in Big Sandy
, Texas
which for a brief time became Ambassador University. All three colleges have since closed down.) in 1959 Hanstead House was renamed Memorial Hall in memory of Richard David Armstrong and the college at Bricket Wood began its first freshman year in 1960.
Herbert W. Armstrong wrote in Chapter 72 of his autobiography that Trans World Airlines
(TWA
) had been considering Hanstead House as a school for stewardesses. "Yet this mansion, with these outstanding gardens, the aviary, greenhouses, cedars of Lebanon, all finally came to us for £8,000 ($22,800) - the not uncommon price of a five- or six-room cottage on a forty- or fifty-foot lot in America, - and that on terms that gave us several years to pay."
From the radio studio of Ambassador College, Herbert W. Armstrong and his son Garner Ted Armstrong made English language daily recorded broadcasts of The World Tomorrow
radio program which were heard around the world on hundreds of stations, while Dr. Benjamin Rea, the college's Vice-Chancellor made recorded Spanish language editions of the program for other stations. In addition to the broadcasting activities a sizeable printing establishment was also commenced on the site. Dr. Ernest L. Martin was the Dean of Faculty who later gained fame in his own right as the author of several books on controversial topics.
Improvements were made to the grounds and these included tennis courts, track and an Olympic standard (imperial measurements) indoor swimming pool and gymnasium next to the track. The swimming pool became home to Verulam ASC in 1979. The pool being one of the most modern in the area. Verulam ASC continues to this day and attracts swimmers from the surrounding Bricket Wood area as well as further afield.
The college was sold to a succession of electric power utility interests as a training centre and in 1993 it was sold to HSBC
(named after its founding member, The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, which was established in 1865 to finance the growing trade between China
and Europe
.)
Bricket Wood
Bricket Wood is a village in the county of Hertfordshire, England, approximately 4½ miles from St Albans. It is part of the parish of St Stephen. Its railway station is served by a London Midland service that runs between St Albans Abbey and Watford Junction stations.Close to the village stands...
in Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
, 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...
. It was built in 1925.
The Yule family
Sir David Yule (1858–1928) who made his at home at Hanstead House off Smug Oak Lane, just outside the village. He was born in EdinburghEdinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and he spent most of his life in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, which is where he was knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
ed by King George V
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
in 1911.
Sir David Yule joined Andrew Yule and Company Ltd.
Andrew Yule and Company Ltd.
Andrew Yule & Co. Ltd. is an Indian manufacturing and industrial conglomerate, primarily owned by the Indian Government. It is the main company owned by the Yule Group. It is currently headquartered in Kolkata , and has offices in the main Indian cities...
, which was begun by his uncle. Its business was to produce tea, jute
Jute
Jute is a long, soft, shiny vegetable fibre that can be spun into coarse, strong threads. It is produced from plants in the genus Corchorus, which has been classified in the family Tiliaceae, or more recently in Malvaceae....
and paper in India and export them to Britain
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom during the period when what is now the Republic of Ireland formed a part of it....
. Among his other business interests were directorships of Midland Bank, Mercantile Bank of India, Vickers Ltd., the Royal Exchange Assurance Company and ownership of the Daily Chronicle
Daily Chronicle
The Daily Chronicle was a British newspaper that was published from 1872 to 1930 when it merged with the Daily News to become the News Chronicle.-History:...
newspaper. In 1900 he married Annie Henrietta, oldest daughter of his uncle Andrew Yule of Calcutta, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
Herbert W. Armstrong
Herbert W. Armstrong
Herbert W. Armstrong founded the Worldwide Church of God in the late 1930s, as well as Ambassador College in 1946, and was an early pioneer of radio and tele-evangelism, originally taking to the airwaves in the 1930s from Eugene, Oregon...
who later bought the house, wrote in his booklet The Seven Laws of Success: "In 1925 Sir David decided to build for himself a mansion on this 1200 acre (4.9 km²) estate, located only five miles (8 km) from the northwest edge of London. Prior to this he had built a 'modest' two-story house of some 14 rooms to live in during construction of the mansion. It was later to become the guest house."
Hanstead House became the home of Miss Gladys Yule, the only child of Sir David and Lady Annie. She lived in the mansion with the servants while her mother lived in the guest house. Sir David spent most of his time in India. Upon his death in 1928 his widow inherited an estimated £15 million and she returned to 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...
. Commented Herbert W. Armstong: "He lies buried in an admirably designed carved stone tomb, covered overhead by a stone and wood canopy, enclosed by an ornate iron fence inside a small wooded park, the whole being encircled by another iron fence." The tomb of Sir David Yule, which depicts various aspects of his life is located on the grounds of Hanstead House.
Lady Annie Henrietta Yule
Annie Henrietta Yule
Annie Henrietta Yule, Lady Yule was the eldest daughter of Andrew Yule of Calcutta, India.She married Sir David Yule a British businessman and nephew of Andrew Yule of Calcutta...
and her daughter Gladys were world travellers who reportedly shared an interest in big game hunting and a love of animals. Hanstead House was said to have been adorned by a large stuffed bear which they had killed in the Rocky Mountains
Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains are a major mountain range in western North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch more than from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in western Canada, to New Mexico, in the southwestern United States...
of Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
. On the grounds they kept a seal, penguins wallabies and beginning in 1925 they expanded their interests to Arabian
Arabian horse
The Arabian or Arab horse is a breed of horse that originated on the Arabian Peninsula. With a distinctive head shape and high tail carriage, the Arabian is one of the most easily recognizable horse breeds in the world. It is also one of the oldest breeds, with archaeological evidence of horses...
horse breeding
Horse breeding
Horse breeding is reproduction in horses, and particularly the human-directed process of selective breeding of animals, particularly purebred horses of a given breed. Planned matings can be used to produce specifically desired characteristics in domesticated horses...
. To that end stables which later gained fame in their own right, were built on the expansive grounds.
In 1934 Lady Yule also played a key part with J. Arthur Rank
J. Arthur Rank
Joseph Arthur Rank, 1st Baron Rank was a British industrialist and film producer, and founder of the Rank Organisation, now known as The Rank Group Plc.- Family business :...
in the formation of Pinewood Film Studios and in the promotion of the British film industry
Cinema of the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom has had a major influence on modern cinema. The first moving pictures developed on celluloid film were made in Hyde Park, London in 1889 by William Friese Greene, a British inventor, who patented the process in 1890. It is generally regarded that the British film industry...
.
Following the death of Miss Gladys Yule in 1957, Hanstead House was put on the market where it remained uncared for over a considerable period of time.
Ambassador College
In 1959 it was brought to the attention of Herbert W. ArmstrongHerbert W. Armstrong
Herbert W. Armstrong founded the Worldwide Church of God in the late 1930s, as well as Ambassador College in 1946, and was an early pioneer of radio and tele-evangelism, originally taking to the airwaves in the 1930s from Eugene, Oregon...
who arrived in England looking for a larger office for his Radio Church of God staff. The existing office had been opened in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
by his eldest son Richard David Armstrong, brother of Garner Ted Armstrong
Garner Ted Armstrong
Garner Ted Armstrong was an American evangelist and the son of Herbert W. Armstrong, founder of the Worldwide Church of God, at the time a Sabbatarian organization that taught strict observance of seventh-day Sabbath, holy days typically associated with the Jewish faith, and other observances...
. While Herbert W. and his wife Loma were on their trip, Richard David was killed in a car crash in the USA.
In 1959 Herbert W. Armstrong bought Hanstead House, stables and grounds as the site for his second Ambassador College
Ambassador College
Ambassador College was a four-year, liberal arts college run by the Worldwide Church of God. The college was established in 1947 in Pasadena, California by radio evangelist Herbert W. Armstrong, leader of what was then the Radio Church of God, later renamed the Worldwide Church of God...
campus. By the time of the purchase the guest house had already been sold separately to another buyer, who used the property as a private home like an island within the campus. (The first Ambassador College opened in 1947 at Pasadena
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
; in 1964 a third college opened in Big Sandy
Big Sandy, Texas
Big Sandy is a town in Upshur County, Texas, United States. As of the 2000 census, the town's population was 1,288. A lake of the same name is cut nearly in half by U.S. Highway 80, the main thoroughfare of Big Sandy....
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
which for a brief time became Ambassador University. All three colleges have since closed down.) in 1959 Hanstead House was renamed Memorial Hall in memory of Richard David Armstrong and the college at Bricket Wood began its first freshman year in 1960.
Herbert W. Armstrong wrote in Chapter 72 of his autobiography that Trans World Airlines
Trans World Airlines
Trans World Airlines was an American airline that existed from 1925 until it was bought out by and merged with American Airlines in 2001. It was a major domestic airline in the United States and the main U.S.-based competitor of Pan American World Airways on intercontinental routes from 1946...
(TWA
Twa
The Twa are any of several hunting peoples of Africa who live interdependently with agricultural Bantu populations, and generally hold a socially subordinate position: They provide the farming population with game in exchange for agricultural products....
) had been considering Hanstead House as a school for stewardesses. "Yet this mansion, with these outstanding gardens, the aviary, greenhouses, cedars of Lebanon, all finally came to us for £8,000 ($22,800) - the not uncommon price of a five- or six-room cottage on a forty- or fifty-foot lot in America, - and that on terms that gave us several years to pay."
From the radio studio of Ambassador College, Herbert W. Armstrong and his son Garner Ted Armstrong made English language daily recorded broadcasts of The World Tomorrow
The World Tomorrow
The World Tomorrow is a now-defunct radio and television half-hour program which had been sponsored by the Radio Church of God which ran from 1934 to 1994...
radio program which were heard around the world on hundreds of stations, while Dr. Benjamin Rea, the college's Vice-Chancellor made recorded Spanish language editions of the program for other stations. In addition to the broadcasting activities a sizeable printing establishment was also commenced on the site. Dr. Ernest L. Martin was the Dean of Faculty who later gained fame in his own right as the author of several books on controversial topics.
Improvements were made to the grounds and these included tennis courts, track and an Olympic standard (imperial measurements) indoor swimming pool and gymnasium next to the track. The swimming pool became home to Verulam ASC in 1979. The pool being one of the most modern in the area. Verulam ASC continues to this day and attracts swimmers from the surrounding Bricket Wood area as well as further afield.
HSBC Training Centre
When Ambassador College closed its doors in 1974, the sports facilities were sold separately from the main buildings and eventually became part of a Sports Centre.The college was sold to a succession of electric power utility interests as a training centre and in 1993 it was sold to HSBC
HSBC
HSBC Holdings plc is a global banking and financial services company headquartered in Canary Wharf, London, United Kingdom. it is the world's second-largest banking and financial services group and second-largest public company according to a composite measure by Forbes magazine...
(named after its founding member, The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, which was established in 1865 to finance the growing trade between China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
.)