Holdenby House (Holmby House) (Holdenby Palace)

Earlier Houses: An earlier house, Holdenby Palace, was mostly demolished in 1651 by Captain Adam Baynes. The remaining elements of the 16th century house were incorporated into the current house.

Built / Designed For: Sir Christopher Hatton

House & Family History: Holdenby Palace was once one of the largest houses in England. The house was built for the entertainment of Queen Elizabeth I by Sir Christopher Hatton, Elizabeth's lord chancellor. After Charles I's defeat in the Civil War the Scots (whose prisoner he was) handed the king over to Parliament, which moved him to Holdenby Palace in February 1647 as a prisoner. With the exception of some of the offices, Holdenby Palace was mostly demolished in 1651, during the English Commonwealth. The house seen today is primarily a 19th century creation. Holdenby House today contains a fully functional armory, where suits of armor are manufactured using traditional methods.

Comments: John Evelyn called Holdenby "One of the most pleasing sites that ever I saw."
Architect: Walter Edward Mills

Date of Birth: ?
Date of Death: 1910
Nationality: British
Notes: Articled to Henry Edward Cooper of 2 Queen Square, Bloomsbury, London, circa 1868. Mills was architectural clerk to the agent of the Clifden Estates; he began independent practice in Banbury, Oxfordshire, in 1875.

Date: 1887-88
Designed: Additions

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Architect: Richard Herbert Carpenter

Date of Birth: Jul 1841
Date of Death: Apr 18, 1893
Nationality: British
Notes: Carpenter was a London architect. He was articled to William Slater in 1857 and was Slater's partner between 1863 and 1872. He was later in partnership with Benjamin Ingelow, 1878-93.

Date: 1873-75
Designed: Rebuilt House, together with William Slater

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Architect: William Slater

Date of Birth: 1818
Date of Death: Dec 17, 1872
Nationality: British
Notes: London architect who was articled to R.C. Carpenter, whose practice he took over upon the latter's death in 1855.

Date: 1873-75
Designed: Rebuilt House, together with R.H. Carpenter

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Country Life: XXXII, 528, 1912. CLXVI, 1286 plan, 1398, 1979.
Title: Althorp: The Story of an English House
Author: Spencer, Charles
Year Published: 1998
Reference: pg. 64
Publisher: London: Viking
ISBN: 0670883220
Book Type: Hardback

Title: Penguin Dictionary of English and European History, 1485-1789, The
Author: Williams, E.N.
Year Published: 1980
Reference: pg. 68
Publisher: London: Allen Lane
ISBN: 0713912391
Book Type: Hardback
House Listed: Grade II*

Park Listed: Grade I
"Biggles" (1986). "The Woman in White" (1997 - BBC TV). "A History of Britain" (2000 - TV documentary series). "Great Expectations" (2011 - BBC TV mini series, as Satis House exterior).
Current Seat / Home of: James Lowther

Past Seat / Home of: SEATED AT EARLIER HOUSE: Sir Christopeher Hatton, 16th century. Captain Adam Baynes, 17th century. SEATED AT CURRENT HOUSE: Henry Welbore Ellis, 2nd Viscount Clifden, 19th century; Ellis family here 1802-1905. Luke Henry White, 4th Baron Annaly, 1905-45

Current Ownership Type: Individual / Family Trust

Primary Current Ownership Use: Private Home
House Open to Public: Yes
Phone: 01604-770-074

Fax: 01604-770-962

Website: http://www.holdenby.com

Historic Houses Member: Yes

Holdenby House (Holmby House) (Holdenby Palace)

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