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species as background and to provide the shelter so needful in a cold district like the
Cotswolds, have rarely been equalled; there is no crowding of the trees; each is able to show its true form and all have been well cared for. On few estates has the autumnal colouring of deciduous tress been so cleverly used by harmony and contrast, as, for instance, in the planting of Norway maples and glaucous Atlantic cedars.
113:
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In 1926 George
Holford died, having suffered for some time with emphysema. As he did not have any heirs his property passed to his blood relatives in accordance with the will of his father. The main part of the estate went to George's nephew the 4th Earl of Morley. However, Susannah was well provided
365:
Captain
Holford has carried on the work in the same spirit and with the same tradition (as his father) and Westonbirt is now more luxuriant and more beautiful than the late Mr Holford ever knew it. The gardens have been planted not to give an effect for one season only but to be invested with beauty
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After luncheon my friends took me on a pony chaise, across the beauties of the park to the keeper's lodge. I saw conservatories without end, then a lake, a bit of a wild, heaps of rocks that it seems have been newly brought there. And the lake too is a thing of yesterday. The pheasants were so thick
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This morning I have lost no time. Sometimes Mrs
Holford, sometimes Evy, took me about the house, which surpasses in magnificence any that you know. There is a hall, a sort of conservatory three stories high, something like the great apartments of Louis XIV. The most original room in the house is the
240:
with a
Bachelor of Arts degree. In the same year the arboretum on the Westonbirt Estate was commenced and Robert played a significant role in this project. In 1838 he inherited his uncle's fortune of over one million pounds. In the following year his father died and he became the owner of Westonbirt
352:
He was indeed, one of the most successful amateur gardeners of the time, and though famous as a grower of orchids, amaryllids and
Javanese rhododendrons, his garden and estate show a wide catholicity of taste. The arrangement of the many rare and exotic trees there and the skilful use of evergreen
343:
When Robert
Holford died in 1892, George inherited Westonbirt House and Arboretum. He also inherited Dorchester House in London and the art and book collection that were housed within it. He did not have his father's interest in art and books but he did have a passion for gardens and orchids so he
175:
masonry on a grand scale. The exterior is in an
Elizabethan style, with a symmetrical main block and asymmetric wings, one of them containing a conservatory. The interiors are in a sumptuous classical style. The house was fitted with the latest technology such as gas lighting, central heating,
266:
Robert continued his work as a member of parliament until 1872 when he retired. He continued to collect plants for the garden at
Westonbirt House and also for the arboretum. His son George also developed an interest in gardens and plants and assisted his father with this work.
241:
House. He was a keen lover of art and literature and his enormous wealth now allowed him to indulge this interest. He began collecting paintings and books for what was to become the famous "Holford
Collection". To accommodate this collection he built
295:. This said that "Mr Holford's aim has been to create variety without confusion, informality and picturesqueness without losing sight of that polish in the vicinity of the mansion which must always be regarded as in accordance with correct taste."
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magazine wrote extensive articles about Westonbirt Gardens and Arboretum in 1905 and again in 1907 when George was the owner of the estate. They outlined in detail the beauty of the gardens and made the comment.
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After Robert's retirement, the couple spent time at both Westonbirt and Dorchester House. In 1875 Charles Gayard, a French diplomat, visited Westonbirt and gave an account of his experience as follows.
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for as George left her his personal goods such as jewellery and furniture and a large annuity of £10,000 per annum. Susannah remained at Westonbirt until it was sold in 1927, when she moved to London.
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Extensive formal terrace gardens were created around the house and 25 acres (100,000 m) of ornamental woodlands were planted in the 19th century. Since 1928, the house has been occupied by
233:; it was the original manor erected in the reign of Elizabeth I or the early part of the time of James I. That house was demolished by Holford in 1818 and a new house built in 1823.
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George was the only son of Robert and Mary Holford. In 1873 he went to Eton and was there for four years. At the age of 20 in 1880 George obtained a commission with the
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we fairly trod on them. At last we reached the Head-keepers's lodge, and saw a pack of thirty spaniels with legs short enough to make the rabbits dance for joy.
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Although he was always considered an eligible bachelor, George did not marry until late in life and had no children. In 1912 he married the recently widowed
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Between 1863 and 1870, Robert built the present Westonbirt house, which was reputed to be one of the most expensive houses constructed in the Victorian era.
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260:. In August 1854, at the age of 46, he married Mary Anne Lindsay who was the 25-year-old daughter of Lieutenant-General James Lindsay.
195:. Westonbirt House is open to the public on certain days, and the gardens are open more frequently. The house is also licensed to hold
662:
Morris, L. A. 1988, "Rosenbach Abroad: In pursuit of Books in Private Collections", Rosenback Museum and Library, Philadelphia, p. 16.
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Cancellor, E. B. (1908) 'The private Palaces of London: Past and Present', Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner and Co., London, p. 250.
374:, the eldest child of Arthur and Mary Wilson. The Wilsons were a wealthy family who had made their money from a shipping line.
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The garden at Westonbirt House and the Arboretum continued to expand and in 1886 an extensive article was written about it in
729:
332:, where he remained for almost 30 years. He was closely associated with royalty and court life, and from 1888 to 1892 he was
164:, who inherited Westonbirt in 1839, replaced that house between 1863 and 1870 with the present mansion which was designed by
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across the road from the house, a mile away. The arboretum was developed over the next few decades by him and his son Sir
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533:
Lee, Rev. Alfred (1857) 'The history of the town and parish of Tetbury', John Henry and James Parker, London, pp. 219–20.
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and its preparatory school are on the site. The school's leisure centre and golf course can be accessed by the public.
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Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest, (1999) 'Westonbirt, Gloucestershire, Cotswold' Ref No 1426.
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one painted by Mrs Holford, in a bizarre fanciful style, something between Delacroix landscape and Rouen pottery
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423:. Since the younger Holford did not have children, the house and arboretum passed to his eldest sister's son
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653:, The Garden: and Illustrated weekly journal of gardening in all its branches", 20 Feb 1886, p. 157.
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An online copy of the relevant section of A History of the County of Gloucester: Volume 11 (1976).
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The gardens and surrounding parkland, together with the arboretum, were listed Grade I on the
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149:. It belonged to the Holford family from 1665 until 1926. The first house on the site was an
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Jones views of the seats of noblemen and Gentlemen of England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland
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During this time he became a Magistrate for Gloucester and Wilts and in 1843 was the
229:, County Donegal, Ireland. George inherited a mansion at Westonbirt from his father,
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Views of the seats of noblemen and gentlemen in England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland
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in Gloucestershire, England, about 3 miles (5 km) southwest of the town of
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256:. In December 1854 he was first elected as the Member of Parliament for
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Robert Stayner Holford, the rebuilder of Westonbirt, also founded the
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Alumni Oxonienses: the Members of the University of Oxford, 1715–1886
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Register of Historic Parks and Gardens of special historic interest
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628:: The Clarence Volume, Genealogical Publishing Company, p. 248.
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and his wife Anne Daniell, daughter of Rev. Averell Daniell of
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in Park Lane, London between 1851 and 1853 where he employed
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devoted much of his time to his property at Westonbirt.
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The Bristol Mercury and Daily Post, 27 February 1892.
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Grade I listed parks and gardens in Gloucestershire
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725:UKForestry Commission, "History of the Collection"
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298:In February 1892, Robert died at Dorchester House.
176:fireproof construction and iron roofs. It is now a
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236:In 1829, at the age of 21, Robert graduated from
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855:Westonbirt House listing – architectural details
727:http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-6XDCU8
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475:"Westonbirt House with south terrace (1235736)"
453:and is open to the public on a regular basis.
203:Robert Stayner Holford and Mary Anne Holford
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689:"Country Life", 22 June 1907, pp. 911–917.
680:"Country Life', 25 March 1905, p. 414-423.
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786:"Westonbirt: parks and gardens (1000457)"
171:The house is constructed of high quality
18:Historic site in Gloucestershire, England
926:Grade I listed houses in Gloucestershire
698:"Country Life", 22 June 1907, pp. 911–2.
597:, Whittaker and Company, London, p. 208.
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156:. The Holfords replaced it first with a
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626:The Plantagenet Roll of the Blood Royal
624:Marquis of Ruvigny and Raineval,(1994)
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671:"The Times", 13 September 1926, p. 15.
348:made the following comment about him.
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595:The Parliamentary Companion for 1857
579:. Oxford: Parker and Co – via
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302:Sir George Holford and Lady Holford
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791:National Heritage List for England
545:, Jones and Company, 1829, London.
480:National Heritage List for England
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921:Country houses in Gloucestershire
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211:Robert Stayner Holford circa 1860
191:when it was requisitioned by the
871:, Second Series, Volume III, by
199:and is used as a wedding venue.
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570:"Holford, Robert Stayner"
338:Prince Albert, Duke of Clarence
187:boarding school, except during
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505:. Batsford. pp. 173–177.
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310:Sir George Holford circa 1910
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820:The Victorian Country House
707:Attwood, G. M. 1988, p. 12.
615:Dod, Robert (1857), p. 208.
221:Robert was born in 1808 to
120:Location in Gloucestershire
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745:Brown, A. C. 1987, p. 157.
716:Brown, A. C. 1987, p. 156.
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366:at every time of the year.
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768:The Independent on Sunday
254:High Sheriff of Wiltshire
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941:Lewis Vulliamy buildings
936:Houses completed in 1870
393:Westonbirt House in 1905
134:Westonbirt House in 2009
931:Jacobethan architecture
318:Lady Holford circa 1890
178:Grade I listed building
761:8 October 2020 at the
732:6 October 2009 at the
501:Cooke, Robert (1957).
425:the 4th Earl of Morley
421:George Lindsay Holford
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217:Robert Stayner Holford
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238:Oriel College, Oxford
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897:51.60528°N 2.19750°W
754:Christopher Stocks.
447:Westonbirt Arboretum
410:Westonbirt Arboretum
404:Westonbirt Arboretum
258:Gloucestershire East
223:George Peter Holford
80:51.60528°N 2.19750°W
893: /
839:(Aurum Press, 2008)
593:Dod, Robert (1857)
521:1 June 2009 at the
503:West Country Houses
381:From the south-east
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902:51.60528; -2.19750
873:John Preston Neale
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249:as the architect.
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85:51.60528; -2.19750
951:Cotswold District
756:"Gardens: Log On"
441:Westonbirt School
185:Westonbirt School
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865:Weston Birt
797:12 November
486:10 November
154:manor house
151:Elizabethan
83: /
59:Coordinates
35:Main façade
915:Categories
885:51°36′19″N
581:Wikisource
457:References
412:on former
293:The Garden
71:02°11′51″W
68:51°36′19″N
888:2°11′51″W
439:in 1986.
398:Arboretum
346:The Times
759:Archived
730:Archived
519:Archived
417:downland
158:Georgian
41:Location
822:(1979)
810:Sources
334:equerry
227:Lifford
147:Tetbury
53:England
45:Tetbury
875:, 1826
826:
414:common
173:ashlar
141:is a
824:ISBN
799:2017
488:2017
336:to
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
