Scholar Green, Odd Rode, near Crewe
Cheshire
England
Circa Date: 1708-20 w/18th, 19th & 20th century and additions
Status: Fully Extant
House Open to Public: Yes
Country House: Yes
An 1824 engraving of the house from "Neale's Views of Seats"
The entrance facade
The house (left) and stables
Earlier Houses: An earlier medieval house was replaced by the current house in the early 18th century.
House & Family History: Roger Wilbraham of Nantwich—a cousin of the Wilbrahams of Weston Park and Woodhey—noted in his diary that in 1669 he had purchased Rode from Randle Rode. The Wilbrahams, or the Baker-Wilbrahams, as they have since become, have been here ever since. Their house is, in fact, two 18th century houses that sit next to each other. The earlier building was complete in 1708 and is a five-bay, two-storied house distinguished by Venetian windows in its wings. To the northwest of this now stands the taller 1752 house, for which the older building became service accommodation. In the late 18th century Mrs. Richard Wilbraham-Bootle, aided by her son, made further alterations to the designs of the architect John Hope of Liverpool. Her work included the building of the full height bay windows, at a time when the Park was being laid out to designs by the great landscape gardener Humphry Repton. Rode was further added to in 1810, when a rakishly handsome dining room was added, with a segmental vaulted ceiling and smart Gillow furniture, to the design of Lewis Wyatt. Still very much the family home of Randle and Amanda Baker-Wilbraham and their young family, the house contains some fine portraits and an exceptional collection of English ceramics. (We are most grateful to Gareth Williams for this history of Rode Hall).
Collections: Rode is noted for its important collection of English porcelain; the collection is especially strong in Chelsea, Bow, and Royal Worcester.
Comments: John Martin Robinson described Rode Hall as a "substantial and elegant Georgian house."
Garden & Outbuildings: Humphry Repton landscaped the grounds; William Andrews Nesfield added the formal rose garden in 1860.
Architect: John Hope
Date: 1799Architect: Lewis William Wyatt
Date: 1808John 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.
House Listed: Grade II*
Park Listed: Grade II
Current Seat / Home of: Randle and Amanda Baker-Wilbraham; Wilbraham family here since 1669.
Past Seat / Home of: SEATED AT EARLIER HOUSE: Randle Rode, 17th century; Rode family here from the 14th century until the 17th century. Roger Wilbraham, 17th century. SEATED AT CURRENT HOUSE: Richard Wilbraham-Bootle, 18th century; Randle Wilbraham III, 18th century; Sir Richard Baker Wilbraham, 8th Bt., 20th century.
Current Ownership Type: Individual / Family Trust
Primary Current Ownership Use: Private Home
House Open to Public: Yes
Phone: 01270-873-237
Fax: 01270-882-962
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.rodehall.co.uk
Historic Houses Member: Yes