DiCamillo Companion
England

Peper Harow House (Peperharow) (Pipereherge)

  • Earlier Houses: There were a number of earlier houses, including one that was incorporated into Chambers's 1763 stableblock.

    Built / Designed For: 3rd Viscount Midleton

    House & Family History: During World War II Peper Harow House was used as the headquarters of the Canadian Ordnance Corps. In 1950 the house was repurposed and opened as Park House School, a function Peper Harow served until 1989, when a serious fire did significant damage to the fabric of the house. Between 1997 and 2000 Peper Harow was converted into nine flats.

    Collections: On July 9, 2014 George Stubbs's "Tygers at Play" painting, which had been sold by the 2nd Earl in 1962, was sold by Sotheby's in London for £7,698,500.

  • Garden & Outbuildings: Peper Harow is an unusual name; it comes from the Old English Pipers Hear(g), which translates roughly into "pagan temple." In the graveyard of the early 14th century St. Nicholas's Church in the village of Peper Harow is an ancient yew tree that has been dated as being at least 1,500 years old; this tree could stand on the site of a pagan temple, or it could even be the pagan temple itself, as trees were venerated as temples by the ancient Saxons. Peper Harrow appears in the "Domesday Book" of 1086 as Pipereherge. The estate has a long history with Cricket. During a 1727 match at Peper Harow arranged between Alan Brodrick, 2nd Viscount Midleton, and Charles Lennox, 2nd Duke of Richmond, articles of agreement were drawn up beforehand to determine the rules. It is believed that this was the first time that rules were formally agreed to for a game. The house today sits in 19 acres of grounds.

  • Architect: James Wyatt

    Date: 1797
    Designed: Conservatory (demolished 1913) for 4th Viscount Midleton

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    Architect: Philip Charles Hardwick

    Date: 1847
    Designed: Entrance to Kitchen Garden for 5th Viscount Midleton

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    Architect: Charles Robert Cockerell

    Date: 1843
    Designed: North Porch and roof balustrade for 5th Viscount Midleton

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    Architect: William Oldham Chambers

    Date: 1762-63
    Designed: House (1762) and Stables (1763) for 3rd Viscount Middleton

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    Architect: Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin

    Date: 19th century
    Designed: Interiors

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    Architect: Lancelot Brown

    Date: 1762-63
    Designed: Grounds

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  • Country Life: LVIII, 1002, 1925.

  • Title: Biographical Dictionary of British Architects, 1600-1840, A - HARDBACK
    Author: Colvin, Howard
    Year Published: 2008
    Reference: pgs. 243, 265, 479, 1187
    Publisher: New Haven: Yale University Press
    ISBN: 9780300125085
    Book Type: Hardback

  • House Listed: Grade I

    Park Listed: Grade II

  • "Napoleon" (2023).
  • Past Seat / Home of: SEATED AT EARLIER HOUSES: Ralph Peckshall, 15th century. Denzil Holles, 17th century; John Holles, 4th Earl of Clare and 1st Duke of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 1699-1700. Philip Frowde, 1700-13. Alan Brodrick, 2nd Viscount Midleton, until 1747. SEATED AT CURRENT HOUSE: George Brodrick, 3rd Viscount Midleton, 1762-65; George Brodrick, 4th Viscount Midleton, 1765-1836; George Alan Brodrick, 5th Viscount Midleton, 1836-48; Charles Brodrick, 6th Viscount Midleton, 1848-63; William John Brodrick, 7th Viscount Midleton, 1863-70; William Brodrick, 8th Viscount Midleton, 1870-1907; William St. John Fremantle Brodrick, 9th Viscount Midleton and 1st Earl of Midleton, 1907-42; Brodick family here from 1713 until 1944.

    Current Ownership Type: Charity / Nonprofit

    Primary Current Ownership Use: Flats / Multi Family

    Ownership Details: The house and village are owned by a private trust.

  • House Open to Public: No

    Website: https://www.peperharow.info/

    Historic Houses Member: No

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