House & Family History: Sir Wolstan Dixie (1524-93/4), Lord Mayor of London, purchased Bosworth Park in 1589. Wolstan Dixie (1602-82), a loyal supporter of Charles I, was awarded a baronetcy in 1644, but was unable to take up the honor until the Restoration of Charles II in 1660. As a Royalist, his estates were confiscated by Cromwell, and only released to his son circa 1656 upon payment of a huge fine. Bosworth Hall was primarily the creation of Wolstan's son, Sir Beaumont Dixie, 2nd Bt. (1629-92). After he inherited in 1682, Sir Beaumont had the old manor house demolished and the moat partially filled in. Sir Beaumont built an L-shaped brick and stone house with a west facade of nine bays and a south (garden) facade of eleven bays, each with a central pedimented projection. Both of these facades are little changed today. Bosworth Hall is noted for its fine plasterwork. In the 20th century the House became a maternity hospital for Leicester. When it was purchased by Britannia Hotels and converted by them into a luxury hotel, much of the historic furniture and pictures were retained. Nearby is Bosworth Field, where on August 22, 1485 Richard III, last of the Plantagenet kings, was defeated by the future Henry VII at the Battle of Bosworth Field (the Bosworth Battlefield Visitor Centre and Country Park are open regularly to visitors). (We are grateful to Colin Stansfield for contributing to the history of Bosworth Hall).
Garden & Outbuildings: The grounds of Bosworth Hall include a landscaped 35-hectare park, formerly part of Bosworth Hall deer parkland. There are also fine, mature trees, a lake, a planted arboretum with exotic species, a wildflower meadow, and a community woodland.
Architect: Bodley & Garner
Date: VictorianHouse Listed: Grade II*
Park Listed: Not Listed
Past Seat / Home of: Dixie family, 16th-17th centuries. Lionel Tollemache, 5th Earl of Dysart, 18th century.
Current Ownership Type: Corporation
Primary Current Ownership Use: Hotel
Ownership Details: Today Bosworth Hall Hotel
House Open to Public: By Appointment
Phone: 0455-291-919
Fax: 01455-292-442
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.britanniahotels.com
Historic Houses Member: No