Horseheath Hall

The original Hall was the home of the Alington family and was visited by Queen Elizabeth 1.  This was replaced by a huge new Hall started in the 1660’s with a facade of 140 feet and 4 stories high with about 300 windows.  The grounds were formally laid out and included a deer park, an orangery, a menagerie and Acre pond complete with boathouse, punts and a punt gun, now in Cambridge Folk Museum.  The Alingtons sold to the Bromley family, later Lords Montfort, whose extravagence led to the Hall being demolished in the late 1700’s.  Pretty much all that remains today is a large cedar tree or two.  The first item by Janet Morris on the list below is a good introduction, while the second item is a comprehensive book by Catherine Parsons.

The Hall and Owners

‘The rise and fall of Horseheath Hall’ by Janet Morris, 2004

‘Horseheath Hall and its owners’ by Catherine Parsons, 1948

‘Horseheath’ – extract from ‘The Architecture of Sir Roger Pratt’, by Dr.R.T.Gunther, 1928

‘Horseheath Hall’ by Sue Carter, 2010

Owners’ genealogy and Knights fees

Peerage directory entries

The Letters of Sir Horace Walpole – extract, 1861

Letters from owners, 1640 & 1763

‘Horseheath and the Alingtons’ – extract by Arthur Hervey, 1868

‘William Alington of Horseheath’ by J.S.Roskell, 1959

‘William Cole of Milton’ – extract by W.M.Palmer, 1935

The Gardens

‘Archaeology within the gardens ’by S.N.Kemp, 1999

The Farms

‘A Particular and Conditions of Sale’, 1777

Elizabeth I

‘Along the Roman Road in the footsteps of Elizabeth I’ by Janet Morris, 2003

‘An Elizabethan Progress’ – extract by Zillah Dovey, 1996

 

‘The Grenadillo Box’ – synopsis by Janet Gleeson, 2003

Press Cuttings