 Baddesley Clinton
An absolute gem of a house that epitomises the romantic notion of a medieval
manor house, its timber-framing dripping with magnificent clusters of Wisteria
in the spring, and the whole image reflected in the still
waters of the surrounding moat. Only seven miles from the centre of Warwick,
Baddesley Clinton is as serene today as it might have been during Saxon
times when the site was first cleared out of the forest by Baeddi. During
the 13th century the de Clinton family dug the moat and settled
on the land, giving their name to the estate. Since 1438, when the present
house dates from, it belonged to successive descendants of John Brome,
the wealthy lawyer who bought it at that time, until in 1980 it was handed
to the National Trust.
From a passing glance, Baddesley Clinton looks as though it has stood unchanged since the
15th century but many different periods of building can, in fact, be
identified right into the 19th century. The flat, mellow stone block façade
changes dramatically to the gabled black and white half-timbered look
once through the gatehouse passage and into the formal courtyard. Internally,
the house has retained a very medieval atmosphere, partly because much
of the original structure has survived, but mostly due to the work of
Henry Ferrers, an Elizabethan gentleman who was proud of his ancestry
and often referred to as 'the Antiquary'. He remodelled and restored Baddesley
Clinton with quantities of carved oak, stained glass and heraldic stonework.
A further modernisation programme was undertaken by Edward Ferrers in the 18th century,
but then it fell into decline for almost 100 years, until four close
family members restored and enhanced the house after the fashion of
'the Antiquary'. Of particular interest are the numerous painted shields
and the beautiful heraldic stained glass remaining from both periods of occupation.
Baddesley Clinton was also a Catholic safe house, used by Jesuit priests at the end of the 16th
century. The restored Chapel and Sacristy, and the exposed 'Priest Holes'
in the house, give a good indication of the precarious circumstances faced
by those poor souls who lived each day in fear of being discovered by the wicked priest hunters.
Almost every old house gains a certain amount of charisma from having a ghostly tale to tell, and Baddesley
Clinton has experienced more than its fair share of sightings, creakings
and unexplained bumps in the night during its long life. One story that
appears to be supported by slightly more physical evidence is that concerning
Nicholas Brome, who inherited the house in 1483. It is said that when
Brome arrived home one day quite unexpectedly, he caught the local minister
choking his wife, and immediately murdered him. A visible bloodstain remains
in front of the library fireplace as proof of this chilling event, and
a female ghost has been seen on several occasions.
For a house with bags of architectural interest, a family history that is well documented, and
grounds that will delight gardeners, walkers or picnickers alike, Baddesley
Clinton is a perfect stress-free environment for an enjoyable day out. |
