Greetham, near Oakham
Rutland
England
Historic County: Rutlandshire, LeicestershireCirca Date: 1850-51, incorporating earlier elements, w/later alterations and additions
Status: Fully Extant
House Open to Public: By Appointment
Country House: Yes
The house from "Morris's Views of Seats," circa 1875.
House Replaced By: An earlier house burned in 1810 and was replaced, begininng in 1811, with the current house. Elements from the earlier house were probably incorporated into the new house.
Garden & Outbuildings: Fort Henry, a Gothick summer house folly with battlements and lakeside terraces, was designed by William Legg and built in the early 19th century to resemble the style of 1760-70. It was built by, and named after, Henry, the 6th Earl of Gainsborough (first creation), who supposedly re-enacted the great sea battles of his time on the lake, using miniature boats, manned by his servants and tenants. Near Fort Henry is the ruin of a garden house made entirely of tree bark; this very rare garden house is slowly being restored. In addition, the stables, the Riding School, the dovecote, and Jacobethan style lodges are all extant.
Chapel & Church: Attached to the house a large Roman Catholic chapel, Saint Thomas of Canterbury, built in 1868 in the 13th century style by the 2nd Earl of Gainsborough, who converted to Roman Catholicism on New Year's Day 1850.
Architect: Henry Roberts
Date: 1851-52Architect: John Chessell Buckler
Date: 1868Architect: William Daniel Legg
Date: 18th centuryVitruvius Britannicus: C. IVth, pls. 59-62, 1739.
Title: Biographical Dictionary of British Architects, 1600-1840, A - HARDBACK
Author: Colvin, Howard
Year Published: 2008
Reference: pgs. 136, 642, 873
Publisher: New Haven: Yale University Press
ISBN: 9780300125085
Book Type: Hardback
Title: Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage, 1990
Author: Kidd, Charles; Williamson, David (Editors)
Year Published: 1990
Reference: pg. P 491
Publisher: London: Debrett's Peerage Limited (New York: St. Martin's Press, Inc.)
ISBN: 0312046405
Book Type: Hardback
Title: Buildings of England: Leicestershire and Rutland, The
Author: Pevsner, Nikolaus
Year Published: 1973
Reference: pgs. 298-299
Publisher: London: Penguin Books
ISBN: 0140710183
Book Type: Hardback
Title: Follies and Pleasure Pavilions
Author: Mott, George; Aall, Sally Sample
Year Published: 1989
Publisher: New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc.
ISBN: 0810911752
Book Type: Hardback
Title: Georgian: The Magazine of the Georgian Group, The
Author: NA
Year Published: NA
Reference: January 1999, pg. 16
Publisher: London: The Georgian Group
ISBN: NA
Book Type: Magazine
House Listed: Grade II
Park Listed: Grade II
Current Seat / Home of: Anthony Baptist Noel, 6th Earl of Gainsborough
Past Seat / Home of: SEATED AT EARLIER HOUSE: Henry Noel, 6th Earl of Gainsborough (first creation), until 1798. SEATED AT CURRENT HOUSE: Sir Gerard Noel Noel, 2nd Bt., until 1838; Charles Noel Noel, 1st Earl of Gainsborough (second creation), 1838-66; Charles George Noel, 2nd Earl of Gainsborough, 1866-81; Charles William Francis Noel, 3rd Earl of Gainsborough, 1881-1926; Arthur Edward Joseph Noel, 4th Earl of Gainsborough, 1926-27; Anthony Gerard Edward Noel, 5th Earl of Gainsborough, 1927-2009.
Current Ownership Type: Individual / Family Trust
Primary Current Ownership Use: Private Home
Ownership Details: Available for weddings and events
House Open to Public: By Appointment
Phone: 01572-812-208
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.extonpark.co.uk/
Historic Houses Member: Yes