On Friday we were out for a family lunch just over the border in Wales: destination Mellington Hall. It is only a few miles from Bishop’s Castle, an impressive Gothic pile built in the 1870s by Derbyshire ironmaster, Philip Wright, and now run as a country house hotel and holiday park.
“Built by iron, saved by eggs and rabbits.”
This is how the current owners describe the hall’s more recent history.
They then explain how the present enterprise derives from some creative family entrepreneurship over sixty years ago:
The establishment of the Holiday Park in the 1960s and the survival of the Hall are inextricably linked: the Hall was in a terrible state when Mr Jack Evans, the grandfather of the present owner, bought the Hall and parkland in 1959.
Jack built his business on collecting rabbits, other game and eggs from the nearby farms and selling the produce to shops and markets in the Midlands. Coincidentally, Jack’s wife Margaret had been in service at the Hall as a young girl but by the 1950s the Hall was almost certainly going to be demolished.
Prompted by business contacts in the Midlands looking for a rural bolt-hole, Jack created the Holiday Park in the 1960s to generate revenue which would pay for the restoration and upkeep of the hall and thus save it from demolition.
What a project. And the restoration work is still ongoing.
You can see some photos of the Hall in its Victorian heyday HERE.
The grounds were originally landscaped by Joseph Paxton, but there has been further planting of specimen trees by Jack Evans. Work also still continues in the park, including the upkeep and creation of woodland paths, one of which links to the 177 mile Offa’s Dyke path, constructed along the England-Wales border in the late 700s CE by the Saxon king of Mercia.
Friday, though, was not a day for big walks, or even short ones. Too many fierce squalls to contend with. But between two showers, and armed with brollies, we did manage a brief stroll to lake where a sudden burst of sunlight yielded the header photo.
On the drive home, sun and rain together created a huge double rainbow over the Camlad Valley, casting brilliant prisms across the foothills of Todleth, Roundton and Corndon Hills, but not quite caught here as we sped along.
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November Shadows This month Becky invites us to post square-format photos on a shadowy theme, however we care to interpret it. You can join in as and when.
goodness that’s some project – I have found it more than enough just doing the tiny changes and repairs at mine!
Fabulous squares by the way – so happy you have joined us already this month.
Yep, doing up a place for 65 years sounds very wearying. Inside, it’s a bit gloomily baronial, though lots of lovely big fireplaces and the most amazing panelling – no expense spared back in 1870
Beautiful images, the older buildings are so unique!
Yes, definitely one-of-a-kind building. Thanks, Pamela.
Beautiful and interesting Tish.
Thank you, Agnes.
It has the impression of a Derbyshire stone wall turned Gothic pile – I wonder why they built so impressively – surely just to impress but what a history. Glad you were able to show us this (and give the write up) between squalls
Yes, why was the house built on such an imposingly huge scale for a single family. (A Welshpool architect apparently). It’s not even visible from the nearest road, but replaced an original old ‘big house’ that had been ‘improved’ in the 1860s. It’s hard not to ponder on the hundreds of coal miners and foundrymen that provided the means.
Looks like they’re doing a fair job, Tish. Nice photos xx
I can’t imagine taking on a building of that scale, even if it didn’t need some care and attention.
excellent photos with shadows and colors
Many thanks, Yvette.
😊
There be ghosties in those woods. 🙂
There were!
😀
Yet another reason to come back and explore your part of the world!
I love the autumn colours in your photos of the lake – I’m glad you got a break in the weather to be able to take that short walk 🙂 The story of the house and its rescue shows what can be done if someone is determined to preserve rather than destroy the past.
Lovely!
Thank you, Jennie.
You’re welcome.