Nether Lypiatt Manor
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nether Lypiatt Manor is a compact, neo-Classical manor house situated in the parish of Bisley, near Stroud in Gloucestershire. It was formerly the country home of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, who developed the garden in sympathy with the house.
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[edit] Description
Built in 1702-1705 by an unknown architect for Judge John Coxe, with one wing added in 1923, the small house forms a perfect square of side 46 feet (14 m), with sash windows, tall chimneys, hipped roofs and fine gate piers and railings. It is a grade I listed building, and has been praised by architectural historian Mark Girouard, as perfectly exemplifying the early eighteenth-century formal house in miniature. It comprises four floors, including a tall basement and an attic floor. Inside, much of the early eighteenth-century panelling survives, as do original stone fireplaces. A fine staircase runs from basement to attic.
The house, in 35 acres (14 ha) of grounds, has four reception rooms, eight bedrooms, and four bathrooms.
[edit] Past owners
For many years the manor was used as a farmhouse. Before 1980, when it was bought by Prince and Princess Michael, it had been the home of the well-known harpsichordist Violet Gordon-Woodhouse, who lived there with her husband and three lovers.[1]
[edit] Sale
In 2005 Nether Lypiatt Manor was put up for sale. The agent was originally asking for offers in excess of £6 million, but by of February 2006 this had been amended to offers in excess of £5.5 million. According to the Sunday Times it was purchased by the businessman and Labour Life Peer Lord Drayson for £5.75 million.[2]
[edit] Further reading
- Hugo Vickers. "Princely Domain," The Telegraph, 21 May 2005.
- Nicholas Mander, Country Houses of the Cotswolds (Aurum Press, 2008)
[edit] References
- ^ Douglas-Home, Jessica, "Violet : The Life and Loves of Violet Gordon Woodhouse", 1997
- ^ Prufrock column, The Sunday Times, 23 July 2006.
