The hall from a circa 1912 postcard
The ruins of Brampton Bryan Castle from an 1814 engraving from "England Delineated in Two Volumes"
Earlier Houses: The 14th century three-story Brampton Bryan Castle, built of Caen stone from Normandy, was mostly destroyed during the English Civil War. The Grade I-listed ruins, which feature a pair of embattled round towers, were used in the filming of the 1992 Merchant Ivory film "Howards End."
Built / Designed For: Edward Harley
House & Family History: Brampton Bryan Hall is a 17th century brick house with sandstone dressings and a hipped Welsh slate roof that was built to replace the earlier Brampton Bryan Castle, which was ruined during the Civil War. Both houses were seats of the Harley family, after whom Harley Street in London was named (the family developed this part of London in the 18th century).
Garden & Outbuildings: According to legend, every September 3rd the devil rampages through the park with Oliver Cromwell's soul. The grounds also contain a Victorian dairy.
Title: Merchant Ivory's English Landscape: Rooms, Views, and Anglo-Saxon Attitudes
Author: Pym, John
Year Published: 1995
Publisher: New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc.
ISBN: 0810942755
Book Type: Hardback
House Listed: Grade II*
Park Listed: Grade II
Current Seat / Home of: Edward and Victoria Harley; Harley family here since 1309.
Past Seat / Home of: SEATED AT EARLIER HOUSE: Brampton family, until early 14th century. Harley family, 14th century. SEATED AT CURRENT HOUSE: Edward Harley, 17th century; Robert Harley, 1st Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer, 18th century; Edward Harley, 4th Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer, late 18th century; Alfred Harley, 6th (and last) Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer, 19th century; William Daker Harley, mid-19th century.
Current Ownership Type: Individual / Family Trust
Primary Current Ownership Use: Private Home
House Open to Public: No
Historic Houses Member: No