Many readers will be familiar with the Mansion House at Blaise and the Museum which is housed there, but few will probably know much about its origins.
It replaced an original Manor House built in the area of what is now the Dairy Garden and, following the recommendation of Humphry Repton, the landscape architect employed to design the estate, the land was raised so that it appeared that the house was standing on a small knoll. This can be clearly
seen today. The best views from this site are to the south so the house was built with the major rooms facing this direction and at the same time making the best use of the available sunlight. The first floor also provides excellent views of Castle Hill and the Castle itself.
It was designed by a Bristol architect William Paty and the foundation stone laid by the owner Mr. John Scandrett Harford on 1st December 1795. After roofing was completed in October 1796, there was a celebration dinner at the Blaise Castle Inn with a gallon of ale all round for the seventy workmen.
The impressive Picture Room was a later addition added by John Scandrett Harford's son and was constructed in 1832-33 between the South East front of the house and the Conservatory. The garden entrance to this room has a massive collonade of six Ionic columns leading onto the terrace which is bordered by a balustrade and several ornamental urns. This room remains today as an elegant tribute to the architect and houses a fine collection of paintings from the City Art Gallery.
Patrick Clarke - Friends of Blaise Castle
New DVD from Friends of Blaise Castle, cost £10, order it by email: pateastover@aol.com
Marianna
It was designed by a Bristol architect William Paty and the foundation stone laid by the owner Mr. John Scandrett Harford on 1st December 1795. After roofing was completed in October 1796, there was a celebration dinner at the Blaise Castle Inn with a gallon of ale all round for the seventy workmen.
The impressive Picture Room was a later addition added by John Scandrett Harford's son and was constructed in 1832-33 between the South East front of the house and the Conservatory. The garden entrance to this room has a massive collonade of six Ionic columns leading onto the terrace which is bordered by a balustrade and several ornamental urns. This room remains today as an elegant tribute to the architect and houses a fine collection of paintings from the City Art Gallery.
Patrick Clarke - Friends of Blaise Castle
New DVD from Friends of Blaise Castle, cost £10, order it by email: pateastover@aol.comimpressive job! Very informative and covers not only the history of Blaise Castle but all Henbury area from Romans to today
Marianna
2 comments:
Copies of the DVD may be purchased directly from Blaise Museum.
VHS format copies (without the DVD extra footage) may be obtained from Patrick Clarke or Tim Parkinson at £5 each.
Thanks Tim for your comments. Editors
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