It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas
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‘Tis the Season “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas” – Perry Como 2 Danesfield House Hotel and SpaWinter 2018 History of the House Danesfield House that we see today was completed in 1901 as a family home for Robert William Hudson. The house is the third property to have been built within this glorious setting, amidst 65 acres of formal gardens with outstanding views over the River Thames and the Chiltern Hills beyond. Robert Hudson had inherited his fortune from his father Robert Spear Hudson, the Victorian soap magnate, and manufacturers of “Sunlight” soap. His first determination was to rebuild the property and employed to assist the build in the style of the Italian Renaissance was Romaine Walker, FRIBA. The house was finished with such disregard of expense that it became an architectural show place, faced with locally quarried rock chalk with imposing terraced gardens overlooking the river. Originally some 4,000 years ago, the site was reputed to have been a resting place of nomadic tribes who paused to hunt nearby land and fish in the then untamed river. If you stand on the crest of the bank between the present house and the river and look west there is a steep ravine directly in front of you which is the remnant of the ramparts of a prehistoric fortification. Because of the ample game and the discovery of flint within the chalk based cliffs, the site became a settlement throughout the ages and although not named “Danesfield” until many years later, this name originated from the Danish adventurers who made an encampment here. The next recollection of the estate is the transfer of land ownership in 1664 to an Edmund and Margaret Medlycott, they built what is assumed to be the first property on the site, known at that time as “Medlycotts” and there they lived with son James for over 60 years. Very little is known about the family and their name seldom occurs in any local record. Danesfield House Hotel and SpaWinter 2018 3 In 1725 James Medlycott, or his The new owner was Robert Scott- can be seen today. He died in August executors, rented “Medlycotts” to a Murray of Wimpole Street, London, the 1882 and was buried in the founder’s Mrs Morton, whose son John was to be heir to a fortune made in the tomb of the Church he had built in the creator of the first Danesfield House. world of commerce. He rebuilt the Marlow and the estate was passed to his John Morton purchased the estate house erecting a roomy building of the son. A period of agricultural depression freehold in 1750 completely rebuilding classical Georgian type, which remained had set in and the value of land was the house and naming it Danesfield. standing for more than a century. on the wane. The house was let to At this time John Morton was a Barrister Robert Scott – Murray died in 1808 and successive tenants, who came principally appointed as Attorney General to Queen is buried at Medmenham. The property for shooting and was eventually sold in Charlotte, he was also a contemporary in remained with his descendants – most 1897 to Mr Robert William Hudson who Parliament of William Pitt, as MP notably his nephew, Charles Robert upon completion of the new mansion for Abingdon (1747–70), New Romney Scott-Murray, whose conversion to the in 1901 demolished the old house and (1770–74) and Wigan (1775). The estate Catholic faith in 1845 saw the erection chapel. Robert William Hudson’s work was not as large as it is now until John of a Roman Catholic Church at Marlow was scarcely completed when he Morton later purchased land surrounding and subsequently, a domestic Chapel at decided to sell. the property. After his death, his widow Danesfield. It was Charles who diverted continued to live at Danesfield for some the Marlow Road away from the river to Following Hudson’s sale of the house it years, but eventually sold the estate in its present route and constructed the was then owned for a short time by a 1787 because of financial difficulties. footbridge over the Henley Road that property speculator, Mr Hossack who 4 Danesfield House Hotel and SpaWinter 2018 passed it on a couple of years later to Mrs Arthur Hornby Lewis, who made many changes to the interior of the building and the layout of the gardens. Mrs Hornby Lewis died in 1930 and because she was so attached to Danesfield made the request to be buried in the grounds, this wish was observed. When her trustees found it difficult to dispose of the estate with the deceased owner still resident, permission was sought to transfer the coffin to Hambleden cemetery in 1938. A period of financial depression led the trustees to seek permission to sell the estate. It passed to Mr Stanley Garton, who made preparations to take up residence, renovating the house and improving the The Gardens amenities. They had hardly settled in before war clouds began to gather. An impressive tree lined drive of Pulhamite artificial rock was the When trouble was imminent, Colet Hornbeams under the Clock Tower is invention of James Pulham of Court School was evacuated from the first display of the magnitude of Pulham and Sons founded C1830. Hammersmith to Danesfield with the 65 acres of parkland and formal Known for the construction of rock an influx of approximately 80 boys. gardens surrounding the house. gardens, follies and grottos, they also As war proceeded Danesfield was The gardens have been restored manufactured a wide range of garden requisitioned as a base to develop the and renovated from the middle of 1989 ornaments that can be found intelligence Section of the Royal Air until the present day, a variety at Danesfield, to include two fountains, Force (Reconnaissance and Photography of beautifully tendered and most stone walls and benches along Section) in 1941, Mr Garton moved to unusual plantings now flourish and can with terracotta objects – two large Kingswood and Colet Court School be found. Covering many parts of the terracotta urns can be seen in the departed. The property remained in the houses exterior is a masterfully pruned house’s Grand Hall today. Pulham and hands of the RAF until 1977 when it was Wisteria, flowering in a purple cascade Sons work can also been found at sold to Carnation Foods to be used as during May and June. Buckingham Palace and Sandringham their Corporate Headquarters. On walking out onto the terrace you House. will see formal gardens, consisting Danesfield House Hotel opened on the of towering Yew topiary and box A Corsican Pine is another one of the 1st July 1991 as a luxury country house hedging filled with varieties of English more unique trees at Danesfield, more hotel with a charm and character that and French Lavender, of which there commonly native to the Mediterranean cannot be compared. It is a property are five different varieties within the and southern Europe. Further into the with a most unusual history and when grounds. Central to this formality gardens enjoy the tranquillity of the walking around the grounds it is easy a three tier fountain, a cherubim formal Italian garden, fine box topiary to imagine the strange events that must standing on an oyster shell tops this surrounds the Koi fishpond overlooked have taken place over the centuries. magnificent centre piece. by two beautiful Acers. You may notice a perfectly cut straight line in all of the To find out more, please visit our Walk past two original waterfalls Yew hedges; this is due to the local website. www.danesfieldhouse.co.uk to viewpoints overlooking the Muntjac and Fallow deer nibbling just and subscribe to our database to River Thames, the waterfalls were as high as they can reach. receive all the latest news and offers. created from Pulhamite rock. Danesfield House Hotel and SpaWinter 2018 5 Fireworks Night Remember, remember the 5th November Danesfield House opens its doors to families and local residents of Marlow, Henley and surrounding villages for our annual Firework Night celebration. Join us for spectacular fireworks, heart-warming delicious food and children’s entertainment. 5:30pm - Gates open – arrive for music and face painting followed by a traditional ‘pie and peas’ supper and a sweet treat! 7pm - Fireworks display and carriages – watch the display from the terrace and see the sky illuminate with glorious colours before heading home, after all it’s a ‘school night’! Monday 5th November From 5:30pm £65.00 family of four (two adults two children) of which £5.00 will be donated to Child Bereavement UK. Additional adult £22.50 per person, additional child £10.00 per child. Children under 5 years old complimentary. Bookings are essential. We are unable to allow entry if tickets have not been pre-purchased. For more information or to book please contact us on 01628 891010 or [email protected] 6 Danesfield House Hotel and SpaWinter 2018 Christmas Opera As Christmas fast approaches and excitement builds join us once again for a fabulous and most enjoyable musical performance in support of Rennie Grove Hospice Care. Opera Kensington will present Die Fledermaus (The Bat), by Johann Strauss II, a hilarious and farcical story of mistaken identity, full of flirtation and infectious melodies. This will be sung in English. Commence the afternoon with a festive Christmas Afternoon Tea and glass of Champagne before the concert or enjoy a festive two-course supper with a glass of wine afterwards. Sunday 2nd December Performance 6-7.30pm Champagne Afternoon Tea and Opera £55.00 per person Two-course supper with a glass of wine and Opera £55.00 per person Children aged 6-12 years old £25.00 Children under