Built / Designed For: Sir Henry Parker

House & Family History: Considered one of the most perfect late 17th century houses in England, Honington is a 1680s house built of an exquisite, mellow red brick with stone quoins and carved busts of Roman emperors set into round-headed niches above the ground-floor windows (the garden facade of Castle Hill, Ipswich, Massachusetts, is based on Honington). The Manor of Honington was owned by the Priory of Coventry until the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the 16th century. In 1540 the Manor was granted by the crown to Robert Gibbes. In 1670 Honington was sold by the Gibbes family to Henry Parker, who built the current house. Parker's grandson sold the Estate in 1737 to Joseph Townsend, who carried out extensive work on the House, leaving it as seen today. The interior was lavishly remodeled by Townsend in the 1750s and features an extraordinary display of early Georgian plasterwork of the highest quality, particularly in the breathtaking coffered domed Octagonal Saloon, which was designed for Townsend by his friend, John Freeman. With luscious Rococo garlands on the walls, Kentian doorways, and a ceiling painting attributed to Bellucci, the 1751 Saloon burns brightly as the star of this extraordinary house. The second floor features the early 17th century Chinese Room (so-called because of its wallpaper), which also sports fine stucco work.

Garden & Outbuildings: Honington is set in 15 acres of grounds.

John Preston (J.P.) Neale, published under the title of Views of the Seats of Noblemen and Gentlemen in England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, among other titles: 2.S. Vol. I, 1824.

Country Life: XV, 942, 1904. XLVIII, 630, 666, 694, 1920. CLXIV, 791, 893, 1082, 1978.

House Listed: Grade I

Park Listed: Grade II

Current Seat / Home of: Benjamin Wiggin; Wiggin family here since the 1920s.

Past Seat / Home of: SEATED AT EARLIER HOUSE: Robert Gibbes, 16th century; Gibbes family here 1540-1670. SEATED AT CURRENT HOUSE: Sir Henry Parker, 17th century; Parker family here 1670-1737. Joseph Townsend, 18th century; Townsend family here 1737-1905. Sir Grey Humberston d'Estoteville Skipwith, 11th Bt., 1905-20s.

Current Ownership Type: Individual / Family Trust

Primary Current Ownership Use: Private Home

House Open to Public: Limited Access

Phone: 01608-661-434

Fax: 01608-663-717

Email: [email protected]

Historic Houses Member: No