Park Place, Berkshire
Encyclopedia
Park Place is a historic Grade II Listed country house and gardens in the civil parish
of Remenham
in Berkshire
, England
, set in large grounds above the River Thames
near Henley
, Oxfordshire
.
bought the estate in 1719 from Mrs Elizabeth Baker and built a new villa on the site. Frederick, Prince of Wales
(father of King George III) bought the house from Lord Archibald. Hamilton’s third wife, Lady Jane Hamilton, was Frederick's mistress
The estate was purchased by Henry Seymour Conway
in 1752 and he made extensive improvements. Humphrey Gainsborough
, brother of the artist Thomas Gainsborough
, designed Conway's Bridge
, built in 1763 at Park Place. This is an interesting rustic arched stone structure close to the River Thames that still carries traffic on the road between Wargrave
and Henley-on-Thames
.
In 1785, Henry Hawkins Tremayne
visited Park Place whilst touring various gardens in southern England. He enthused about the garden, being especially impressed by its subterranean passages, menagerie, temples and "Rustick" bridge. These provided inspiration for his own new garden, now better known as the Lost Gardens of Heligan
.
In 1797 (following the death of Conway) the estate was bought by James Harris, First Earl of Malmesbury.
In 1816 Lord Malmesbury auctioned the estate and the main lot (mansion & park) was purchased by Henry Piper Spurling.
In 1824 Henry Spurling exchanged the estate for Norbury Park, Surrey, with his cousin Ebenezer Fuller-Maitland of Shinfield Park, Berkshire. He erected The Obelisk in memory of Queen Victoria's ascension, also known as the Victoria memorial - originally the late 17th Century spire of St. Bride's, Fleet Street, designed by Christopher Wren. British Listed Buildings website".
Ebenezer Fuller-Maitland died in 1858 at which point Queen Victoria visited with the intention of purchasing the estate for Edward VII (then Prince of Wales), however Ebenezer's wife remained in the house until her death in 1865 when their son William Fuller-Maitland took over ownership. An attempt to sell by auction was made in 1866, but the eventual sale took place in 1867.
In 1867 the estate was bought by Charles Easton of Whiteknights, Reading - a speculator, purchased with the intention of dividing the then 800 acre estate.
In 1869 the Estate was bought by John Noble (Noble's Paints & Varnishes)
The Noble family owned the estate until 1947 when John noble's son Wilson Noble auctioned the property and land off in a number of lots.
1949 and the house was bought by Middlesex County Council and in 1965 ownership was transferred to Hillingdon Council The house was used as a boarding school for children 11-16 with health / emotional problems until 1988
In 1989 the house went back into private ownership.
Spink spent over £100 million restoring the gardens and the main house. In 2011 he sold Park Place to an anonymous Russian buyer for £140 million, making it the most expensive house sale in the United Kingdom. The sale included: the main house; three substantial houses; ten tenanted cottages; another eight cottages in need of renovation; a gabled boathouse; a stable block; an agricultural yard; various dilapidated agricultural outbuildings; and two golf course
s. Spink retained 300 acres (121.4 ha) for a development.
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
of Remenham
Remenham
Remenham is a village and civil parish on the Berkshire bank of the River Thames near Henley-on-Thames in southern England.-Rowing:The parish covers the starting point of the Henley Royal Regatta course. Remenham Club is a private members club for rowers, with a good view of the river halfway along...
in Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, 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...
, set in large grounds above the River Thames
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
near Henley
Henley-on-Thames
Henley-on-Thames is a town and civil parish on the River Thames in South Oxfordshire, England, about 10 miles downstream and north-east from Reading, 10 miles upstream and west from Maidenhead...
, Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
.
History
Lord Archibald HamiltonLord Archibald Hamilton
Lord Archibald Hamilton was a British politician.Hamilton was the youngest son of William Douglas-Hamilton, Duke of Hamilton and Anne Hamilton, 3rd Duchess of Hamilton. He became a Captain in the Royal Navy and in 1708, was elected as MP for Lanarkshire...
bought the estate in 1719 from Mrs Elizabeth Baker and built a new villa on the site. Frederick, Prince of Wales
Frederick, Prince of Wales
Frederick, Prince of Wales was a member of the House of Hanover and therefore of the Hanoverian and later British Royal Family, the eldest son of George II and father of George III, as well as the great-grandfather of Queen Victoria...
(father of King George III) bought the house from Lord Archibald. Hamilton’s third wife, Lady Jane Hamilton, was Frederick's mistress
The estate was purchased by Henry Seymour Conway
Henry Seymour Conway
Field Marshal Henry Seymour Conway was a British general and statesman. A brother of the 1st Marquess of Hertford, and cousin of Horace Walpole, he began his military career in the War of the Austrian Succession and eventually rose to the rank of Field Marshal .-Family and education:Conway was...
in 1752 and he made extensive improvements. Humphrey Gainsborough
Humphrey Gainsborough
Humphrey Gainsborough was a non-conformist minister, engineer and inventor.Humphrey Gainsborough was pastor to the Independent Church in Henley-on-Thames, England. He was the brother of the artist Thomas Gainsborough. He invented the drill plough , winning a prize of £60 from the Royal Society for...
, brother of the artist Thomas Gainsborough
Thomas Gainsborough
Thomas Gainsborough was an English portrait and landscape painter.-Suffolk:Thomas Gainsborough was born in Sudbury, Suffolk. He was the youngest son of John Gainsborough, a weaver and maker of woolen goods. At the age of thirteen he impressed his father with his penciling skills so that he let...
, designed Conway's Bridge
Conway's Bridge
Conway's Bridge is an ornamental rustic arched stone structure close to the River Thames on the estate of Park Place, Berkshire, England. It was designed by Humphrey Gainsborough, brother of the artist Thomas Gainsborough, and built in 1763. The bridge is named after Henry Seymour Conway...
, built in 1763 at Park Place. This is an interesting rustic arched stone structure close to the River Thames that still carries traffic on the road between Wargrave
Wargrave
Wargrave is a large village and civil parish in the English county of Berkshire, which encloses the confluence of the River Loddon and the River Thames. It is in the Borough of Wokingham...
and Henley-on-Thames
Henley-on-Thames
Henley-on-Thames is a town and civil parish on the River Thames in South Oxfordshire, England, about 10 miles downstream and north-east from Reading, 10 miles upstream and west from Maidenhead...
.
In 1785, Henry Hawkins Tremayne
Henry Hawkins Tremayne
The Reverend Henry Hawkins Tremayne was a member of a landed family in the English county of Cornwall, and owner of the Heligan estate near Mevagissey, with significant interests in the Cornish tin mining industry...
visited Park Place whilst touring various gardens in southern England. He enthused about the garden, being especially impressed by its subterranean passages, menagerie, temples and "Rustick" bridge. These provided inspiration for his own new garden, now better known as the Lost Gardens of Heligan
Lost Gardens of Heligan
The Lost Gardens of Heligan, near Mevagissey in Cornwall, are one of the most popular botanical gardens in the UK. The style of the gardens is typical of the nineteenth century Gardenesque style, with areas of different character and in different design styles.The gardens were created by members of...
.
In 1797 (following the death of Conway) the estate was bought by James Harris, First Earl of Malmesbury.
In 1816 Lord Malmesbury auctioned the estate and the main lot (mansion & park) was purchased by Henry Piper Spurling.
In 1824 Henry Spurling exchanged the estate for Norbury Park, Surrey, with his cousin Ebenezer Fuller-Maitland of Shinfield Park, Berkshire. He erected The Obelisk in memory of Queen Victoria's ascension, also known as the Victoria memorial - originally the late 17th Century spire of St. Bride's, Fleet Street, designed by Christopher Wren. British Listed Buildings website".
Ebenezer Fuller-Maitland died in 1858 at which point Queen Victoria visited with the intention of purchasing the estate for Edward VII (then Prince of Wales), however Ebenezer's wife remained in the house until her death in 1865 when their son William Fuller-Maitland took over ownership. An attempt to sell by auction was made in 1866, but the eventual sale took place in 1867.
In 1867 the estate was bought by Charles Easton of Whiteknights, Reading - a speculator, purchased with the intention of dividing the then 800 acre estate.
In 1869 the Estate was bought by John Noble (Noble's Paints & Varnishes)
The Noble family owned the estate until 1947 when John noble's son Wilson Noble auctioned the property and land off in a number of lots.
1949 and the house was bought by Middlesex County Council and in 1965 ownership was transferred to Hillingdon Council The house was used as a boarding school for children 11-16 with health / emotional problems until 1988
In 1989 the house went back into private ownership.
Present
Following purchase by a consortium which looked to develop it into a country club, which failed to gain planning permission from Wokingham Council. After use for outside scenes in the filing of the 2007 film St Trinian's, in June 2007 it was sold for £40 million to Mike Spink, a developer who specialises in upmarket properties, for £42 million, which makes it the most expensive house sale in the United Kingdom outside London.Spink spent over £100 million restoring the gardens and the main house. In 2011 he sold Park Place to an anonymous Russian buyer for £140 million, making it the most expensive house sale in the United Kingdom. The sale included: the main house; three substantial houses; ten tenanted cottages; another eight cottages in need of renovation; a gabled boathouse; a stable block; an agricultural yard; various dilapidated agricultural outbuildings; and two golf course
Golf course
A golf course comprises a series of holes, each consisting of a teeing ground, fairway, rough and other hazards, and a green with a flagstick and cup, all designed for the game of golf. A standard round of golf consists of playing 18 holes, thus most golf courses have this number of holes...
s. Spink retained 300 acres (121.4 ha) for a development.