Tilshead Lodge
Encyclopedia
Tilshead Lodge was a large country house built in the 17th century, west of Tilshead
in the civil parish of Salisbury
, Wiltshire
.
It was part of a sporting estate, and for most of its life used as a training establishment which, until the 19th century was known as Tilshead Buildings. It is said by local tradition that Charles II
stabled his horses there. The Andrews and Dury maps of Wiltshire in 1773 and 1810 show a racing circuit called "Tylshead Race" a mile south of the house, although this was probably built as a training circuit rather than for use in competitive races.
and the 2nd Earl of Portmore
both trained their horses at Tilshead Lodge. Richard Colt Hoare
is recorded as an owner, and he also mentions the Earl of Godolphin and the Duke of Montrose
as residing there. It was amongst the extensive estates owned by Walter Long in 1760. Other records indicate it was bought in 1802 and rebuilt in 1808 by Gorges Lowther. John Long of Monkton Farleigh
purchased it in 1819. At that time the estate consisted of "the Capital and elegant Mansion, lawns, plantations, farms and other appendages, and above 1050 acres (4.2 km²) of land". John Long sold it in 1830 to George Watson who died in 1841, and he passed it to his son Simon Watson who still owned it when he died in 1902. Among others recorded as living there, are Robert Fettiplace, Montague Gore, John Parham, Robert Farquharson and Lady Violet Bonham Carter
. Its use as racing stables continued into the 20th century, as it was a training establishment in 1907 when the Tilshead Lodge Estate was auctioned as part of the Erlestoke
Estate, and as late as 1937 it was being rented by the horse trainer Richmond Chartres Sturdy of Elston House.
who eventually demolished the house.
Tilshead
Tilshead is a small village located in Wiltshire, in England. It lies approximately midway between the villages of Shrewton and Market Lavington, and is located at the source of the River Till. Its population in 2001 was 359, down from a peak of 989 inhabitants in 1951.. The White Barrow long...
in the civil parish of Salisbury
Salisbury
Salisbury is a cathedral city in Wiltshire, England and the only city in the county. It is the second largest settlement in the county...
, Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
.
It was part of a sporting estate, and for most of its life used as a training establishment which, until the 19th century was known as Tilshead Buildings. It is said by local tradition that Charles II
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
stabled his horses there. The Andrews and Dury maps of Wiltshire in 1773 and 1810 show a racing circuit called "Tylshead Race" a mile south of the house, although this was probably built as a training circuit rather than for use in competitive races.
Owners and residents
William, Duke of Cumberland, who from the early 1750s till his death, took a major interest in horseracing, is known to have resided there, and it is probable that two other members of the 18th century racing elite, the 2nd Earl of GodolphinFrancis Godolphin, 2nd Earl of Godolphin
Francis Godolphin, 2nd Earl of Godolphin, PC was a British politician, styled Viscount Rialton between 1706 and 1712.-Biography:...
and the 2nd Earl of Portmore
Charles Colyear, 2nd Earl of Portmore
Charles Colyear, 2nd Earl of Portmore KT was a Scottish nobleman, known as Beau Colyear for his conspicuous dress....
both trained their horses at Tilshead Lodge. Richard Colt Hoare
Richard Colt Hoare
Sir Richard Colt Hoare, 2nd Baronet FRS was an English antiquarian, archaeologist, artist, and traveller of the 18th and 19th centuries, the first major figure in the detailed study of the history of his home county, Wiltshire.-Career:Hoare was descended from Sir Richard Hoare, Lord Mayor of...
is recorded as an owner, and he also mentions the Earl of Godolphin and the Duke of Montrose
Duke of Montrose
The title of Duke of Montrose was created twice in the peerage of Scotland, firstly in 1488 for David Lindsay, 5th Earl of Crawford. It was forfeited and then returned, but only for the period of the holder's lifetime...
as residing there. It was amongst the extensive estates owned by Walter Long in 1760. Other records indicate it was bought in 1802 and rebuilt in 1808 by Gorges Lowther. John Long of Monkton Farleigh
Monkton Farleigh Manor
Monkton Farleigh Manor is a Grade I listed country house built on the site of a Cluniac priory founded in 1125 in Wiltshire, situated 3 miles from Bradford-on-Avon, and 5 miles from the city of Bath.- History :...
purchased it in 1819. At that time the estate consisted of "the Capital and elegant Mansion, lawns, plantations, farms and other appendages, and above 1050 acres (4.2 km²) of land". John Long sold it in 1830 to George Watson who died in 1841, and he passed it to his son Simon Watson who still owned it when he died in 1902. Among others recorded as living there, are Robert Fettiplace, Montague Gore, John Parham, Robert Farquharson and Lady Violet Bonham Carter
Violet Bonham Carter
Helen Violet Bonham Carter, Baroness Asquith of Yarnbury, DBE was a British politician and diarist. She was the daughter of H. H. Asquith, Prime Minister from 1908-1916, and later became active in Liberal politics herself, being a leading opponent of appeasement, standing for Parliament and being...
. Its use as racing stables continued into the 20th century, as it was a training establishment in 1907 when the Tilshead Lodge Estate was auctioned as part of the Erlestoke
Erlestoke
Erlestoke is a village and civil parish about southwest of the market town of Devizes in Wiltshire.-History:The current form of the village of Erlestoke is largely due to Joshua Smith, a Member of Parliament for Devizes...
Estate, and as late as 1937 it was being rented by the horse trainer Richmond Chartres Sturdy of Elston House.
World War II
During the 2nd World War it was used as an army base by the War DepartmentWar Department (UK)
The War Department was the United Kingdom government department responsible for the supply of equipment to the armed forces of the United Kingdom and the pursuance of military activity. In 1857 it became the War Office...
who eventually demolished the house.