House & Family History: Breakspears House is a large brick House of two stories, plus attics. Although it retains late Tudor features, the House was most likely reconstructed at the end of the 17th century. Additions were made in a sympathetic style at the end of the 19th century. Nicholas Breakspear is believed to have lived at an earlier house on the site when he served as Pope Adrian IV, between 1154 and 1159. Alan Bennett writes in "Untold Stories" that Breakspears was the childhood home of Elizabeth Stephen, the wife of William Hallett; the couple famously appear in Gainsborough's "Morning Walk." W.S. Gilbert wrote "The Yeomen of the Guard" at the House. Breakspears was used as a retirement home in the 1950s; in 2002 plans were submitted to erect residential houses on the grounds.
Collections: Josuha Reynolds's "Colonel Banastre Tarleton" (today in the collection of The National Gallery, London) once hung in Breakspears.
Garden & Outbuildings: A Lodge of 1904 and a Tudor Dovecote are extant.
Architect: Unknown (designed by an unknown architect)
Date: Circa 1887
Title: Untold Stories
Author: Bennett, Alan
Year Published: 2007
Reference: pgs. 208-209
Publisher: New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
ISBN: 9780312426620
Book Type: Softback
Title: Georgian Group Annual Report
Author: NA
Year Published: NA
Reference: 2002, pg. 7
Publisher: London: The Georgian Group
ISBN: NA
Book Type: Light Softback
Title: No Voice From the Hall: Early Memories of a Country House Snooper
Author: Harris, John
Year Published: 1998
Reference: pgs. 79-81
Publisher: London: John Murray
ISBN: 0719555671
Book Type: Hardback
House Listed: Grade I
Park Listed: Not Listed
Past Seat / Home of: Nicholas Breakspear (Pope Adrian IV), 12th century; William Breakspear, 14th century. Ashby family. Alfred H. Tarleton, 19th century.
Current Ownership Type: Flat Owners Company / Condo Association
Primary Current Ownership Use: Flats / Multi Family