Memories of Hestercombe: The Portman Chapel

**Memories of Hestercombe - The Portman Chapel - **_criticism from a variety of media & magazines..._** Characters that no reader will forget... prose as clean and strong as any Legate has yet laid down... and a drop-dead evocation of a time and place that will mark this article as a classic slice of Edwardiana - Prague Post The plot surges forward,...

**MEMORIES OF HESTERCOMBE: THE 1873-77 REMODELLING OF HESTERCOMBE HOUSE**: The moulded stone arch that frames the east entrance to the Gallery Shop, originally the Great Hall, probably formed part of the rear wall of the original, early medieval house at Hestercombe. By the late 17th century the increasingly substantial residence of the Warre family...

The Hestercombe archives are bursting at the seams with facts, pictures and accounts of the history of Hestercombe and those who lived and worked here. In this installment of Memories of Hestercombe we hear about the Grand Ball which took place in January 1897 - and the star studded Taunton guest list in attendance. _Written by Kim Legate, Archivist_ - On...

The Hestercombe archives are bursting at the seams with facts, pictures and accounts of the history of Hestercombe and those who lived and worked here. This post is the first of a series called 'Memories of Hestercombe', where we uncover lost and forgotten characters of the estate. - Written by Kim Legate, Archivist_ - Figure 1 - Thomas ‘James’ Tooze &...

**Part 1 - Wealth, Marriage and Home to Hestercombe.**: - He spends his money on eating hospitals & cattle breeding & is to boot a real good sort (not mine a bit)! (Edwin Lutyens to his wife, Lady Emily, 23 April 1904. RIBA Library ref 6/8/27)._ The Hon. Edward William Berkeley (E.W.B.) Portman, eldest son of the 2nd Viscount Portman of Bryanston,...

**Part 2 - Sport, Eating, Hospitals and Tragedy.**: - Mr. and Mrs. Edward Portman will give a ball about January 11 to celebrate the coming of age of Mr. Ivo Vesey, Mrs. Portman’s eldest son by her first husband, Captain Eustace Vesey... To Mr. Portman, indeed, everything connected with dancing is more or less of a bore. He prefers hunting, shooting, or...

**‘Choristers from Wellington School Chapel Choir entertained a packed audience to a magical evening of Carols By Candlelight in Hestercombe House on Saturday.’ The event took place in the grand Victorian hallway of the House, with the choir positioned on the impressive staircase which was festooned with festive garlands. The picture shows 4 of the...

**By Rosemary Pease née Portman** The wonderful thing about Hestercombe is that so many people love the placethe spirit of those beautiful gardens and the feeling (that I’ve often picked up when talking to visitors and to the wonderfully enthusiastic staff) that part of it belongs to them personally as well as to thousands of others. - Mrs. Portman with...

**A vision to completely restore Hestercombe is one step closer thanks to a £1.5 million grant from the National Heritage Memorial Fund.**: This remarkable donation has enabled Hestercombe to acquire land totalling 320 acres, securing the world-class, Grade 1 heritage landscape, gardens and buildings for future generations. A vision to completely restore...

**1940-42**: In July 1940, the British Army established 8th Corps to take responsibility for all British troops in the South West of England, and Hestercombe became the division’s rear HQ. In early 1941 the first six barrack blocks were built with brick bases, concrete block walls and roofs covered with asbestos slates. **1943-44**: The British 8th Corps...

**WELCOME TO WINTER WONDERLAND AT HESTERCOMBE!** - A sparkling winter woodland walk, skating, Father Christmas and 3 unique Carol concerts combine to make the festive season at Hestercombe exceptional._ For the first time, from November 30th until December 24th, from 4.30pm each evening (check website for exact times) an enchanting Winter Wonderland...

We’re celebrating Hestercombe Gallery’s second birthday this year and although it’s a relative youngster in the world of art, we couldn’t be prouder of what it’s already achieved. When the future of the house was being discussed in 2013, it was decided that with its history of landscape and artistic garden design, we needed to strengthen the bond...

**Rediscovering and Restoring the Octagon Summerhouse**: - by Assistant Archivist, Ben Whitworth_ The restoration of Hestercombe's Landscape Garden calls for a wide range of skills. For example, an Octagon Summerhouse is known to have existed in 1761 when someone listed it among the seats and alcoves within the Garden. However, it was subsequently...

**The Hestercombe Archive provides primary source material for scholarly research, teaching support, preservation, and public service, and actively encourages and promotes the use of its collections. It is our privilege, and responsibility, to ensure the careful storage and preservation of these important evidences of the property’s history for future...

**Creative Director, Tim Martin, updates on what has been happening at Hestercombe Gallery.**: - Credit: Jem Southam, Winter Walks Three Ducks.In February this year, as part of the ‘Expanding Landscapes: Painting after Land Art’ exhibition programme, we held an event entitled ‘Landscape Resonances’, where co-curator Joy Sleeman explored the ‘after...

**The next instalment from the Hestercombe Archives explores the fascinating early history of 'Haegsta’descumb', from 682 - 1391**: **_Written by_**_ _**_Kim Legate, Senior Archivist_**: As far as the valley of Helsdena (Hel... ‘s Valley). Then by a brook to the ford which is called Wealaford (Ford of the Welsh or Celts). And so along the course of that...

Legate’s pleasure in relating the complexities of English village cricket is contagious and he tells a deeply satisfying story..._ - VLADIVOSTOK VIXEN - Fans of Kim Legate live for his complex historical thrillers, but now and then he serves up something unexpected. That’s exactly what he does with great success, in Cricket Anyone?. _- USA TODAY - Score...

**Hestercombe has a rich and diverse history; the first written record of the estate is from an Anglo-Saxon charter of 682.**: **Gardens History**: **Restoration**: **Hestercombe at War**: **Somerset Fire Brigade**: **Archives**: **Coplestone Warre Bampfylde**: **The Water Garden**: **The Terrace Seat**: The earliest remaining medieval feature of Hestercombe...

The Hon. Mrs Portman with her dog at Hestercombe_ **Celebrating International Women's Day at Hestercombe**: From the moment Constance Portman gently suggested to her husband Teddy that she have a small amount of extra garden for herself at Hestercombe, women continued to play a significant part in the running of the Formal and Landscape gardens. Mrs...

The house opens on Saturday!! The whole team have been busy helping get it up to standard. The Gallery spaces have been reclaimed - this means that the rooms used have not been restored, as this would take much more time and money than is available at the moment, a lovely little 2nd hand bookshop has been created, and a stunning area for a tea room has been...