EPISODE 505 WHY WAS EYWOOD DEMOLISHED IN 1954? (HISTORY OF EYWOOD FROM 18TH CENTURY TO 21ST CENTURY)

EPISODE 505 WHY WAS EYWOOD DEMOLISHED IN 1954? (AND history of Eywood’s owners)

alan skeoch

Jan. 5, 2022

This is (was) Cyril Griffiths to whom I owe so much. He was once the tenant farmer of Oatcroft which was sold from under him even

though he had tenant farmers rights. Or so I believe. My grandparents enduring contact via mail with the Griffiths family

was the sole reason I was able to make contact and delve deep into the history of Eywood. Cyril moved to Lower Wooton

Farm when Eywood was sold If time permits I will do an episode on Lower Wooten Farm. Below is a roadsign post should readers want

more information or pictures of Titley and surrounding villages. They are stunning places

The history of Eywood is not a happy history like that of the fictional Downton Abbey. But there were

good times. I think my grandfather took this picture with his pinhole camera between 1900 and 1908.

The Chauffeur looks very young and very determined One of my readers can probably identify the car

and year of manufacture. Similar vehicles appeared in the Downton Abbey series.

note: It is unclear why the demolition of Eywood was incomplete. When I visited the site for the first time these walls were standing and

in the middle of the floor area there was a hole that I was told gave access to the wine cellar. Big enough to crawl through. No wine that

I could see.

“Why was Eywood demolished?”

Several readers have asked that question. The answer is complicated. Perhaps best understood

by considering the history of Eywood. Many country estates had several owners particularly so as

the 20th century progressed and taxes increased putting an enormous burden on the old guard of

places like Eywood. i.e. the aristocracy of Britain. But to just say taxes is too simple. So here is

the history of the place.

1) Edward Harley (1664-1735) acquired the Eywood estate at the end if 17th century and build a house about 1705. His younger brother Robert Harley was Speaker of the House of Commons and

Chancellor of the Exchequer in reign of Queen Anne. Robert Harley appointed Edward Harley as Auditor of the Imprest, a lucrative appointment providing enough money to build the original Eywood

manor house. Later in the 18th century the house was altered. (see work of Robert Kingsley)

2) 1735 Edward Harley succeeded by his son Edward Harley (1699-1735) becoming the 3rd Earl of Oxford in 1741. Inherrited the principal estates of Brampton Brian (ancient seat of the Harleys) while Eywood

was the secondary estate of the Harleys.

3) Either the second or third Earl of Oxford both named Edward Harley, landscaped Eywood. In 1756 Bishop Pococke wrote ‘Lord Oxford has a large house and a fine lawn, with a beautiful piece of water

and great woods on the hill over it”. This comment was used often in later descriptions

4) Edward Harley (1726 – 1790, 4th Earl of Oxford,in 1775 brought CAPABILITY BROWN to Eywood. His landscaping suggestions are unknown but by 1795 three pools were established of which two remain.

Woodland features were also established….grand parkland trees some of which may still stand.

5) Edward Harley (1773 – 1848) , the 5th Earl of Oxford married Jane Scott in 1794. Her father was a Christian mininster from Hampshire.

She became the Countess of Oxford. She is noteworthy due to her scandalous relationship with Lord Byron in October 1812. Scandalous behaviour

with other men led to her gossiped title as mother of the “Harleian Miscellany” of 8 children with different fathers.

6) Robert Smirke was hired from 1805 to 1807 to enlarge and modernize Eywood Court. He added three storey wings on each side of the original

square block mansion. The new wings were set back somewhat from he original house allowing the older house to dominate. A new entrance was

made in the North East wing. Inside Smirke created a new dining room with column on one end, a new dining room, A new ‘pleasure park’

was laid out around the house.

7) 1848, both Eywood and Brampton Bryan were inherited by Alfred Harley (1809 – 1853), 6th and last Earl of Oxford.

8) 1877, Brampton Bryan estate passed to his widow

9) Eywood passed to his elder daughter, Lady Langdale who died in 1872

10) Dispute over the estate of Eywood…. finally went to her sister, Lady Charlotte Bacon,

the widow of General Anthony Bacon who was described as ’the finest

cavalry officer in the army’ while also being imprisoned for two years for debt.

He also attempted to found a colony in south Australia. He led a varied life, must

have been away from Eywood for long periods as he worked for Don Pedro, King

of Portugal and Emperor of Brazil.

IN 1877 Lady Charlotte Bacon was living in Australia with her children but

came home to live at Eywood and died in 1880.

10) 1880 Eywood sold to Arthur Walsh (1827 – 1920) , 2nd Baron Ormathwaite

11) 1892 Eywood sold to Charles James Paul Gwyer (1854 – 1940) and his

wife Mary (1862 – 1950)

Eywood was not in good condition by then as it had been empty for long periods

while the Bacon family were in Australia. Charles Gwyer remodelled the house by

removing the third floors on the wings, removing the giant ‘order’ and

‘russtification’ (whatever the means) , a large new porch with ‘eclectic’detailing was built on the east side…the

only part of the building to survive today (*I am unsure just what is being described here

as all that remains today is the stone columned entranceway.

12) 1954 Eywood was sold again, by this time in poor condition. Bought by

Mr. Vowells of Birminghsm who sod off the firms and demolished the house

after trying to sell it as a private school or convalescent home.

What condition? One comment says Eywood Court was in poor condition

in the Australian owner’s time (Bacon family) but comment in the Gwyer owners time says

good condition.

War played a big role in the demise of Eywood both World War I and World War dashed any

hope of Eywood surviving the wrecking Ball. Two very personal reasons. The Gwyers were military people.

On August 27, 1918 Lieutenant Cyril Gwyer was killed in World War I. He was only 27 years old and would have been

the master of Eywood. He is buried at Mory Abbey Military cemetery beneath the inscription THEY SHALL BE MINE SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS

But he had a son Geoffrey Gwyer who seemed destined to take control of Eywood. And would have done so were it not for World War II. Captain G.C.F. Gwyer died in Tunisia and

is buried there beneath the inscription IN LOVING MEMORY OF/ GEOFFREY CHARLES FRANCIS GWYER/ CAPTAIN GRENADIER GUARDS/ SON OF THE ABOVE/ KILLED IN ACTION 19TH MARCH 1943, SERVING WITH/ THE EIGHTH ARMY IN TUNISIA. AGED 27 YEARS/ “DUTY WAS THE STAR THAT LED HIM”

His mother Mary died in 1950. Her time at Eywood must have been very sad. Both husband and son dead. Many of the country estates lost sons in the two world wars which one reason so many of the

country estates in Britain were lost. There were many other reasons however. Somewhere there must be a record of those sad years between her death in 1950 and the sale of Eywood in 1954..