Castle Bromwich Hall

Castle Bromwich Hall (gbmapping|SP142898) is a Jacobean Mansion in the village of Castle Bromwich, which is situated in the northern part of the Metropolitan Borough of Solihull in West Midlands, England. It is a Grade I listed building.

History

The Hall was built between 1557 and 1585 by Sir Edward Devereux, MP for Tamworth in Staffordshire. It was single storey with a plain entrance. It was then bought by Sir John Bridgeman (son of Orlando Bridgeman, keeper of the Great Seal) in 1657. He extended and improved the property in 1672, adding the second floor and a large front porch. The porch projected out by ten feet from the main building. Above the twisted columns of grey stone of the porch are two figures in niches, called Peace and Plenty. The coat of arms and monogram of Sir John is carved into the stone above the doorway. The Hall was sometimes rented out.

The Bridgemans were created Barons Bradford in 1792 and (Earls) in 1851. A marriage also brought Weston Park into their possession, where they now still reside.

Features

The Hall is famous for having twelve windows (one for each Apostle) and four dormers above (one for each Evangelist). The garden door passed through a grapevine which was always trimmed into the form of a cross. The Hall and Long Gallery were panelled with dark oak timber, and the dining room with pitch pine from the USA. The ceilings were adorned with designs of fruits and shells. In 1810 a tapestry of three sections made in Brussels was hung in the drawing room. One of the windows in the Long Gallery had the arms of Sir Edward Devereux and his wife Katherine. There were many secret doorways and hiding holes. Built into the high garden wall was a brick open air cold water bath dated 1733. The garden maze with 6ft high holly hedges was a mirror image of that at Hampton Court. The North Garden has double iron gates which lead into the adjacent Church grounds.

The family

The Hall has had many famous visitors including The Duke of Connaught, The Duke and Duchess of Teck, The Duke and Duchess of York, Prince and Princess Christian, Queen Mary and William Gladstone.

The last family member to live in the Hall until her death in 1936 was Lady Ida Bradford.She really loved this home and the village, holding the garden fete in the Hall grounds and mingling with the villagers.

Modern times

It was then used for storage during World War II. Post war it was leased out as an apprentice training centre for the GEC, and then used as building company offices while the outbuildings were used by other small companies.

The Hall was sold in 2007 to Theodore Alexander, funiture designers and manufacturers who plan to restore the property and open their European showroom there in 2008.

At this time the Hall is not open to the public. The surrounding Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens are the last example of a Formal English Garden in the country and have been restored by the Castle Bromwich Gardens Trust (established 1985) which holds a long lease from the City of Birmingham. These are a popular tourist attraction and are open to the public.

The conservation area of Castle Bromwich is centred on the Hall.

External links

* [http://getamap.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/getamap/frames.htm?mapAction=gaz&gazName=g&gazString=SP1400089500 Map Showing Hall]
* [http://www.old-maps.co.uk/oldmaps/index_external.jsp?easting=414128&northing=289803 Old Map Showing Hall]
* [http://www.cbhgt.org.uk Gardens Trust Website]