A TYPICAL MANOR HOUSE

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22515, 24 September 1938, Page 2

A TYPICAL MANOR HOUSE

DUKE OF GLOUCESTER’S CHOICE HOME OP WIFE’S ANCESTORS When they return from Kenya the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester will have many decisions 'to make about their new country home, Barnwell Castle, near Oundle. Barnwell is a typical manor house with many gables < and- . half - covered by creepers. Near by is the old fortress built by Berengarius le Moigne in the thirteenth century. The house itself, though Tudor for the most .part, has comparatively modern additions on either side. . , It is appropriate that the Duke should have bought the property, since for nearly 400 years it belonged to the Montagu family, his wife’s ancestors. And it was from the late Duke of Buccleuch, father of the Duchess, that it passed in 1913 into the bands of Mr Horace Czarnikow, who enlarged it considerably and made many improvements. Seventeen years later Barnwell was sold to Major Colin Cooper, the well-known sportsman, but since his death in Kenya early this year the house has been untenanted. Possibly, a good many of the pieces with which the house is furnished at present will remain; though the dining rooms and drawing-room in particular would be very well suited to their own collection of period furniture, being panelled in the Georgian style. Historic Barnwell It was in 1540 that the manor of Barnwell became the possession of the Duchess’s ancestors. Upon the Dissolution, Henry VIII granted it to Sir Edward Montagu, the Chief Justice of the King’s Bench. • ■ Sir Edward’s grandson and namesake was created Baron Montagu of Boughton in 1621, but, as a Royalist, incurred the displeasure of the Parliamentarians and was imprisoned in the Tower.. However, his second son sat as one of Cromwell’s peers and was dubbed “Duke of Montagu,” before his death in 1683. On the death of the last of the Barons Montagu, Barnwell went to his nephew, the Duke of Buccleuch. Adjoining the castle is the little village of the same name, which looks now very much as it must have looked then, with thatched stone cottages nestling round the ancient church. Convenient for Hunting Apart from the family associations and the beauty of the house, there is another reason for the choice of Barnwell. It is in the heart of the Fitzwilliam country and almost as convenient for hunting with the Woodland Pytchley, the Oakley, and the Cottesmore. Again, there is good shooting—a bag of 400 to 500 pheasants may be reckoned on. . Some relations of the Duchess live near at hand. Her brother, the Duke of Buccleuch. is at Boughtoh House, only about 12 miles away; and her sister. Lady Burghley, is at Wakerley Manor, which is roughly the same distance from Barnwell. One of the new owner’s nearest neighbours is Lord Lilford, at Lilford Hall, while a little further off is Ashton Wold, Lord Rothschild’s home. ANNUAL RADIO BALL The staff of Station 3ZB, of the National Commercial Broadcasting Service, will entertain their friends and listeners at the second annual radio ball in the Winter Garden Cabaret next Wednesday. This will also be the first anniversary of the opening of 3ZB, and the ball will be a combined dance and birthday party. Special attractions have been arranged, and the Bailey-Marston orchestra Will supply the music. The Winter Garden will also be specially decorated for the occasion.

r . SCHOOL JUBILEE

CELEBRATIONS TO BE HELD : NEXT MARCH A meeting to consider the /holding of diamond jubilee celebrations’for; the Glantunnel School was held in. the •ghooL There was an attendance of «_and Mr G. D. Marsh, chairman of the school committee, was elected chairman. After he had explained the purposes lor which the meeting had beat called, “teas decided that the diamond jubilee be celebrated in March, 1‘39. The committee was elected from all those Present and the following executive oncers were appointed:—Chairman, Mr P;. * Marsh; treasurer, Mr E.-J. WeasteU; secretary. Miss S. A. Titheridge; ■distant secretary. Miss J. Barlow. .JPbe programme for the jubilee was approved as follows: r*Wdajr. Marsh 17—Children’s picnic Ibjl iwbjlee ball; Saturday. March 18, roll .call, luncheon; Sunday, March 19, combined church service.' T '