Orsett Hall
Encyclopedia
Orsett Hall was a 17th century grade 2 listed building in Orsett
, Essex (de-listed on 10th March 2008). It was set in 12 acres (4.9 ha) of parkland
and was the centre of the Orsett Hall agricultural estate. The house was destroyed by fire on 11 May 2007 and rebuilt in the same style and on the same footprint as the original building in 2009.
and in turn by his son, Digby Wingfield-Baker. At the end of the 19th century the estate was inherited by Thomas Whitmore as a debt of honour. (A family legend says that it was won in a game of cards.) The house was refurbished in the early 20th century by Colonel Sir Francis Whitmore
who described it as "an uninhabitable shell, without light, water or sanitation". It was the Whitmore family home for more than fifty years. It was inherited by Sir Francis' son, Sir John, who used the grounds to take off and land his plane. He sold it in 1968, to his friends, Tony and Val Morgan. At the time of the fire Steve and Lynn Haynes owned and ran the Orsett Hall Hotel as a conference centre, hotel and wedding venue.
and crews attended, including two fire engines from Orsett, two from Grays, two from Basildon including an aerial ladder platform, one from Southend, and a Fire Brigade Command Unit from Brentwood. The building collapsed at around midday.
The house contained antique furniture and Sir Francis' ceremonial uniform as well as photographs and documents relating to the history of the house and Whitmore family. There were numerous paintings, including many family portraits that displayed the characteristic family trait - a "prominent nose". Sadly, nothing was saved. Prior to the fire, documents from the Orsett Estate during the 19th and 20th centuries had been deposited in the Museum of English Rural Life
at Reading. There are some other documents related to Orsett Hall in the Essex Record Office.
Following the fire, the building was de-listed on 10th March 2008.
The owners took the decision to rebuild in the same style and on the same footprint as the original building. Building work was completed early in 2009.
Orsett
Orsett is a village and ecclesiastical parish located within Thurrock unitary district in Essex, England, situated around 5 km north-east of Grays...
, Essex (de-listed on 10th March 2008). It was set in 12 acres (4.9 ha) of parkland
English garden
The English garden, also called English landscape park , is a style of Landscape garden which emerged in England in the early 18th century, and spread across Europe, replacing the more formal, symmetrical Garden à la française of the 17th century as the principal gardening style of Europe. The...
and was the centre of the Orsett Hall agricultural estate. The house was destroyed by fire on 11 May 2007 and rebuilt in the same style and on the same footprint as the original building in 2009.
History
The house dated in part to the 17th century, but was enlarged and reconstructed in brick by Richard Baker about 1750 and was set in 12 acres (4.9 ha) of parkland. With the purchases of additional farm land in Orsett and nearby parishes, Baker established an agricultural estate centred on the house. In 1827, the house and estate passed from the Baker family to a nephew, William Wingfield, who changed his name to Wingfield-Baker. It was inherited by his son, Richard Baker Wingfield-BakerRichard Baker Wingfield-Baker
Richard Baker Wingfield-Baker MP, DL, was a Liberal Party politician, High Sheriff and Deputy Lieutenant in the English county of Essex...
and in turn by his son, Digby Wingfield-Baker. At the end of the 19th century the estate was inherited by Thomas Whitmore as a debt of honour. (A family legend says that it was won in a game of cards.) The house was refurbished in the early 20th century by Colonel Sir Francis Whitmore
Francis Whitmore
Colonel Sir Francis Henry Douglas Charlton Whitmore, 1st Baronet, KCB, CMG, DSO, TD, JP was a British military officer and landowner, the son of Thomas Whitmore, an officer in the Royal Horse Guards. Thomas had inherited Orsett Hall as a result of a gambling debt incurred by the previous owner,...
who described it as "an uninhabitable shell, without light, water or sanitation". It was the Whitmore family home for more than fifty years. It was inherited by Sir Francis' son, Sir John, who used the grounds to take off and land his plane. He sold it in 1968, to his friends, Tony and Val Morgan. At the time of the fire Steve and Lynn Haynes owned and ran the Orsett Hall Hotel as a conference centre, hotel and wedding venue.
The fire
The last event held at the Orsett Hall was Chafford Hundred Campus' School Prom, held on 10 May 2007. Only a few hours after they left the building, it caught alight and collapsed. The fire broke out in the kitchen while breakfast was being prepared and spread rapidly. Guests were evacuated and fortunately no one was seriously hurt. More than 70 Essex firefightersEssex County Fire and Rescue Service
Essex County Fire and Rescue Service is the statutory fire and rescue service for the county of Essex in the east of England, and is one of the largest fire services in the country, covering an area of almost 400,000 hectares and a population of over 1.7 million people.The service attends an...
and crews attended, including two fire engines from Orsett, two from Grays, two from Basildon including an aerial ladder platform, one from Southend, and a Fire Brigade Command Unit from Brentwood. The building collapsed at around midday.
The house contained antique furniture and Sir Francis' ceremonial uniform as well as photographs and documents relating to the history of the house and Whitmore family. There were numerous paintings, including many family portraits that displayed the characteristic family trait - a "prominent nose". Sadly, nothing was saved. Prior to the fire, documents from the Orsett Estate during the 19th and 20th centuries had been deposited in the Museum of English Rural Life
Museum of English Rural Life
The Museum of English Rural Life is a museum dedicated to recording the changing face of farming and the countryside in England. It houses designated collections of national importance that span the full range of objects, archives, photographs, film and books.The museum is run by the University of...
at Reading. There are some other documents related to Orsett Hall in the Essex Record Office.
Following the fire, the building was de-listed on 10th March 2008.
Rebuilding