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175:. The programme explored the question of whether Wren or Hawksmoor designed the building. Cruickshank obtained samples of wood from the building's roof; date tests on the samples revealed they originated from trees that were cut down between 1700 and 1701, which was proposed as evidence suggesting that Hawksmoor, not Wren, may have been the architect.
151:
Catherine
Poulett, he decided to resurrect the idea of a new mansion, and subsequently Wren's pupil Hawksmoor received the commission in about 1694. A 300-word letter written and signed by Wren in approximately 1685 has survived, reflecting the advice he offered concerning the construction of Easton
326:
staff floors between each of the two upper floors. Hence at Easton Neston, while the two principal façades (West and East) are of three floors, the fenestration of the two less important side façades betrays the secret that there are in fact five floors: the windows of the two mezzanines, as befits
376:
The principal rooms have windows rising almost from the floor to the ceiling. The rooms are large and well proportioned without suffering from the oppressive grandeur that was to be a feature of
Vanbrugh and Hawksmoor's later collaborative work. The massive main staircase, with its wrought iron
314:
or outside the door of their master's bedchamber; by the 17th century this arrangement was becoming undesirable. Houses then began to have corridors, and the owners, rather than stepping over sleeping servants, began to tidy them away in small rooms, sometimes containing their employer's
506:, up for sale for an asking price of £50 million. He received no offers and consequently in 2005, he sold the estate piecemeal. A part of the estate, including the main house, some outlying buildings and 550 acres (2.2 km) of land, were sold for about £15 million to
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entrance piers, marooned in the park. The two pre-existing red-brick wings, perhaps owing something to
Christopher Wren, remained, although the western (stable) wing was later demolished after the new stables were built. Some architectural commentators, including
436:
to complement the house, known as the Long Water; this is on an axis with the entrance door at the centre of the garden façade. In the 20th century the gardens overlooked by the west, or garden façade, were further enhanced by the creation of a water
286:
at the ten intervals above the pilasters below. The design and fenestration of the entrance façade is repeated at the rear on the garden façade, except that the roof balustrade at the rear is undecorated by urns and pediment. The house is built of
533:, the Hesketh family having its origins in Lancashire. However, these were subsequently withdrawn from the university. In 2010 the trustees of the 2nd Baron's will trust sold some of his books, manuscripts and letters at
94:, and often provided technical knowledge to the less qualified Vanbrugh. Hawksmoor's work was always more classically severe than Vanbrugh's. However, Easton Neston predates this partnership by some six years.
262:, each bay containing a tall, slim sash window of the same height on each floor. The central bay contains the entrance, flanked by two Composite full columns. These two columns support a small, round-headed
147:
No details of what Wren envisaged survive, and work seems to have ceased following completion of the two service blocks, of which only one survives. Following Fermor's marriage in 1692 to the wealthy
408:
and
Corinthian columns, was sub-divided in the 19th century by Sir Thomas Hesketh, who inherited the property from his uncle, to create an upper storey containing three bedrooms. The principal
327:
the humble rooms they light, are a mere half of the size of those of the grander rooms above and below them. This makes the fenestration of the side façades a complex and interesting sight.
195:
Fermor had purchased a large collection of marble statues from the
Arundel collection some of which he used to decorate the estate. These were removed and sold together with other items by
1018:
484:
For the major part of its existence, including into the 21st century, Easton Neston has been a private house and never opened to the public; as a consequence it is little known.
472:
517:
As of 2005, Max planned to use the Wren-designed wing of the house as a headquarters for his
European operations, and the Hawksmoor block as his personal residence.
330:
Some years after completion of the house in 1702, Hawksmoor drew-up further plans for a huge entrance court. These designs, never fully executed but published in
420:(1698–1753), comprising a high-relief ceiling matched on the walls by huge scrolled panels and picture surrounds, with trophies containing hunting emblems.
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336:, would have flanked the existing rectangular house with two wings, one containing stables and the other service rooms. The fourth (entrance) side of the
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stone, a cream stone of exceptional quality, which has ensured that the carving appears as crisp today as it was on completion of the house in 1702.
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and pulleys from far away, it was necessary for servants to be located within earshot of a hand-bell or call of the voice. In older houses such as
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The library at Easton Neston was formerly the home of a substantial collection of rare books and manuscripts, largely created by
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234:, which building was not completed until about 50 years after Easton Neston, engravings of which design were published in
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which was solely the work of
Hawksmoor. From about 1700, after the completion of Easton Neston, Hawksmoor worked with Sir
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was not added to the roof and the flanking wings, gateway, and forecourt walls shown were ultimately not built.
258:, above ground level, with the two floors above appearing to have equal value, including nine bays divided by
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Neston. The letter was acquired in March 2011 at auction for an estimated £9,000, and later sold for £19,200.
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In a brand-new, luxurious house such as Easton Neston, this was achieved by inserting two very low-ceilinged
200:
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136:(1621–1661), who had himself inherited it in 1640 and had been created a baronet the following year by King
511:
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Interiors at Easton Neston have suffered various changes since
Hawksmoor completed the house. Hawksmoor's
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The south entrance lodges to Easton Neston on the Old
Towcester Road, with the estate and the tree-lined
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502:, a descendant of the builder via a female line, put the house, and the surrounding estate including
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The two side elevations of the house tell the story of life in a country house before the age of the
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199:(1722–1785) (son of the 1st Earl), then in financial difficulties, and were bought by his mother
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visited
England and rented Easton Neston House, using its fine stables for her horses. She used
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feel that Hawksmoor's mansion might have been spoilt by this new scheme, which owed more to Sir
412:, the only heavily decorated room in the house, has also seen change in the form of decorative
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360:'s architectural concepts than to Hawksmoor's. The whole proposed new design was depicted in
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445:(1881–1944), the great-nephew of the 5th and last Earl of Pomfret. It is decorated by box
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248:(d.1564). Both main façades of Easton Neston are of simple design, devoid of ostentation.
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No substantial part of this later scheme was built, except for two large and now decayed
203:, daughter of John Jeffreys, 2nd Baron Jeffreys of Wem, who in 1755 donated them to the
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in 1715; the central block was built in accordance with the proposal except that the
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The house Hawksmoor built at Easton Neston can best be described as a miniature
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553:, is named for Easton Neston house, and the county in which it is located,
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140:. Hawksmoor had been recommended to Fermor by his cousin by marriage Sir
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The rectangular house comprises three principal floors. The lowest is a
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319:. However, these small rooms still had to be within calling distance.
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529:. In 2006 the collection was deposited on loan at the library of
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surrounding a large pool, which reflects the house in its water.
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298:' bell. Until the invention of the remote bell situated in the
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Christopher Wren's Easton Neston letter up for sale for £9,000
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156:
652:
A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects, 1600–1840
608:, BBC Publications, chapter 3, Easton Neston, 13 June 2011
850:"Lancaster University celebrates the Hesketh Collection"
626:
British listed buildings website, accessed 26 March 2012
16:
Country house near Towcester, Northamptonshire, England
274:. Above the door at second floor height is a massive
404:, with its two-storey high, bare walls and flanking
922:
The Country House Revealed – Marsh Court, Hampshire
668:
May 2005 auction at Sotheby's. Accessed 26 May 2011
514:, but retained ownership of Towcester Racecourse.
416:carried out by Artari in the mid-18th century for
793:Vitruvius Britannicus, vol. i, 1715, pls 98 – 100
803:Empress of Austria – Her visits to Easton Neston
240:. Gabriel's design was itself influenced by the
132:, who had inherited the estate from his father
120:Hawksmoor was commissioned to re-build the old
33:Easton Neston undergoing building work in 2007
699:– includes copy of the letter – 31 March 2011
8:
1019:Grade I listed buildings in Northamptonshire
872:"Lancaster to lose valuable art collection"
527:Frederick Fermor-Hesketh, 2nd Baron Hesketh
500:Alexander Fermor-Hesketh, 3rd Baron Hesketh
106:A proposal for Easton Neston published in
654:, 3rd ed. (Yale University Press), 1995,
226:to the proposed design by Gabriel of the
639:, "Hawksmoor's house at Easton Neston",
443:Thomas Fermor-Hesketh, 1st Baron Hesketh
302:, which could be jangled by a system of
159:broadcast a programme on Easton Neston,
78:Easton Neston is thought to be the only
763:The Natural History of Northamptonshire
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368:, as though it had in fact been built.
71:style to the design of the architect
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894:"World record as book sells for £7m"
282:which is decorated by covered stone
65:William Fermor, 1st Baron Leominster
711:"BBC i-player accessed 26 May 2011"
578:George Weidenfeld and Nicolson Ltd.
310:servants slept on the floor of the
999:Country houses in Northamptonshire
418:Thomas Fermor, 1st Earl of Pomfret
278:. The roof-line is concealed by a
197:George Fermor, 2nd Earl of Pomfret
14:
742:BBC i-player accessed 26 May 2011
586:Life in the English Country House
683:Northampton Chronicle & Echo
555:Northampton County, Pennsylvania
948:"33 Easton Neston house photos"
695:Rare letter sells for £19,200,
134:Sir William Fermor, 1st Baronet
549:, a United States city in the
340:was to have been an elaborate
1:
86:on many buildings, including
1024:Nicholas Hawksmoor buildings
1009:English Baroque architecture
489:Empress Elisabeth of Austria
432:, Hawksmoor also designed a
63:, England. It was built by
25:Easton Neston House in 1987
1040:
1004:Defunct real tennis venues
737:The Country House Revealed
605:The Country House Revealed
476:The Easton Neston gate at
465:The Easton Neston gate at
242:palazzi on the Campidoglio
222:of pilasters and crowning
162:The Country House Revealed
902:. London. 8 December 2010
600:Thames and Hudson, London
493:Blisworth railway station
480:, showing the Fermor arms
191:visible in the background
389:which is decorated with
124:at Easton Neston by Sir
576:Great Houses of Britain
170:architectural historian
936:"Easton Neston Reborn"
852:. Lancaster University
834:"Rag trade to riches"
808:8 October 2006 at the
747:4 October 2018 at the
658:"Hawksmoor, Nicholas".
495:for travel to London.
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469:
266:displaying the Fermor
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26:
1014:Grade I listed houses
812:from mkheritage.co.uk
641:Architectural History
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366:Vitruvius Britannicus
333:Vitruvius Britannicus
237:Vitruvius Britannicus
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109:Vitruvius Britannicus
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32:
24:
941:Architectural Digest
547:Easton, Pennsylvania
531:Lancaster University
504:Towcester Racecourse
478:Towcester Racecourse
467:Towcester Racecourse
67:(1648–1711), in the
971: /
899:The Daily Telegraph
521:The Hesketh Library
260:Composite pilasters
975:52.1373°N 0.9758°W
874:. 15 February 2010
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201:Henrietta Jeffreys
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73:Nicholas Hawksmoor
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717:on 4 October 2018
697:Salisbury Journal
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381:in the style of
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487:In March 1876,
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395:James Thornhill
393:painted by Sir
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354:Dan Cruickshank
308:Montacute House
276:Venetian window
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45:country house
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952:Getty Images
944:, 1 May 2012
939:
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904:. Retrieved
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878:21 September
876:. Retrieved
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854:. Retrieved
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838:17 July 2005
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824:13 July 2005
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719:. Retrieved
715:the original
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637:Kerry Downes
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760:Morton, J.
414:plasterwork
317:close-stool
244:in Rome by
122:manor house
40:is a large
993:Categories
963:52°08′14″N
906:14 January
613:References
406:vestibules
402:great hall
391:grisailles
383:Jean Tijou
379:balustrade
349:Ozymandian
312:great hall
280:balustrade
253:rusticated
232:Versailles
224:balustrade
189:River Tove
966:0°58′33″W
836:The Times
646:(1987).;
598:Hawksmoor
535:Sotheby's
498:In 2004,
342:colonnade
338:courtyard
324:mezzanine
138:Charles I
98:Architect
57:Towcester
806:Archived
779:17 April
745:Archived
508:Leon Max
372:Interior
296:servants
264:pediment
256:basement
179:Exterior
566:Sources
512:Hulcote
457:History
447:topiary
439:terrace
428:In the
424:Gardens
387:gallery
289:Helmdon
167:British
149:heiress
80:mansion
69:Baroque
47:in the
770:
721:26 May
596:1979.
584:1978.
574:1965.
541:Legacy
216:palace
209:Oxford
114:cupola
49:parish
451:roses
441:, by
434:canal
304:ropes
272:motto
55:near
908:2011
880:2015
858:2015
781:2013
768:ISBN
723:2011
656:s.v.
449:and
430:park
284:urns
268:arms
90:and
950:at
938:at
230:at
207:in
157:BBC
59:in
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