Visits

Hatch Court, Jordans and Rowlands: Georgian elegance and eccentricity

Date: Wednesday 29 May 2019

A visit to three Georgian houses in Somerset which exhibit both elegance and eccentricity

Hatch Court, Jordans and Rowlands: Georgian elegance and eccentricity

Hatch Court

Hatch Court, Jordans and Rowlands: Georgian elegance and eccentricity

Shell House

Hatch Court, Jordans and Rowlands: Georgian elegance and eccentricity

Gingerbread house

Coach Visit Wednesday 29th May 2019

Hatch Court, Jordans and Rowlands: Georgian elegance and eccentricity

Roger White, our guide, has obtained privileged access to these fine properties for SHS members. He is an architectural historian, has run both the Georgian Group and Garden History Society, and is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries. His definitive book on the cottage orné idiom was published in 2017 by Yale University Press. 

Hatch Court, Grade 1 listed, is one of the finest mid-Georgian mansions of its size in the country.  Designed by Thomas Prowse MP and built c 1755 in Palladian style for a wealthy wool merchant, it has been very carefully restored by the present owners.  The charming village church of Hatch Beauchamp, with a fine set of late-medieval bench ends, lies just beyond the large walled garden of the house.

After lunch we move on to the nearby estate of Jordans. Although the mansion house was demolished in the 1960s, the estate retains the so-called Gingerbread House, a delightful example of the cottage orné idiom, built c1800 as the gardener's home; and also the very pretty late-Georgian Shell House, restored by the present owner.  Finally we visit Rowlands, near Ilton, an impressive Tudor house with double-height hall, built for Sir Henry Cuffe (who, as secretary to the ill-fated Earl of Essex, was executed in 1601). It is now the family seat of the Speke family, in succession to Jordans.

Timings: Coach leaves Culverhayes car park at 9am. Arrive Hatch Inn at 10am to choose lunch (at own cost) before proceeding to visit Hatch Court [10.30-12.15) for coffee, tour of house and visit to church of St John the Baptist. 

12.30 – 2.00 lunch.    2.30 – 3.10 Jordans.   3.15 – 4.15 Rowlands, including tea.

Depart 4.20 and return to Culverhayes by 5.30. 

Cost £38.  Includes coach travel, guided tours, coffee at Hatch Court and tea at Rowlands.    Numbers limited to 25. 

Visitors / guests welcome.

Please send cheque with completed booking form to Visits Secretary:

Douglas Maxwell, The Dairy House, Milborne Wick, Sherborne, DT9 4PW

 

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