Kilverstone Hall

Kilverstone Hall is a Grade II listed building in Kilverstone in Norfolk, England.

Kilverstone Hall

History

Kilverstone Hall is a country house built in the early 17th century^[1] which was passed down the Wright family of Kilverstone.^[2] It was greatly enlarged by Josiah Vavasseur, technical director of the arms manufacturing firm William Armstrong Ltd.^[3] It included a parkland estate of 3,000 acres (12 km²). Upon Vavasseur's death in 1908 the house and park were inherited by Cecil Fisher, son of Admiral Lord Fisher and adopted heir to Vavasseur. Admiral Fisher and his wife moved into the Hall by invitation of Cecil Fisher upon the Admiral's retirement as First Sea Lord in 1910 and lived there until he was recalled as First Sea Lord upon the outbreak of World War I in 1914. Lord Fisher's grave is in Kilverstone churchyard.^[4] The house was remodelled in a Jacobean style in 1913. It still remains the property of the Fisher family and has the mailed fist and trident of Lord Fisher's baronial crest on its gateposts.^[5]

The house is listed Grade II on the National Heritage List for England.^[6] The Kilverstone Club in the grounds of the house is Grade II listed, as is the water tower, entrance lodge, stable block, and the base of a Medieval cross near the hall.^{[7][8][9][10][11]}

The Wrights

Perhaps the most famous of the Wrights of Kilverstone was Thomas Wright of Kilverstone, who married Jane Jermyn. Of their children:

• Thomas Wright, Esq., of Kilverstone and Weeting, the heir,^[12] entered Lincolns Inn on 5 June 1624.^[13]
• John Wright of West Lexham and Ovington, Norfolk,^[12] 2nd son, entered Lincolns Inn on 5 June 1624.^[13]
• Jermyn Wright (b.1608^[12]) of Wangford in Suffolk,^[12] 3rd son, entered Lincolns Inn on 27 November 1626,^[14] the father of Sir Robert Wright, Chief Justice of the King's Bench^[12]
• Anne, m. to William Stebbing, Esq.^[12]
• Sarah, m. to James Ward, Esq. of Hindringham,^[12] son and heir of Hamond Warde of Letheringsett, gentleman,^[15] at Kilverstone on 8 August 1626. Their marriage settlement is dated 20 July the same year.^[15] In 1695, a James Ward, Gent. of Hindringham, was lord of Great Snoring. He gave it with Thursford-Schelton's to Mr. Nun of Thorpland, who held it in 1715.^[16] In about 1570 Nover's Manor in Hindringham was conveyed to Martin Hastings, who sold it to Giles Mabbs, or Nabbs, gentleman. He left two daughters and coheirs; Mary, married to Riches Brown, Esq. of Fulmodeston, and another daughter whose first name is unknown, married to a James Ward, gentleman of Hindringham.^[17]

References

1. "Kilverstone Hall, Kilverstone". British listed buildings. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
2. Burke, John (1835). "A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Commoners of Great Britain, Volume 2". Retrieved 8 August 2012.
3. "Lord Fisher". The Telegraph. 22 November 2012. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
4. "John Arbuthnot Fisher". Find a grave. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
5. Jan Morris, Fisher's Face, pages 742-743, ISBN 0-679-41609-9
6. Historic England, "Kilverstone Hall (1076916)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 9 March 2018
7. Historic England, "Kilverstone Club in grounds of Kilvestone Hall (1342789)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 9 March 2018
8. Historic England, "Water tower to Kilvestone Hall (1305994)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 9 March 2018
9. Historic England, "Entrance lodge to Kilvestone Hall (1170566)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 9 March 2018
10. Historic England, "Stable block to Kilvestone Hall (1076917)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 9 March 2018
11. Historic England, "Medieval cross base (mounting block) at Kilvestone Hall (1076886)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 9 March 2018
12. Burke, John (1835). A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Commoners of Great Britain and Ireland, Enjoying Territorial Possessions Or High Official Rank: But Univested with Heritable Honours. H. Colburn.
13. Lincoln's Inn (London, England); Baildon, W. Paley (William Paley) (1896). The records of the honorable society of Lincoln's Inn. unknown library. [London], Lincoln's Inn, [Printed by H.S. Cartwright].
14. Lincoln's Inn (London, England); Baildon, W. Paley (William Paley) (1896). The records of the honorable society of Lincoln's Inn. unknown library. [London], Lincoln's Inn, [Printed by H.S. Cartwright].
15. Attested copy of pre-nuptial settlement. Description: Hamond Warde of Letheringsett, gentleman, to Thomas Wright of Kilverston, esquire, father of Sarah who is shortly to marry James Warde, son and heir of the said Hamond. The capital messuage of Clentigate with outbuildings, and lands in Reddenhall, Starston, Shelton, Hardwick and Alborough (now in the occupation of Thomas Yorke and Robert Flatman), also the manor of Saviles in Letheringsett, all in Norfolk. To the use of the said James and Sarah and the longer liver of them, and to the heirs begotten of the marriage, and failing issue to the brothers of James, successively. Certain named exceptions within the two manors. Also, rough copy in Latin. Date: 20 July 1626. Held by: Sheffield City Archives, not available at The National Archives. 20 July 1626.
16. "North Greehow Hundred: Great Snoring | British History Online". www.british-history.ac.uk. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
17. "North Greehow Hundred: Hindringham | British History Online". www.british-history.ac.uk. Retrieved 7 September 2020.

52.4227°N 0.7813°E / 52.4227; 0.7813