Little Clarendon
| Little Clarendon | |
|---|---|
 Little Clarendon | |
Interactive map of the Little Clarendon area | |
General information | |
Architectural style | Tudor |
| Location | Dinton, Wiltshire, England |
| Owner | National Trust |
| Website | |
| www | |
Listed Building – Grade II* | |
Little Clarendon, also known as Coombes Land, in Dinton, Wiltshire is a 15th century Tudor manor house. It has been owned by the National Trust since 1940.[1]
History
Little Clarendon was built of Chilmark stone in the late 15th century. [2] Edward Combe probably purchased Little Clarendon from John and Michael Willoughby in 1593.[3] In the 17th century, the manor's owners included Thomas Combe, Nicholas Daniell and Henry Hayter of Clarendon Park, who bought it in 1697. It was altered in the 17th century. In 1822 the house was inherited by William Maslen Barnes, who left it to his great-nephew Henry Palmer Alexander in 1866.[4]
The daffodil grower Reverend George Engleheart and his wife, Mary Engelheart, bought the house in 1901 and restored it.[5] While living there, George developed a new type of daffodil bulb[6] and Mary converted the bakehouse into a Roman Catholic chapel.[7]
Endowment
Little Clarendon and its contents, neighbouring Lawes Cottage (previously home to the composer William Lawes),[8] three further cottages, 27 acres of land and an endowment fund[9] were bequeathed to the National Trust by Mary Engleheart and her daughter in 1940.[10] They remained as tenants afterwards.[11] The chapel continued to be used and a condition of the gift was that Little Clarendon would only be let to Roman Catholics.[12]
The house was given a Grade II* listing in 1960.[13] In the early 2000s, after research by the National Trust, George Engleheart's daffodil breeds were grown in the gardens again.[14]
References
- ↑ "History of Little Clarendon". nationaltrust.org.uk. Retrieved 2025-12-10.
- ↑ "About Little Clarendon". nationaltrust.org.uk. Retrieved 2025-12-10.
- ↑ H F Chettle (December 1952). "Dinton and Little Clarendon". Wiltshire Archaeological and History Magazine (Vol. LIV No. ed.). Devizes, UK: Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Society. p. 400.
- ↑ H F Chettle (December 1952). "Dinton and Little Clarendon". Wiltshire Archaeological and History Magazine (Vol. LIV No. ed.). Devizes, UK: Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Society. p. 400.
- ↑ James Lee-Milne (December 1943). "Dinton, Wiltshire". Country Life (Vol. XCIV No. 2448 ed.). London, UK: Future plc. p. 1083.
- ↑ "Little Clarendon". historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 2025-12-10.
- ↑ "About Little Clarendon". nationaltrust.org.uk. Retrieved 2025-12-10.
- ↑ "Little Clarendon for Nation". Swindon Advertisor. Swindon, England. 1940-07-30. p. 3.
- ↑ "Mrs Engelheart's valuable gift". Western Gazette. Birmingham, UK. 1940-07-02. p. 7.
- ↑ "Little Clarendon for Nation". Swindon Advertisor. Swindon, England. 1940-07-30. p. 3.
- ↑ "Gold mine in valley for nation". Birmingham Daily Gazette. Birmingham, UK. 1940-07-30. p. 4.
- ↑ "Little Clarendon for Nation". Swindon Advertisor. Swindon, England. 1940-07-30. p. 3.
- ↑ "Little Clarendon". historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 2025-12-10.
- ↑ Calnan, Mike (2006). Rooted in history: Studies in garden conservation. London, UK: National Trust. p. 65. ISBN 1905400268.