The historic houses of University Park
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
The historic
houses of
University Park
The University of Nottingham has made every Further information
effort to ensure that the information in this guide Grounds Manager
was accurate when published. Please note, Estates Office
however, that the nature of the content means University Park
that it is subject to change from time to time, and The University of Nottingham
you should therefore consider the information to NG7 2RD
be guiding rather than definitive.
t: 0115 951 3649
© The University of Nottingham 2014. All rights
w: nott.ac.uk/grounds
reserved.
4
6
From monks to bankers
Highfields House A rich history
8 Lenton Hall
The University is proud give staff, students and
10 Lenton Close
11 Lenton Firs to be part of a 900-year visitors to University Park
13 Paton House history running through an insight into the history
14 Map these grounds and we of the area.
16 Redcourt are committed to helping
The Friends of University Park The 14 historic houses on
17 Lenton Hurst protect and enhance this
encourage everyone to enjoy
18 Lenton Mount
the campus are marked
the campus grounds and all are
legacy for the enjoyment
19 The Orchards on a map on the centre
welcome at their events. of all.
20 Lenton House pages.
w: nott.ac.uk/friends We hope this guide will
22 Lenton Grove
23 Lenton Fields
25 Lenton Eaves
26 Lenton Abbey
Lenton Hall, part of Hugh Stewart Hall.
Cover image: Highfields House
2 3
From monks to bankers
Back in the 12th century, the land on the hillside east of the Portland
on which University Park stands Building, gives its name to the
belonged to the Cluniac monks of road there today, whereas Morton
Lenton Priory. was near Lenton, in present-day
Dunkirk.
The priory was founded by Lord
William Peveril in 1108. He was After the dissolution of the priory,
custodian of Nottingham Castle the Crown gave its land to Sir
and laid the priory foundations Michael Stanhope in 1539. It was
within sight of the castle and near owned by absentee landlords
the River Leen. It was an ‘alien in the 17th century and let for
house’ — the French monks were grazing. In March 1798, much of
directed by their order in Cluny the Millward estate was bought
until 1393 when they cut ties with by Leicestershire bankers Thomas
France. Pares and Thomas Paget for
£34,000. Trent Wong, land next
Over the next three centuries to the River Trent, was bought by
Lenton Priory’s wealth and power Samuel Smith, another banker.
grew and the monks controlled
the area until the dissolution of the Pares and Paget immediately
monastery in 1538. divided and resold the land. The
first buyer, on 5 April 1798, was
The monks used the demesne James Green, who was to build
— the priory’s land — for crops Lenton Abbey house. By 11 June
and grazing. A coney (rabbit) the Nottingham banker John Wright
warren provided food and pelts for had purchased land for building
garments and there was probably a Lenton Hall and Joseph Lowe had
domestic fishpond. A tile workshop secured land for the Highfield
may also have been in use. Estate.
There is evidence of two medieval So began the residential
communities along the ancient development of the area shown
Cut Through Lane (then a narrow as Lenton Park, as mapped by the
Keighton Hill is
track leading from Beeston to Ordnance Survey in 1886.
named after a former
Lenton). The village of Keighton,
medieval village.
4 5
1 Highfields House The walled garden at Highfields.
Centre for Advanced Studies
Joseph Lowe, a wool and linen
draper of Long Row, Nottingham,
chose a prime spot for his family
home, with views to the south
and west overlooking the Trent
Valley and a wide sweep of
downland in front of the house. He
commissioned Mr Wilkins, architect
to the Duke of Newcastle, who
designed Donington Hall, to design
the house, which was probably
completed sometime in 1800.
Approaching the house (pictured
on the cover) via Cut Through
Jesse Boot donated Highfields.
Lane from Beeston Lane follows
the original route of the carriage
driveway. The 19th-century from the lounge and library, while
gatehouse was a little to the south an extensive pleasure garden to
of the two 1920s lodges seen the south offered woodland walks
today, and the path running along along terraces and down formal Today’s smaller walled garden has and its sale to Jesse Boot in
the fence follows the line of the steps to an ornamental lake. This been beautifully restocked with 1919 marked the end of this era.
ancient Cut Through Lane. The was probably an extension of the many exotics. To the north side After much deliberation about
long drive terminated in a circular monastic fishpond and it was of the building were the servants’ building his dream township, in
carriage turn at the formal entrance later enlarged again to become quarters and the stables, plus 1926 Boot donated the estate to
porch on the southwest side of the Highfields Park boating lake. cowsheds, a piggery, carthorse the University (then situated on
symmetrically built house. stalls and a farmyard. Shakespeare Street), so beginning
To the east side of the house is a new era for Lenton Park.
The two-storey, five-bedroomed the walled garden. Edward Lowe, The Highfield Estate has played
mansion house is little changed, an astronomer, meteorologist and a significant part in the history of
although the porch was naturalist who lived at Highfields in the campus. Highfields was one
unfortunately replaced by a French the mid to late-19th century, filled of the first houses to be built in
window in 1928. The Lowe family the garden with vineries, stove an area associated with the grand
would have spied grazing cattle houses and exotic ferns and plants. homes of wealthy businessmen,
6 7
2 Lenton Hall
part of Hugh Stewart Hall
On the rise of Cut Through Lane, In the southwest corner of Lenton
looking from Library Road, are the House is a fine rock garden. The
remains of the 19th-century garden, thought to be Edwardian,
ha-ha — a landscaped ditch with was restored between 2010
a retaining wall — which kept and 2012 by student volunteers
grazing cattle out of Lenton Hall’s and members of the Friends of
gardens. Library Road cuts through University Park.
the ha-ha, the remains of which
continue on the west side of the The south side of the residence,
road. as seen from the garden, is
undoubtedly its most impressive
A sweeping lawn drops down from aspect. Disregarding the 20th-
the rear of the house into a dell century extension to the east side,
featuring a circular flowerbed with the influence of 18th-century
central birdbath/sundial. A path symmetry is evident. The design, by
leads to the east side of the garden William Stretton and Mr Wilkinson, Lenton Hall, on the left, forms part of a hall of residence.
and passes through a tunnel to is in a pseudo-Gothic style,
tennis courts. This sheltered area embellished with battlements and as the land was not purchased for pillars echo the turret design on
was once a ‘marlepitt’, where turrets — perhaps a statement of building until 1798. the house. Also incorporated into
keuper-marl — layers of mudstone the owner’s intention to protect the wall are sections of decorative
The influence of 18th-century iron-work. The original Lenton Hall
and siltstone — was extracted for family and property.
symmetry can be seen on the west Drive, as the name suggests, was
use as a soil improver. The ‘Merpitt’
However, the architectural styles side of the house, where ‘dummy’ the carriage access from Derby
is mentioned in rental documents
are a little mixed in the 1905 re- windows, complete with mock Road to the front door of the
of 1538 and other documents from
modelling of the south facade by lace-edged blinds and cords, building.
the 16th century.
George Cresswell Bond. Greek, were painted in the gaps between
Another path rises from the Baroque, and Jacobean styles are the windows. Now barely visible,
garden and passes over the all in evidence. Although the house the illusory windows also saved
entrance tunnel and through an is said by Pevsner not to have money on the window tax payable
iron pergola, which, when it is been completed until 1804 there is between 1696 and 1851.
covered with climbing plants such an earlier date carved here:
On the north side of the property
as honeysuckle, gives a pleasant 1792-1905. The latter date is that
is Lenton Hall Drive at the end
passage through to a path along of the re-modelling, but the earlier
of Library road. Here stone-wall
the top of the ha-ha. date has no obvious explanation,
8 9
3 Lenton Close 4 Lenton Firs
Cripps Hall annexe School of Architecture and Built Environment
The curving facade of Lenton Close is typical of the 1930s.
Lenton Firs dates from 1800.
Alongside Lenton Hall Drive is the and the tennis court is still in use. From Beeston Lane, an exposed University’s estates team. The rock
last private house to be built in After Fletcher’s death, his widow stone outcrop and gazebo is garden can be appreciated as an
Lenton Park. It was built in 1934 lived in the property until 1959 visible. approach is made over the former
for Henry Bowmer Fletcher, a when it was eventually sold to the grazing land of the estate.
Nottingham property surveyor. University. Today it is an annexe of This is the rediscovered Victorian
Cripps Hall. rock garden, part of the Lenton Where the land levels out, is an
The gently curving facade of Firs estate. Many of the structures area of formal garden which was
Lenton Close is typical of the in the rock garden are formed once separated from the grazing
1930s and was designed to from Pulhamite stone, a Victorian park by a beechhedge with a
encompass the views of the composite. The pathways ‘kissing gate’ in the centre. The
sweeping lawn, the ancient beech and steps of the garden were gardens once boasted terraces
tree and the downlands beyond. uncovered and restored by and trellises, ballustrades and
Tennis and croquet parties were volunteers from the Friends of steps, classical statues, an aviary,
popular in the 1920s and 30s University Park and staff from the a dovecote, large glasshouse and
10 11
Lenton Firs 5 Paton House
Department of Architecture and Built Environment
a summerhouse (later destroyed Georgian mansion becomes This property can be reached
by fire). evident at the rear. Walking on, from Lenton Hall Drive, on the
the 1860s stable block and coach west side of Lenton Firs Lodge.
Thomas Wright Watson, a house can be seen surmounted The brick building, with its large
Nottingham hosiery manufacturer, with a clock tower and weather canopy over the entrance and
built the original Georgian villa in vane. A number of 20th-century a conservatory opening off the
1800. By the mid-19th century it additions spoil the original library, has a Baroque-style interior.
was the home of Thomas Adams, appearance, so a little imagination Orginally called West Hill House,
a well-respected lace merchant of has to be exercised to see the it was built by Evans and Jolly for
Stoney Street, Nottingham. Adams carriages or vintage cars at a later Samuel Herrick Sands JP in 1884.
was regarded as an outstanding date, swinging in off Derby Road A lace and hosiery manufacturer,
employer with great concern and in under the clock tower. Samuel was also a director of the
for the health and well-being of National Telephone Company and
his employees, even providing The redbrick gate lodge to the Paton House.
Nottingham Patent Brick Company,
a chapel within his TC Hine- property was designed by TC and chairman of Nottingham Joint
designed warehouse on Stoney Hine. Dated 1861, it is on the Stock Bank and the Nottingham in Nottingham in 1866, and The
Street. The stunning building is the edge of Derby Road near the north Suburban Railway Company. Cedars became Paton House in
home of New College Nottingham. entrance of the University and for honour of the Reverend JB Paton,
many years was the home of the In 1905 Herbert D Snook acquired founder of the college. This name
In 1861 Adams supervised the gardener and his large family. the house and renamed it The is retained today, although the
extension and modernisation Cedars. Snook, a director of J college moved to Manchester in
of Lenton Firs, resulting in the Lenton Firs became the home of Snook and Company, a family- 1968. The building was taken over
redbrick and timber facade seen the local brewer Thomas Shipstone owned clothing firm on Hounds by the Department of Architecture
today. Most of its rooms are in the early 20th century. He left a Gate, Nottingham, lived for 40 and Built Environment.
large and some enhanced by bay legacy of stained glass to adorn years at The Cedars. The cottage-
windows. There was a library, the billiard room. Shipstone also style lodge house on the Derby
drawing room, dining room and acquired Lenton Hall working farm Road side was occupied by
billiard room of note. Views from and land, including Lenton Hall Snook’s chauffeurs and prior to
the front of the house were of fields Lodge on Derby Road, which was the turn of the century probably by
and woodland, with Nottingham recorded as belonging to Lenton Herrick’s coachman.
Castle and Lenton village beyond. Firs from 1920. At the end of
Lenton Hall Drive, this early 19th- Snook’s widow eventually sold to
Following the stone path around century lodge can be seen next to the Paton Congregational College,
the side of the house, the original the road. a theological college established
12 13
A6514
The Historic Houses of University Park ad
NORTH Ro
y
oad 5 ENTRANCE rb
yR De
Derb
4
University Park Wollaton Park A52 6 UNITED KINGDOM CHINA MALAYSIA
Nottingham
NG7 2RD 7
Lenton &
Wortley
Cr i p
ps Hill
Beeston Lane
13 3
A5
Lincoln
2
Cl
Derby C r ipps
Cripps
if t
on
S herw ood
Sherwood
Bo
ul
14
e
Sports
va
NET Phase Two
rd
PD Centre
Rutland tram route
PD
CP 2
12 Hugh
9 8 Stewart
Orchard
Lib
Hotel
rar
East Midlands
y
Conference
i
Ro
Centre
ad
ive
Lakeside
Dr P
Nightingale
Ea
st Arts
10 Centre
P
Portland ad
Ro
n
Building to
es
WC
1 PD WC
Be
Cavendish
C a v e n dis h
A6 11 Bee
46
4W st
on
SOUTH
ne
oo
ds ug
h
La
Trent ENTRANCE
La
ide ro
Building
ne
t Th
Ro Cu
ue
N Willoughby
eA
ve
n
ad
Hall ile
Jub
Highfields rd
Cafe
va
ule WC
Toilets
Park Bo
Florence r sity Blue-badge parking
ive
Boot Un
600
5 CP Conference parking
0 metres 200 WEST A
P Highfields Park visitor parking
e
ENTRANCE PD Pay & Display visitor parking
t
ga
oad Footpaths
Br
Public bus stop
Public/Hopper bus stop
14
04/2013 © Crown Copyright Licence no. 100030223
i Public transport information15
6 Redcourt 7 Lenton Hurst
private house offices and accommodation
Redcourt, to the north of Lenton Lenton Hurst was built for the Player family.
and Wortley halls and adjacent
to Derby Road, was designed
by architects Martin and Hardy.
The redbrick house has turret
and battlement features as well
as Tudor chimneys and timbering,
which probably lead to the
description ‘old English’. It was
built for John Lambert, another Redcourt.
member of the family of bleachers
and dyers of Talbot Street, and terracotta and redbrick is
was built in the same year as reminiscent of the renowned
neighbouring West Hill. It is less Victorian architect Watson
symmetrical than other houses, Fothergill.
but has the attributes of a large
residence of the era: a drawing In the early 1940s Redcourt was Lenton Hurst, also near Derby Lenton Hall estate and was on the
room, library, billiard room, and, on owned by the entrepreneur Sir Road, was completed in 1896 for Sawley turnpike road at its junction
the first floor, a nursery. Julien Cahn, the owner of Stanford William Goodacre Player, then with Derby Road. The Lenton Hurst
Hall, Loughborough. He may youngest son of John Player, the garages are formerly carriage
The garden’s simple layout includes have briefly used Redcourt as a tobacco manufacturer. houses and are possibly on the site
an attractive stone gazebo. The town house although there is no of the 18th-century tollhouse.
gatehouse probably housed a The L-shaped design, by architect
evidence for this. A cricket-loving
coachman and later the family Arthur Marshall, once more makes Around 1903, more land was
eccentric, Sir Julien ran a furniture
chauffeur. There is evidence of use of turrets, crenellations and purchased from Lenton Hall estate,
empire and was a benefactor of
20th-century alterations to the timbered gables on this nine- enabling the establishment of
Nottinghamshire Cricket Club.
main entrance but a quirky little bedroomed house. With the Lenton Hurst Farm, complete with
He gave Newstead Abbey and
feature of the original house can addition of Ionic features at the workers’ cottages, as seen next
its grounds to the people of
still be appreciated high on the porch entrance and Tudor brick to Derby Road. The extra land
Nottingham in 1931. Sir Julien
western gable apex. Above the chimneys the overall style is ‘old also led to an extended garden.
died in 1944 and his widow sold
timbering, there is a terracotta English’, as emphasised by the The sunken garden to the south
Redcourt to the University in 1946.
dragon. oak-panelled main hall. was created by Gertrude Jeykll,
the renowned Victorian garden
This combination of timbering, The site was purchased from the designer, in 1911.
16 17
8 Lenton Mount 9 The Orchards
The Hemsley staff club and restaurant University Counselling Service
Lenton Mount was home to the lacemaker William Sidney Hemsley. The Orchards, built by a laundry director.
Near Lenton Hall, Lenton Mount short time by Frederick Mitchell West of Lenton Mount is The card punching factory, and Mrs
was built by William Sidney before it became the property of Orchards, a property built on the Barnsdale, a cigar manufacturer
Hemsley, a lace and hosiery Captain John Eric Greenwood JP site of the Lenton Hall orchard. and director of the Daybrook
manufacturer, on the remaining in 1926. The Greenwood family Fruiting trees in the area are a Laundry.
land sold by Lenton Hall estate in lived there for 27 years. John legacy of this era.
1904. Hemsley lived there until Greenwood was closely involved in The building is now occupied by
the 1920s and lends the building, the business and financial affairs of The house was built — around the University Counselling Service.
now the University staff club and Jesse Boot. the same time as Lenton Mount
restaurant, its current name. His — for Alfred Thomas Richard,
coachman Frederick Nurse lived Greenwood created tennis courts managing director of Imperial
next door; this coach house and and a bowling green at Lenton Laundry of Radford Boulevard.
stables later became garages. The Mount, which are now beneath Richard wished to take advantage
house overlooked the extensive Hallward Library. There was also of the view over the Downs and the
gardens, the park and the Trent a croquet lawn, which remains as building faced south west.
Valley. Hallward Library now stands the level area south of the house.
on the garden to the south. Greenwood was also proud of his Two other notable occupants
rock garden, which is now under of The Orchards were Harold
Lenton Mount was owned for a the house’s west extension. Toone, director of a Jacquard
18 1910 Lenton House
privately owned by Boots
More old properties lie along estate. Matthew Needham bought
Beeston Lane on the northwest the remainder for £2,931,5,0d in
edge of the campus, along the old 1799. The house apparently has
Nottingham to Sawley turnpike the date 1800 carved in slate high
road. This originally left the on the wall and was built in two
Nottingham to Derby turnpike near stages. The western part of the
the former tollhouse at Lenton house was built as two storeys and
Hurst. The divergence was later then extended in 1816 on the east
moved opposite Wollaton Hall side to three storeys. This provided
Derby Road Lodge, now marked a nursery with servants’ quarters.
by the pedestrian access onto the
campus and Beeston Lane. In the late 18th century the
property was described by Lawson Lenton House can be glimpsed from Beeston Lane.
Starting at the higher ground on Lowe as “a large mansion of
the north side of Beeston Lane, irregular form”. A county council The Needham family owned the research with glasshouses erected
Lenton House is owned by Boots. publication of 1972 described estate until 1865, when William and support given for the Grow
Please note that the house and its a “stuccoed villa with pilasters”. Needham sold it, 25 years after More Food campaign. By 1944
driveway are private. The best view There is also mention of “bow” and the death of his father, Matthew. the estate was known as Lenton
of the house is in the winter, from “bay” windows and “eaves to a William Paget became the owner, Research Station. In 1946 it was
the gate in the boundary hedge on hipped slated roof”. the property passing to his son sold by JC Boot to the Boots Pure
Beeston Lane. upon his death four months later. Drug Company for £40,000 and
In 1831 rioters protesting at the the house became the company
It was built for Matthew Needham, defeat of the Reform Bill ransacked By 1871, John Thorpe, a corn guesthouse. The lodge at the drive
a master hosier. His father, Colwick Hall and burned down merchant and malster, was entrance is an early 20th-century
Matthew, was a surgeon and Nottingham Castle. Beeston resident. His son, William Blaneley replacement. Visitors should note
apothecary of High Pavement. His Silk Mill also went up in flames. Thorpe, bought the estate in 1886 Lenton House is private.
maternal grandfather was William The rioters passed through Cut and lived there until his death in
Lee, inventor of the stocking frame. Through Lane and Derby Road, 1914. The estate became the The Jesse Boot Conference
targeting Lenton Firs and Lenton property of John Campbell Boot, Centre, along the lane from Lenton
In 1798, Pares and Paget had Hall. At Lenton House, Matthew son of Jesse Boot and chairman House, is on land gifted to the
sold the land to the sitting tenants, Needham was away and the rioters of the Boots Pure Drug and University from the Lenton House
Richard Hooton and William ransacked the property as the Associates Company, in 1920. estate. The renovated cottage
Hopkin, who in turn sold to John female family members hid in the In the 1930s, the Lenton House housing offices for the centre was
Wright to add to his Lenton Hall shrubbery. gardens were used for horticultural also one of the estate cottages.
20 2111 Lenton Grove After the death of Francis Evans
and his widow, the estate was put
benefactor of Nottingham General
Hospital and was president of the
Department of History in trust for Evans’ eldest daughter hospital in 1924-25. His many gifts
and tenanted throughout the late included an operating theatre and
Lenton Grove and its stone gateposts. 19th century. Richard Spendlove a hall for nursing staff.
was the final tenant and the trust
was concluded in the early years of When Sir Louis died in 1943 he
the 20th century. bequeathed Lenton Grove and its
two cottages to the hospital. It was
Sir Louis Pearson purchased used as a rheumatism clinic until
the property in 1926. Sir Louis, 1950 and bought by the University
who was born at Chilwell House in 1952. Today it is the home of the
and was head of the Beeston Department of History.
Foundry Company, was a generous
12 Lenton Fields
The Playcentre
Almost opposite the East Midlands the entrance. The south west side
At the west end of Beeston Lane is this is disguised today by several Conference Centre, Lenton Fields of the building reveals the long,
Lenton Grove, its entrance marked extensions. was built in 1836-37, also by purpose-built, schoolroom and the
by two sturdy stone gateposts with Matthew Needham. It stands on bay almost on the corner of the
large spherical finials. On the north side, the main door is 4½ acres of land acquired from building. The bay was probably a
now enclosed by a protective glass James Green of Lenton Abbey and late 19th-century addition.
Lenton Grove was also once link between the main building was built for Catherine Turner, a
known as Lenton Shrubbery and and one of the original courtyard family friend and schoolteacher. Catherine Turner taught the
was built around 1800 for Francis buildings. The slightly bowed The remains of the boundary younger daughters of Needham
Evans, a Nottingham attorney. It window seen above the door is the stonewall can be seen, and the here, and in 1841 there were ten
has a south-facing aspect and its original stair light. At the other end drive can be followed to the front girl boarders being looked after by
land runs to the edge of the Lenton of the building, the lounge looked entrance. Here, there is a later two teachers and three domestic
parish boundary. It does not have out to the sunny aspect of the addition of a portico supported by servants. This was obviously an
the symmetrical box plan typical of south, and on the 1881 plan there Doric columns. The basic symmetry expensive education and used
the probable date of the building appears to be a verandah along of the facade is recognisable, mainly by the wealthy Unitarians of
— the 1881 Ordnance Survey map this south wall. This was possibly although there is only one ground- Nottingham. Turner kept school at
shows a T-shaped plan, although added 1841-42. floor bay window, to the right of Lenton Fields until the late 1850s.
22 23Lenton Fields 13 Lenton Eaves
University Sports and Social Club
Lenton Eaves, the area’s first Victorian villa.
The former school is today a nursery.
By 1861 Henry Haddon, a hosiery Stephen Cecil Armitage, a Now the University Sports and is in the style of a shooting lodge.
manufacturer of Stanford Street, Nottingham solicitor, became the Social Club, Lenton Eaves can be It has two hound kennels, together
Nottingham, was the owner and in final private owner in 1927. The found where Beeston Lane bends with stables and a coach house,
1867 Lenton Fields was bought property was eventually sold to to run parallel with Derby Road. all backing onto Derby Road.
by James Holwell Lee JP, owner University College Nottingham in Just after the bend a footpath Its overhanging eaves obviously
of Lee & Gee. Throughout the 1946. A conveyance document marks the point where the two inspired the house’s name.
remainder of the century, tenants refers to its outbuildings including turnpikes joined.
changed and its land was bought offices, stables, a lodge and It was sympathetically extended in
and sold. The tenancy of Lenton a croft. We know that Richard Lenton Eaves, built in 1875 by 1984. The Latin inscription to the
Fields went to William Heape Spendlove’s coachman, Joseph lacemaker Benjamin Walker right of the entrance, Deus Major
Walker (brother of Benjamin) when Rule, occupied the lodge in 1904. Junior, was the first Victorian villa Columna, God is our Great Pillar,
Lee moved to Newcastle Drive in Many of the outbuildings remain to appear in the campus area. It tells us Walker was a God-fearing
The Park, Nottingham. This tenancy but the lodge, which was near the was built on land purchased in man. There is also a quirky window
continued to about 1888. William roadside, was demolished. a complex transaction involving feature, possibly described as
Griffiths Forster, followed by Thomas Bayley of Lenton Abbey, an oriel window, projecting from
Joseph Spendlove, and then lace Lenton Fields, as The Playcentre, Lord Middleton of Wollaton Hall the north corner of the house.
manufacturer Richard Granger in now provides childcare for and JH Lee of Lenton Fields. The Small examples of stained glass
1908, were the next tenants. University staff and students. redbrick, Victorian Gothic building can be seen in the windows, with
24 25Lenton Eaves and Leatherworks, took the lease
in 1859. He bought the property
Abbey to the Corporation of
Nottingham in December 1925.
after Lord Middleton’s will was
armorial designs or depictions of 1941. The final owners, Reginald The Lenton Abbey Housing Estate
processed, which also allowed
human characters. There is also a Lionel Kemp, a company director, sprung up, with surplus land along
JH Lee to buy Lenton Fields, and
decorative course of brick corbels and his wife Evelyn, sold to the with the house and other buildings
Benjamin Walker to purchase the
around the building and the slate University in 1948. sold to Douglas McCraith, a
land for building Lenton Eaves.
roof is capped with crest tiles solicitor. The private development
typical of the era. The coachman’s cottage east of
The Bayley family occupied of Charles Avenue also took
Lenton Eaves has a wall plaque
Lenton Abbey for over 60 years. place. TDC Taft was the final
In 1895-96 the house became dated AD 1880, shortly after the
They added a two-storey bay private owner of the Lenton Abbey
the property of John Piggin. About house was built. Coachman Mark
and in 1914 a new entrance properties and after 40 years he
eight years later, colliery owner Wilshaw and his wife Hannah
lodge was built on Derby Road. sold to the University in 1976.
Walter Carrington Fowler took were the first to live there, and a
The lodges were home to farm
over before John Morris, a laundry succession of gardeners lived in Lenton Abbey is on private
bailiffs, coachmen, gardeners and
proprietor, lived there from 1911 to the cottage in the 20th century. residential land and can be
chauffeurs.
viewed by arrangement with
Wilson Fulford Marriott Weston the University’s Estates Office.
14 Lenton Abbey Webb, a yarn merchant, became
the owner in 1923. But, grief-
Please contact Grounds Manager
Desmond O’Grady:
stricken after his wife’s death and t: 0115 9513649
The name is inventive, as the Green, Matthew Needham and in poor health, Webb moved to the e: desmond.ogrady@nottingham.
property is some distance from John Wright. James lived at south of France and sold Lenton ac.uk
the site of the medieval priory Lenton Abbey until his death in
at Lenton, but it is thought to 1829 when the auction brochure
incorporate the thick walls of a described the house as having Compiled by Janet Jones
priory farm building. four best bed chambers, two Additional photography by Lewis Stainer
spare bed chambers and three
It was built between 1798 and Acknowledgements
attic chambers, plus male sleeping
1800 by James Green, the Sanctity and Scandal edited by David Marcombe
quarters. The property, which
superintendent engineer of the and John Hamilton 1998, Continuing Education
featured offices, a brewhouse
Nottingham and Grantham Canal. Press, The University of Nottingham.
and laundry, two coach houses,
He was also a churchwarden at stables, farmyard and barn, was Priory Demesne to University Campus (1993)
Lenton in 1808, and an overseer bought by Lord Middleton of by Frank Barnes, The University of Nottingham.
of the poor for Lenton. The estate Wollaton Hall in 1830. He leased
was created after a succession to various tenants, before Thomas Campus Critique (1998) by A. Peter Fawcett and
of land deals involving James Bayley, of the Old Lenton Tannery Neil Jackson 1998, The University of Nottingham.
26 27You can also read
