Relhan Collection : 252 Longstowe Hall

Relhan, Richard, 1782-1844

Relhan Collection

<p style='text-align: justify;'><p>1833</p><p>Longstowe Hall was acquired by Anthony Cage the elder (d. 1583) in 1571. It consisted of a medieval manor house standing within a substantial moat. Fragments of the new Elizabethan house that Cage and his son, another Anthony, built survive in the middle of the garden front of the modern Hall. It was inherited in turn by Sir Anthony Cage (d.1603), Sir John Cage (d. 1628) and Sir Anthony Cage, who sold it. When Relhan drew the Hall in 1833 it had passed through many (sometimes disreputable) hands, most recently the more responsible Rev Robert Thomson, who lived there until he died 1827. After this it was held by trustees who eventually sold it 1840. Serious aggrandizement began in 1865-1870, by WM Fawcett for Sidney Stanley. The house was also radically changed in the late C19 and early C20, when the central fluted Doric portico seen in today’s photograph was part of Sir John W Simpson’s work for WA Briscoe from1907-1912. He also turned the approach to face E and added a new entrance side in Edwardian Neo-Elizabethan or Neo-Jacobean style, as well as further enlarging the S gable. Ancient features include imported Flemish woodwork which has been reused inside, some internal beams are C15 or C16 and could be original, and there is some C16 walling discernible. The Hall is now (2020) in good condition and hosts weddings and other events.</p><p>Bradley and Pevsner 2014; RCHME1968; VCH 1973</p></p>