An 1855 lithograph of the House from "Burke's Visitation of Seats"
Tryon Palace, New Bern, North Carolina, from a 1950s postcard.
Earlier Houses: There was an earlier manor house located on the floodplain of the River Mole that was demolished (and the site abandoned) when the current house was built.
House & Family History: The Norbury Estate was listed in the "Domesday Book." In the 18th century Norbury was the seat of Charles Tryon, father of William Tryon, who became the governor of North Carolina and built Tryon Palace in New Bern, North Carolina (see photo in "Images" section). Tryon Palace was the original governor's mansion and the seat of colonial and early state government for the State of North Carolina before the capital was moved to Raleigh.
Collections: "Lake Nemi from a Monastery Garden" by Richard Wilson was sold from Norbury, probably by 1790. After passing through a number of subsequent owners, in 1905 the painting was given to The Metropolitan Museum of Art by George A. Hearn.
Garden & Outbuildings: John Evelyn recorded a visit in August 1655 to Norbury Park. A small Bronze Age hoard of two palstave axes and a scabbard chape, circa 1150-1000 BC, was discovered in 2003 in woodland on the western side of the Park. The Park also contains some of the oldest trees in Great Britain at Druids Grove -- a grove of yew trees used by Druids for rituals. In 1930 Surrey County Council purchased 1,340 acres of the Norbury Park Estate to protect the land from development; today the Surrey Wildlife Trust manages the parkland for the council.
John Bernard (J.B.) Burke, published under the title of A Visitation of the Seats and Arms of the Noblemen and Gentlemen of Great Britain and Ireland, among other titles: Vol. II, p. 219, 1853. 2.S. Vol. I, p. 246, 1854.
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. IV, 1828.
House Listed: Grade II*
Park Listed: Grade II
Current Seat / Home of: Philip Spencer
Past Seat / Home of: SEATED AT EARLIER HOUSE: Sir Francis Stydolf, 17th century. William Tryon, 18th century. SEATED AT CURRENT HOUSE: William Locke, 18th century. Ebenezer Fuller Maitland, 19th century. Henry Piper Sperling, 19th century. Thomas Grissell, 19th century. Leopold Salomons, 1911-14. Sir William Corry, 1916-22. Sir Edward Mountain, early 20th century. Marie Stopes, 1938-58.
Current Ownership Type: Individual / Family Trust
Primary Current Ownership Use: Private Home
House Open to Public: No
Historic Houses Member: No