The Dukes of Buckingham and Chandos
Gosfield Hall, Essex
The Family
Gosfield Hall came to the Temple-Grenvilles via Mary Nugent, wife of the first Marquess, Nugent Buckingham. They inherited the house from Mary's father, Robert Nugent, in 1788. Robert Nugent was born in Ireland He married wealthy Lady Emily Plunkett, with whom he had a son, Edmund. This was Robert's second son, the first being a result of a liaison with his cousin Clare; who he abandoned. After Lady Emily's death, he married Anne (Craggs) Knight, widow of John Knight and owner of Gosfield. Anne died in 1756 and, less than two years later, Robert married another wealthy woman, Elizabeth, widow of the the 4th Earl of Berkeley. In 1765, he was created Baron Nugent and Viscount Clare of Ireland. In 1776 he received an Irish Earldom.
On Robert Nugent's death in 1788, the Hall passed to Mary, the eldest of his two daughters, Edmund having died earlier. She was lucky to inherit this title. Edmund, by his first wife, Lady Emilia Plunkett (who died giving birth to Edmund). Edmund had two sons and the eldest of these would have inherited the title. However, on Edmund's death in 1771, his marriage arrangements were found to be flawed and his sons were declared illegitimate. As a result, 12 year old Mary became an heiress.
The House
Gosfield Hall wad been built by Sir John Wentworth in the mid-sixteenth century (1545-60) and is set around a Tudor courtyard. The west wing is the oldest part of the building remaining. The east wing was rebuilt in 1691 and in the early 18th century further changes were made to the east wing and to the courtyard elevations. The Corinthian pilasters the north elevation were built around 1730 and changes to the south elevation were made by Robert Nugent. He also landscaped the park and extended the lake.
Mary Nugent and Nugent Buckingham did not make any significant alterations to the Hall or grounds. However, they established a school for the poor children of Gosfield parish, paid the governess's salary, gave a weekly dole to around 20 poor villagers, and paid for a dinner every Sunday for the schoolchildren and paupers. They also introduced the straw hat industry into the area.
In 1793, the Comte de Provence was sent into exile from Revolutionary France. He notionally became King Louis XVIII in 1795 and spent some years touring Europe. He came to England, landing at Great Yarmouth. The party were greeted at Gosfield in November 1807 by Nugent Buckingham, who called them his 'French colony.' By 1809, the colony had grown to more than 130 strong and, space having run out, they moved to Hartwell House, near Aylesbury. (See account by Lady Jerningham).
In 1805, there were nuns staying in the grounds:
Gosfield, Thursday, 11th April. I was obliged to get up at seven & walk to the Nuns to prayers at eight o'clock. They are the poor Clares from Gravelines to whom Ld. Buckingham has given a very comfortable Farm House in his grounds about half a mile from the House. There are only twelve remaining all very old—they never eat meat & are very poor. Gosfield is a compleate old monastery, built 300 years ago. (Betsy Wynne in Wynne III, p164)
In 1809, Louis XVIII erected an altar at Gosfield to commerate Nugent Buckingham's earlier generosity.
The house was often empty before and after the French occupation. Pictures were moved to Stowe and furniture to Wotton. On his death, Nugent Buckingham left Gosfield to his second son, George who never used it. Instead, his eldest son Richard let the Hall to Colonel Thomas Astle who died there in 1820.
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Envelope addressed to Thomas Astle |
After Astle's son was killed there in a riding accident, his widow left Gosfield. More than 200 furnishings were moved to Wotton, then home to the future 2nd Duke, in 1821 and others to Stowe.
By this time the house was falling into disrepair but the estate—2,718 acres divided into nine farms, woodland and parkland—was in good condition. London auctioneer, Henry Philips, was retained to find a private buyer. No-one was initially prepared to offer more than £100,000 until, in 1822, Edward Barnard, offered £135,000. He did not complete the purchase and it was advertised for sale, only to eventually be sold to Barnard in 1825 for £157,500. Barnard was a shipbuilder and, from 1832, MP for Greenwich.
After Barnard's death the Hall was owned by Courtaulds, then Lowes. It was used as a base for the army and American air force during the Second World War. It now owned by the Country Houses Association.
Sources
Beckett 1994; Gorton & Bates 1988; MHA.
developed by Andy Boddington.