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The land on which the
house is built was given in 948 A.D. to the Abbess of Shaftesbury by King
Edred. It seems to have remained the property of successive Abbesses until the
reign of Henry VIII who dissolved the Monastery. In the middle of the
sixteenth century the land was bought by Robert Culliford of It is interesting to note
that one of the Cullifords only prevented Oliver Cromwell from taking away
his property by providing some men to help with the destruction of John Pitt pulled down the
Culliford’s house and built the present one on the same site. It is believed
that Culliford’s house was a small one covering the area now occupied by the
hall and drawing room. Pitt was a cousin of Lord
Chatham the famous Prime Minister. His son William Morton Pitt sold the house
and the surrounding land in 1807 to John Scott 1st Earl of eldon,
who was then the Lord Chancellor, an office which he held for 25 years during
the reigns of George III and George IV. He was a great friend of George III
and the confidant of many members of his family. The Lord Chancellor was
very fond of Encombe and came down as often as possible although the journey
from The architect of Encombe
is not known, but it appears probable that it was John Pitt himself who was,
apparently, an amateur architect. The design is in the
current architectural idiom of the day, the style of Vanbrugh-Hawksmoor, but
it “is used in an independent and intelligent way”. It also shows the
influence of Palladianism, but the Royal Commission on Historical Monuments
says “there is no decisive obligation to either. The design shows much
original thought (for instance in the highly unusual East elevation) and must
be accepted as the work of an accomplished amateur architect, John Pitt the
owner”. In 1870 the 3rd
Earl of eldon commissioned Anthony Salvin to make alterations, the main one
being to move the entrance from the South to the North (and all that involved
in internal re-planning) and the resulting impression is of a few vast rooms
and a fine main staircase of 19th century workmanship, but in
early 18th century style. Library Originally two rooms with
a staircase between them and an outside entrance where the middle of the
three west windows are now. At one time there was a sea-water bath at the
Northern end. The ram which pumped water up from the sea can still be seen at
the top of Freshwater steps more than half a mile to the South of the house. Morning Room The only room which was
not altered in 1870. The fine plaster ceiling dates from 1734. The hearth and
consoles are very recent and are Purbeck marble. They came from the same bed
as stone used in the repair of Lincoln Cathedral during the past few years.
Sadly supplies of this beautiful stone are now almost exhausted and the
whereabouts of the few remaining pockets are known only by one or two
quarrymen. Hall This was originally the
dining room and at one time had a staircase at each end. It is believed to be
a part of Culliford’s house. The bust is of the 2nd Earl of Eldon,
grandson of the Lord Chancellor. The miniatures are of this bust and that of
the 1st Earl by Cheverton, who had invented a very ingenious way
of copying larger busts. The sideboard was presented to the 3rd
Earl by tenants of the Estate on his marriage. Drawing Room This was originally the
hall, the front door being where the centre window is now. The front drive
was on the east side of the lake and continued past the front door to the
stables to the south-west of the house. Sitting Room Originally a room with an
open colonnade as was the one where you entered the house. Later it was a
billiard roomand later still a dining room. Dining Room This was originally the kitchen.
It then became the dining room and after that a childrens’ play room and now
back to a dining room again. While the pillars are Purbeck marble, the
fireplace is wood and painted. |
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Listed
estate house bought for £16m One of the most expensive
country estates ever to come on the market in Encombe House, which lies
in a secluded valley in Purbeck, is believed to have been bought by successful
American merchant banker Charles McVeigh for £16 million - £1 million more
than its asking price. It is only the fourth time
the grade-II listed country house set in 2000 acres of magnificent coastal
grounds famed for its shooting opportunities has changed hands. The estate includes St.
Aldhelm’s Head, Chapmans Pool and Swyre Head, three lakes, 60 acres of formal
garden, 12 cottages, swimming pool and a Grecian style temple. The house includes six
reception rooms, a galleried hall, library-cum-snooker room and 12 principal
bedroom suites. Prestigious estate agents
FPD Savills were called in earlier this year to sell the property for the
Scott family who had owned the estate since 1807. [The accompanying photo
showed the previous owners Rupert and Sophie Scott.] A Savills spokesman
confirmed the house had been sold but refused to confirm the new owner. She
said: “Because of confidentiality agreements we are legally bound not to make
any comment on who the new owner is but we can definitely say it has been
sold. We can also say there was considerable interest in this property.” However national newspaper
reports have revealed it to be Mr McVeigh who is one of the longest serving
and most popular merchant bankers in the City. He began trading before the
Big Bang date when the stock exchange was computerised. He is now co-chairman
of Schroder Salomon Smith Barney. |
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