Umberslade Hall
Encyclopedia
Umberslade Hall is a 17th century mansion
converted into residential apartments situated near Tanworth in Arden, Warwickshire
. It is a Grade II* listed building.
The Archer family
were granted the manor
of Umberslade by Henry II
in the 12th century and retained possession for some 600 years.
The old manor house
was replaced between 1695 and 1700 when Smith of Warwick built the new mansion for Andrew Archer, Member of Parliament
for Warwickshire
.
The estate was sold in 1826 and from 1850 was leased by George Frederic Muntz
, Member of Parliament for Birmingham
. After his death in 1857 his son Sir Philip Albert Muntz
(see Muntz Baronets
) bought the estate and much enlarged and improved the Hall. In 1881 the household comprised thirty including thirteen resident servants. Frederick Ernest Muntz who succeeded to the estate in 1898 served as High Sheriff of Warwickshire
in 1902 and as Deputy Lieutenant
. The estate, much reduced, remains in the ownership of the Muntz family.
From the 1960s the Hall was leased out to commercial tenants including Triumph Motorcycles and in 1978 it was converted into twelve apartments and two mews
cottages.
The Hall is home to a 1702 marble statue The Crouching Venus by John Van Nost the Elder
.
Mansion
A mansion is a very large dwelling house. U.S. real estate brokers define a mansion as a dwelling of over . A traditional European mansion was defined as a house which contained a ballroom and tens of bedrooms...
converted into residential apartments situated near Tanworth in Arden, Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
. It is a Grade II* listed building.
The Archer family
Baron Archer
Lord Archer, Baron of Umberslade, in the County of Warwick, was a title in the Peerage of Great Britain. It was created on 14 July 1747 for Thomas Archer, who had previously represented Warwick and Bramber in the House of Commons. He was succeeded by his son, the second Baron. He sat as Member of...
were granted the manor
Manorialism
Manorialism, an essential element of feudal society, was the organizing principle of rural economy that originated in the villa system of the Late Roman Empire, was widely practiced in medieval western and parts of central Europe, and was slowly replaced by the advent of a money-based market...
of Umberslade by Henry II
Henry II of England
Henry II ruled as King of England , Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Count of Nantes, Lord of Ireland and, at various times, controlled parts of Wales, Scotland and western France. Henry, the great-grandson of William the Conqueror, was the...
in the 12th century and retained possession for some 600 years.
The old manor house
Manor house
A manor house is a country house that historically formed the administrative centre of a manor, the lowest unit of territorial organisation in the feudal system in Europe. The term is applied to country houses that belonged to the gentry and other grand stately homes...
was replaced between 1695 and 1700 when Smith of Warwick built the new mansion for Andrew Archer, Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Warwickshire
Warwickshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Warwickshire was a parliamentary constituency in the Warwickshire in England. It returned two Members of Parliament , traditionall known as knights of the shire, to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the bloc vote system.-Boundaries and franchise:The...
.
The estate was sold in 1826 and from 1850 was leased by George Frederic Muntz
George Frederic Muntz
George Frederick Muntz was an industrialist from Birmingham, England and a Liberal Party Member of Parliament for the Birmingham constituency from 1840 until his death....
, Member of Parliament for Birmingham
Birmingham (UK Parliament constituency)
Birmingham was a parliamentary constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for the city of Birmingham, in what is now the West Midlands Metropolitan County, but at the time was Warwickshire.-Boundaries and History:...
. After his death in 1857 his son Sir Philip Albert Muntz
Sir Philip Muntz, 1st Baronet
Sir Philip Albert Muntz, 1st Baronet was an English businessman and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1884 to 1906. He changed his allegiance from the Liberal Party to the Conservatives....
(see Muntz Baronets
Muntz Baronets
The Muntz Baronetcy, of Dunsmore near Rugby in the Parish of Clifton-upon-Dunsmore in the County of Warwick, was a title in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom. It was created on 7 August 1902 for Philip Muntz, Member of Parliament for Warwickshire North and Tamworth. He was the son of the...
) bought the estate and much enlarged and improved the Hall. In 1881 the household comprised thirty including thirteen resident servants. Frederick Ernest Muntz who succeeded to the estate in 1898 served as High Sheriff of Warwickshire
High Sheriff of Warwickshire
The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been transferred elsewhere or are now defunct, so that its functions...
in 1902 and as Deputy Lieutenant
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
. The estate, much reduced, remains in the ownership of the Muntz family.
From the 1960s the Hall was leased out to commercial tenants including Triumph Motorcycles and in 1978 it was converted into twelve apartments and two mews
Mews
Mews is a primarily British term formerly describing a row of stables, usually with carriage houses below and living quarters above, built around a paved yard or court, or along a street, behind large city houses, such as those of London, during the 17th and 18th centuries. The word may also...
cottages.
The Hall is home to a 1702 marble statue The Crouching Venus by John Van Nost the Elder
John Nost
John Nost was a Flemish sculptor, from Mechelen. He was employed by Arnold Quellin, and married his widow. He moved to England at the end of the seventeenth century, and set up business in Haymarket....
.