Local Life In The 20th Century
Ledbury

Hope End Estate

Wellington Heath

[Hope End]
TILLEY's Collection

1809

The Hope End Estate with 475 acres of land was bought by Edward Moulton BARRETT from Sir Henry Vane TEMPEST. Edward and his wife Mary had 12 children one of which was the poet Elizabeth BARRETT BROWNING who was to enjoy an all too brief time at Hope End.

1812

Modification completed - The existing Georgian house was reduced in height and modified into stables. A new mansion of opulent Turkish design, which his wife described as something from the Arabian Nights entertainments, was built to a design and with a garden by John Claudius LOUDON. It was built in the "Moorish style", with minarets. The interior's brass balustrades, mahogany doors inlaid with mother-of-pearl, and finely carved fireplaces were eventually complemented by lavish landscaping: ponds, grottos, kiosks, an ice house, a hothouse, and a subterranean passage from house to gardens.

[Hope End]
TILLEY's Collection

1831 - 1872

In 1831 the Hope End Estate was offered For Sale, it was purchased in 1833 by Thomas HEYWOOD. In 1867 Hope End Estate was again For Sale, it was purchased by Charles Archibold HEWITT, who rebuilt it in 1872.

[Hope End]
Alfred WATKINS Collection

1901

August 31 Mr. and Mrs. HEWITT entertained the Union Children at Hope End.

1906
[Hope End]
TILLEY's Collection

1910
April 2 - Hope End was destroyed by fire. Damage cost estimated at £50,000.
[Hope End Fire]
TILLEY's Collection

[Hope End Fire]
[Hope End Fire]
[Hope End Fire ]
TILLEY's Collection


[Hope End Fire]
[Hope End Fire]
[Hope End]
TILLEY's Collection

[Hope End Fire]

April 4 Daily Mirror Newspaper Extract

Herefordshire Mansion Destroyed by Fire -
Hope End Mansion, Ledbury, Herefordshire, which was built in 1872, was destroyed by fire on Saturday, damage estimated at about £40,000 being done. Many valuables were removed into safety, but the family jewels were destroyed, as were some beautiful doors inlaid with mother of pearl. Mr HEWITT, the owner, is a prominent Conservative, a member of Herefordshire County Council, and a well-known philanthropist. Picture 1 A fire engine drawing water from a lake below the mansion. Picture 2 Fighting the flames.

[Hope End Fire]
Daily Mirror Collection

ENGLISH MANSION BURNED
Hope End Mansion, Ledbury, was gutted by fire on Friday night. The damage amounts to nearly £50,000. the fire at the mansion which is owned by Mr Charles Archibald HEWITT, broke out in the top of the building during the night, and was first discovered by a lady's maid. Assisted by the pitch pine ceilings and doors, the flames rapidly spread, and the occupants had to escape partly dressed. There was a large number of willing helpers, and the fire brigade was quickly upon the scene, but great damage was done, the family jewels being destroyed, as also were some valuable doors, inlaid with mother-of-pearl, which had been removed from the old house once occupied by Elizabeth Barrett BROWNING, when it was pulled down. In the midst of the conflagration two tanks, each containing sixteen hundred gallons of water, fell from the top of the building through the burning mass. The damage is party covered by Insurance.

Visit Herefordshire Past for more history on the Hope End Estate.

Related Links
Elizabeth Barrett BROWNING ( Resident )
Charles Archibold HEWITT ( Resident )

Sources
1897 - 1979 Ledbury Tilleys Almanacks - Herefordshire History
Photographs are credited to the owners where possible
Edited Memories in italics are from members of the Old Ledbury Facebook Group
Cuttings are from Old Ledbury Reporter Newspapers
History of Ledbury in the 19th Century
Herefordshire Archive Records Centre HARC

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