Pixton Park
Encyclopedia
Pixton Park is a country house in the parish of Dulverton
, Somerset
, England. It is associated with at least three historically significant families or dynasties: the Acland Baronets
, the politicians and diplomats the Herberts, and the Waughs, a series of writers. The Grade II* listed building was built around 1760 for the Acland family and later altered by the Earl of Carnarvon
.
was a British
officer who fought in the American Revolutionary War
. He lived at Pixton Park with his wife Harriet
, a remarkable woman in her own right, and died there in 1778 Their daughter Elizabeth Kitty married Henry George Herbert, 2nd Earl of Carnarvon, and thus Pixton Park passed into the Herbert family, which was prominent in the political and intellectual life of Britain throughout the nineteenth century. Their son Henry John George Herbert, 3rd Earl of Carnarvon (1800–1849) was a writer, traveller and politician. His son Henry Howard Molyneux Herbert, 4th Earl of Carnarvon
(1831–1890), a leading member of the Conservative Party
, a cabinet minister and eventuallyLord Lieutenant of Ireland
, redesigned the estate. It was inherited by Col Molyneux Herbert who lies in the memorial chapel in Brushford
Church.
The estate passed to Aubrey Nigel Henry Molyneux Herbert (1880–1923), diplomat, traveller and intelligence officer, associated with Albania
n independence and twice offered the throne of that country
. Aubrey Herbert was the second son of the 4th Earl and his second wife, Elizabeth Howard of Greystoke Castle
, Cumberland
, sister of Esme Howard, 1st Baron Howard of Penrith
. He was given Pixton Park by his mother, with 5,000 acres (20 km²). Aubrey and Mary Herbert had four children before he died at the age of 43. Pixton Park passed to his son Auberon
(1922–1974), who died a bachelor. Aubrey Herbert's daughter Laura married the novelist Evelyn Waugh
, and their son Auberon
was born at Pixton Park in 1939. In World War II
the estate was used for child evacuees.
(Cervus nippon), and was used for pheasant
rearing.
The stables to Pixton Park were built in the mid 18th century and are now a private dwelling. In 2007 the stables were bought by Richard Caring
, the owner of Annabel's
nightclub and The Ivy
restaurant, and subject to a planning application for a "Winter Palace".
Pepperpot Castle in Upton
, which is also known as Haddon Lodge, was built by Lady Harriet Acland
, during the long period of her widowhood, 1778–1815, as a lodge to the drive to connect Pixton Park in Dulverton
where her daughter the Countess of Carnarvon lived, with her own estates near Wiveliscombe
.
South Haddon Cottage, which was built in 1830, formed part of the estate.
Two gate lodges were built to the estate. No 1 Jury Lodge and No 2 Jury Lodge In 1870 the Earl of Carnavon resited the entrance to Pixton Park and created a new driveway, more convenient for guests arriving by train from Dulverton railway station, and added a new lodge. Towards Brushford
the River Barle
is crossed by the New Bridge dating from 1870, which led to Pixton Park,
Dulverton
Dulverton is a town and civil parish in the heart of West Somerset, England, near the border with Devon. The town has a population of 1,630. The parish includes the hamlets of Battleton and Ashwick which is located approximately north west of Dulverton...
, 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. It is associated with at least three historically significant families or dynasties: the Acland Baronets
Acland Baronets
thumb|250px|Sir Thomas Dyke Acland, 10th BaronetThere have been four Baronetcies created for members of the Acland family, two in the Baronetage of England and two in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom....
, the politicians and diplomats the Herberts, and the Waughs, a series of writers. The Grade II* listed building was built around 1760 for the Acland family and later altered by the Earl of Carnarvon
Earl of Carnarvon
Earl of Carnarvon is a title that has been created three times in British history. The first creation came in the Peerage of England in 1628 in favour of Robert Dormer, 2nd Baron Dormer. For more information on this creation, which became extinct in 1709, see the Baron Dormer.The title was created...
.
History
John Dyke AclandJohn Dyke Acland
Major John Dyke Acland , son of Sir Thomas Dyke Acland, 7th Baronet, was a British officer who fought in the American War of Independence and, later, a politician....
was a British
Kingdom of Great Britain
The former Kingdom of Great Britain, sometimes described as the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain', That the Two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, shall upon the 1st May next ensuing the date hereof, and forever after, be United into One Kingdom by the Name of GREAT BRITAIN. was a sovereign...
officer who fought in the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. He lived at Pixton Park with his wife Harriet
Harriet Acland
Lady Harriet Acland was a British noblewoman, nurse and diarist.She was born Lady Christian Henrietta Caroline Fox-Strangways, the daughter of Stephen Fox-Strangways, 1st Earl of Ilchester, and married Major John Dyke Acland...
, a remarkable woman in her own right, and died there in 1778 Their daughter Elizabeth Kitty married Henry George Herbert, 2nd Earl of Carnarvon, and thus Pixton Park passed into the Herbert family, which was prominent in the political and intellectual life of Britain throughout the nineteenth century. Their son Henry John George Herbert, 3rd Earl of Carnarvon (1800–1849) was a writer, traveller and politician. His son Henry Howard Molyneux Herbert, 4th Earl of Carnarvon
Henry Herbert, 4th Earl of Carnarvon
Henry Howard Molyneux Herbert, 4th Earl of Carnarvon, PC, DL, FSA, FRS , known as Lord Porchester from 1833 to 1849, was a British politician and a leading member of the Conservative Party...
(1831–1890), a leading member of the Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
, a cabinet minister and eventuallyLord Lieutenant of Ireland
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland was the British King's representative and head of the Irish executive during the Lordship of Ireland , the Kingdom of Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
, redesigned the estate. It was inherited by Col Molyneux Herbert who lies in the memorial chapel in Brushford
Brushford, Somerset
Brushford is a village and civil parish south of Dulverton and north of Tiverton in Devon, in the West Somerset district of Somerset, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 535 in 243 households...
Church.
The estate passed to Aubrey Nigel Henry Molyneux Herbert (1880–1923), diplomat, traveller and intelligence officer, associated with Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
n independence and twice offered the throne of that country
King of Albania
While the medieval Angevin Kingdom of Albania was a monarchy, it did not encompass the entirety of the modern state of Albania. The latter has been a kingdom on two occasions. The first time was after it was declared independent in 1912...
. Aubrey Herbert was the second son of the 4th Earl and his second wife, Elizabeth Howard of Greystoke Castle
Greystoke Castle
Greystoke Castle is in the village of Greystoke west of Penrith in the county of Cumbria in northern England. .In 1069, after the Norman conquest the English landlord Ligulf of Greystoke was re-granted his land and he built a wooden tower surrounded by a pale . The first stone structure on the...
, Cumberland
Cumberland
Cumberland is a historic county of North West England, on the border with Scotland, from the 12th century until 1974. It formed an administrative county from 1889 to 1974 and now forms part of Cumbria....
, sister of Esme Howard, 1st Baron Howard of Penrith
Esme Howard, 1st Baron Howard of Penrith
Esme William Howard, 1st Baron Howard of Penrith, GCB, GCMG, CVO was a British diplomat. He served as British Ambassador to the United States between 1924 and 1930....
. He was given Pixton Park by his mother, with 5,000 acres (20 km²). Aubrey and Mary Herbert had four children before he died at the age of 43. Pixton Park passed to his son Auberon
Auberon Herbert (landowner)
Auberon Herbert was a British landowner and advocate of Eastern European causes after World War II.Herbert was the son of Aubrey Herbert, Member of Parliament , who died the year after his birth, and brother-in-law of the famous novelist, Evelyn Waugh...
(1922–1974), who died a bachelor. Aubrey Herbert's daughter Laura married the novelist Evelyn Waugh
Evelyn Waugh
Arthur Evelyn St. John Waugh , known as Evelyn Waugh, was an English writer of novels, travel books and biographies. He was also a prolific journalist and reviewer...
, and their son Auberon
Auberon Waugh
Auberon Alexander Waugh was a British author and journalist, son of the novelist Evelyn Waugh. He was known to his family and friends as Bron Waugh.-Life and career:...
was born at Pixton Park in 1939. In World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the estate was used for child evacuees.
Estate
At one time the estate had a herd of Sika DeerSika Deer
The Sika Deer, Cervus nippon, also known as the Spotted Deer or the Japanese Deer, is a species of deer native to much of East Asia and introduced to various other parts of the world...
(Cervus nippon), and was used for pheasant
Pheasant
Pheasants refer to some members of the Phasianinae subfamily of Phasianidae in the order Galliformes.Pheasants are characterised by strong sexual dimorphism, males being highly ornate with bright colours and adornments such as wattles and long tails. Males are usually larger than females and have...
rearing.
The stables to Pixton Park were built in the mid 18th century and are now a private dwelling. In 2007 the stables were bought by Richard Caring
Richard Caring
Richard Caring, is an English billionaire businessman of American, Italian and Jewish descent, who made his fortune in fashion, and latterly property and restaurants....
, the owner of Annabel's
Annabel's
Annabel's is a London nightclub, located at 44 Berkeley Square, London. It was founded by entrepreneur Mark Birley and named after Lady Annabel Vane-Tempest-Stewart, then his wife.-Background:...
nightclub and The Ivy
The Ivy
The Ivy is a restaurant in West Street, near Covent Garden in London. It opened in 1917 and is popular with celebrities and theatre goers. In 2000, the restaurant was awarded the Moët & Chandon London Restaurant Award for excellence....
restaurant, and subject to a planning application for a "Winter Palace".
Pepperpot Castle in Upton
Upton, Somerset
Upton is a village and civil parish north of Skilgate in Somerset, England. It is situated on a hill above the eastern end of Wimbleball Lake.-History:The parish of Upton was part of the Williton and Freemanners Hundred....
, which is also known as Haddon Lodge, was built by Lady Harriet Acland
Harriet Acland
Lady Harriet Acland was a British noblewoman, nurse and diarist.She was born Lady Christian Henrietta Caroline Fox-Strangways, the daughter of Stephen Fox-Strangways, 1st Earl of Ilchester, and married Major John Dyke Acland...
, during the long period of her widowhood, 1778–1815, as a lodge to the drive to connect Pixton Park in Dulverton
Dulverton
Dulverton is a town and civil parish in the heart of West Somerset, England, near the border with Devon. The town has a population of 1,630. The parish includes the hamlets of Battleton and Ashwick which is located approximately north west of Dulverton...
where her daughter the Countess of Carnarvon lived, with her own estates near Wiveliscombe
Wiveliscombe
Wiveliscombe is a town and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated west of Taunton in the Taunton Deane district. The town has a population of 2,670. The parish includes the nearby hamlet of Maundown.-History:...
.
South Haddon Cottage, which was built in 1830, formed part of the estate.
Two gate lodges were built to the estate. No 1 Jury Lodge and No 2 Jury Lodge In 1870 the Earl of Carnavon resited the entrance to Pixton Park and created a new driveway, more convenient for guests arriving by train from Dulverton railway station, and added a new lodge. Towards Brushford
Brushford, Somerset
Brushford is a village and civil parish south of Dulverton and north of Tiverton in Devon, in the West Somerset district of Somerset, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 535 in 243 households...
the River Barle
River Barle
The River Barle runs from the Chains on northern Exmoor, in Somerset, England to join the River Exe at Exebridge, Devon. The river and the Barle Valley are both designated as biological Site of Special Scientific Interest....
is crossed by the New Bridge dating from 1870, which led to Pixton Park,