The House That We See Today Was Built by the Wittewronge Family After They

4 3 1 3 5 5 2 The house that we see today 1. The chimneys are typical of those found in the 1600’s. Chimneys were a was built by the Wittewronge sign of wealth; they represented how many fires the owners were able to family after they purchased afford. The ones here bear the date 1654. it in 1623. It is Jacobean in 2. Above the main door is the Wittewronge coat of arms and higher up is a style. The Jacobean style is plaque of the sun fire office which was added when the house was named after King James I insured for £1000 in 1726. of England, (1603–1625). At the start of his reign there 3. Curvilinear gables were added by Sir John Wittewronge in the 1600’s. These are often called ‘Flemish’ or ‘Dutch’ gables. The Wittewronge’s were was little stylistic break in from Ghent in Belgium and they clearly wanted to replicate the style of architecture and Elizabethan architecture from their home. trends continued. However, his death in 1625 came as 4. The bell in the bell tower has the date 1650. a decisive change towards 5. Extensions were added on both sides of the house in the 1600’s, as were more classical architecture ‘The arches’ or the ‘open loggia’ on the west side (now The Orangery). with strong Italian, Flemish, This meant the house wasn’t balanced, until a further extension was and German influences. added in the 1900’s to make the house symmetrical. Rothamsted Enterprises West Common, Harpenden, Hertfordshire AL5 2JQ 01582 938500 I [email protected] I www.rothamstedenterprises.com Welcome Welcome to Rothamsted Manor, our grade I listed property hidden within the grounds of Rothamsted Research in Harpenden. John Bennet Lawes was The Hall Lounge the founder of Rothamsted Experimental Station (now The hall is the oldest part of the house Panelling is plain oak, again covering Rothamsted Reasearch) and with some of the original timbers some extensive murals believed to was born in this house on 28th visible in the ceiling. depict the 1573 siege of Edinburgh December 1814. His ancestors Castle, and a series of animals built most of the Manor as The linenfold wooden panelling on representing vices. we see it today in the 1600’s. the walls conceals murals dating back There is, however, a record of to the 1500’s. These were discovered The seventeenth century fireplace is settlement on this site dating in the 1900’s when old panelling Bedfordshire Clunch (soft limestone) back as far as the 1200’s. was removed and replaced with the and inlaid with black marble. linenfold panelling visible today Above the fireplace is a still-life, The Manor has a rich and (which also dates to 1600’s). a painting in oils on an oak panel enormously significant The glass in the windows is relatively lined with canvas by Tilman. Sir John history, and one which links modern (approx. 1900) and shows Wittewronge purchased it for £2 directly to the agricultural nine shields bearing the arms of in 1659. research that takes place England from 1189 to the present day. on our estate today. We are The windows are designed to show delighted to be able to share The floor is oak boarding from 1862, the coats of arms of the owners of it with you. but underneath there are flagstones Rothamsted from the earliest recorded from 1679. until 1623 when the Wittewronge’s took ownership. Little is known about the furniture in the room, but the clock is notable The ceiling beams are of moulded because of who it belonged to. The plaster ornamented with arabesques clock belonged to Alderman William and vine pattern. The date of the Brenchley who was the father of plaster-work is controversial, it is Dr Winifred Brenchley OBE (1883- unsure whether they are late sixteenth 1953), one of Rothamsted’s most to early seventeenth century, and part Nicole Sadd notable female scientists. may be first-class modern imitation. CEO, Rothamsted Enterprises Spanish Leather Room Great Drawing Room Library This stunning room is one of the This room was added in 1864 by This room is Sir Charles’s only highlights of the Manor. The Spanish John Lawes to provide a space for the structural addition to the house. leather wall coverings, originating coming of age ball of his son Charles. from the seventeenth century, were It was built in 1900 on the model installed by Charles Bennet-Lawes in In 1900 Charles remodelled the room; of the library at Rawdon House in 1900. The style of painting is English. he raised the ceiling, replaced the four Hoddesdon which had shortly before Victorian windows, added modern been purchased to be converted into The ornate overmantal is early 1600’s panelling of rectangular design which a convent. and believed to have been bought he soon replaced again in 1906 with in from elsewhere in the house. It is the present linenfold panelling. Both the ceiling and doors which divided into 3 niches containing oil conceal bookcases were closely paintings: In the centre the arms of The chandeliers and wall lights copied by architect V.T. Hodgson. the Wittewronge family after Sir John bearing the arms of Wittewronge and The fireplace is from 1622 and comes was made a Baronet, and either side Bennet Lawes were secured by Sir directly from Rawdon House. there are still life paintings. The gold John Russell (Director of Rothamsted Experimental Research Station) at and black carvings echo that on the The fireplace is seventeenth century the time of sale of the furniture of the chimney piece. work. Above the mantelshelf, house in 1936. which rests on supports carved in The moulded ceiling was put up in the likeness of satyrs, two niches, the 1800’s. The overmantal bears the arms of Sir Charles Lawes-Wittewronge containing seated figures in high relief The chimney piece is made of stone (he added Wittewronge to his name playing the harp, gong, cymbals and and is carved with arabesques with a in later years) and the motto ‘Pour la diaulos, are flanked by pillars around flower and fruit pattern. foi’ which alludes to the flight of his whose feet cherubs are executing a ancestors from religious persecution dance; and over all runs a sculptured Sir John Bennet Lawes added a bay in the low countries. frieze showing the sun centred window to this room when he added between scenes containing men the Great Drawing room, but it was The windows depict the marriages of and dogs. removed by his son Charles in 1900. the family through the years. Of the floor, Sir John Lawes wrote ‘There was a floor for sale which had been used by the Marquis of Breadalbane when as Lord Chamberlain he gave a ball to Queen Victoria, and so, I purchased it’. The history of 1693 1785 1900 the house and Sir John dies and passes Rothamsted passes to Sir John Bennet Lawes dies the estate to his son John Bennet Lawes, John’s and passes the property to James. James is a lawyer nephew, but he allows his son Charles. Charles is its inhabitants whose first son Jacob John’s widow to remain in not interested in science is his heir. Jacob dies in the house until her death and has no aptitude for 1693, but he already has in 1801. On the death of business. He becomes an a child on the way at the his aunt he moves into the athlete, and later in life he time of his death. Jacob Manor. He marries and his is a sculptor. His work can (the younger) is born after son and heir is also named be seen outside the Tate his father’s death. And John Bennet Lawes. Britain. In 1902 Charles 1212 1623 so, when James dies, the assumes the family name First recorded mention of The family run into estate goes directly to and arms of his ancestors, Rothamsted (interpreted financial difficulties and his grandson. the Wittewronge’s. He is by the English Place-Name sell the property to the also one of the founders Society to mean ‘The rooky Wittewronge family. of the Royal Society of 1822 British Sculptors. homestead’ from early mentions of ‘Rochamstede’ Anne Wittewronge John Bennet Lawes is 8 and ‘Rokemstude’). purchases Rothamsted years old when he inherits Richard de Merston held for her son John who is 1721 Rothamsted. His father a knight’s fee here. 5. He lives there with his Jacob inherits the estate. had been friends with the mother and step father His diary reveals a love for Prince Regent and keeping 1911 Henry Gubion owned the (Sir John Myddleton) who up with the lavish lifestyle country life and a very keen Sir Charles dies and his son estate and granted it to he is very fond of, and of his friend was costly and interest in the Rothamsted in Australia does not return Richard de Merston. The in 1638 he marries Mary so the family move into estate. He planted a vista to the UK. The Manor is house was probably timber (who is also his step- Rothamsted Lodge. of elms from the house to rented to the Sidebottom framed, and simple. father’s grand-daughter). the lane at Christmas 1721 family for 30 years. and in the following year fruit trees. Who were the Wittewronge family? 1834 1292 They were a well- After studying at Oxford, 1931 connected family from The property was sold to Ghent in Belgium. John moves to Rothamsted Sir John Lawes- the Nowell family.

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