Wednesday, December 6, 2000, Page 26, “Home & Garden”, London, England
Twisted Tales A medieval house with a curious history captivates By Christine Webb
ANYONE whose view has been marred by an inconsiderately planted tree, a badly placed shed or intrusive extension might sympathize with the wish to clear the way.
But how many could go along with Sir Peregrine Acland, who in the 19th century declared that dwellings in the ancient hamlet of West Quantoxhead spoilt the panorama from his grand manor house, St. Audries -- and therefore had them demolished?
He even had the medieval church moved from the hamlet to a solitary site near the main entrance to the estate.
St. Audries certainly has a splendid site at the head of the Quantocks overlooking the North Somerset coast, and the only interruptions to the view across to Wales now are the mature parkland trees.
The house harbours a few intriguing tales. It’s commanding situation is thought to have been selected by St. Etheldreda, or St. Audrey, who is rumoured to have started a nunnery there in the 7th century. St. Audries was mentioned in the Doomesday Book in 1086 (when its value was said to be £4), and in the 15th century it was owned by Sir Thomas Malet, who married Lady Elizabeth Luttrell of East Quantoxhead.
This rogue refused to pay his dues to Sir Hugh Luttrell at Dunster, who dispatched his bailiff. The Malets did not exactly welcome the bailiff with open arms, so he went to the nearest farm and took the poor tenant farmer’s four best plough oxen and drove them back to Dunster to settle the debt.
In the 1650’s the manor was plundered by Cromwell’s Roundhead troops, who are said to have taken the lady of the house’s wedding ring. In the 1700’s the Malets fell into debt and sold the estate for £8,300, in a state of disrepair.
The estate boasts many splendid ghost stories. According to a local historian, Duncan Stafford, a motorist and his wife thought they hit a horse and rider galloping across the A39 towards the church -- both seemed to vanish through a wall.
The couple stopped to search the roadside but found nothing. Years later, when the wall was removed, the foundations of an old road to the church were found at the very point where the horse and rider disappeared.
“A horse-drawn fire engine galloping westward through the walls has been seen on two occasions. A headless horse rider4 emerges at midnight each New Year’s Eve from the small quarry on the southern side of nearby Weacombe combe and gallops off down the valley,” says Mr. Stafford in his history of the area, Sleepy St. Audrie.
Huge alterations were carried out by Sir Peregrine after he bought the estate in 1835, and the house gained a new face -- in the 1870’s alone, £13,000 was spent on alterations. The family built a shell grotto and a beautiful orangery, which are still there.
Later the estate was broken up and in 1934 the house and it’s grounds were sold and became a school for girls. A former teacher there, Miss Brenda Knight, who still lives nearby, says that the house played an important role during the last war. “The cellars were used to house treasures from cathedrals and churches from across the south of England,” she says. “We always hoped they had left behind a gold chalice or something, but we never found anything!”
The house is now set in 56 acres of parkland, still has some of the old school sports facilities including tennis courts, a hockey pitch and swimming pool, and offers an astonishing 22,130 sq ft of space inside, plus a further 30,000 ft of space in former school buildings and outbuildings, making it ideal for conversion into homes, a hotel, a school or a time-share (it is now used as a Buddhist retreat).
It is being marketed by Strutt & Parker, which is looking for offers above £2 million. For information: 01392 215631
Online Source: http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/0,,67-46609,00.html