Hinwick House
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| Hinwick House | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Interactive map of the Hinwick House area | |
| General information | |
| Type | Manor house |
| Location | Hinwick, Bedfordshire, England |
| Coordinates | 52°14′53″N 0°37′52″W / 52.248°N 0.631°W |
| Construction started | 1706 |
| Completed | 1710 |
| Renovated | 1992, 2015 |
| Owner | The Singh Family |
| Landlord | Owner |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 3 |
Listed Building – Grade I | |
Hinwick House is a Grade I-listed[1] Queen Anne country house located about 90 minutes from Central London, near Podington in North Bedfordshire.[2] The estate consists of the Queen Anne main house, the Victorian wing, the Victorian wing extension, garage block, stables, three cottages attached to a clock tower, a walled garden and a period dovecote. The house and estate has a total of 50 rooms. Hinwick House underwent a two-year restoration programme that concluded in 2016.
The house stands in its own park of about 38 acres (150,000 m2) on the west side of the road from Podington and to the south of the Wollaston Road, from which the house is approached along a drive. At the end of which are wrought-iron gates with stone piers surmounted by collared eagles' heads with wings displayed, the crest of the Orlebar family by whom the house was built. At some time in the past, four soldiers were murdered; some say the house is haunted by their ghosts, since the soldiers were buried under the structure.[3][4]
Standing to the north of the hamlet of Hinwick, Bedfordshire, England, the property and a manor, known as Brayes Farm, was owned by William Payne since 1617. After his death in 1624, various relatives owned the estate. By 1709, his great-grandson, Richard Orlebar, was the owner and he decided to erect a massive new home for himself and his wife, the culinary writer Diana Astry. The house was modeled on Buckingham House, which, after later modifications, became the monarch's residence, Buckingham Palace. The architect was John Hunt of Northampton.[5][6] Construction started in 1709 and some work continued until 1714 when the home was occupied; the cost was just over £3,848.[7]
Between 1859 and 1860, Richard Longuet Orlebar modified the dining room and drawing room; he also added the Victorian north wing. For a time, Orlebar also owned a nearby house, Hinwick Lodge. The 1901 census records that Augustus S Olebar was Headmaster of a Preparatory School based at the house where the boys also boarded. A report from 1912 indicated that the owner of Hinwick House by that time was Richard Rouse Boughton Orlebar; at that time, the Turret was being used as a sanatorium.[8] In 1834, William Orlebar of Hinwick House had acquired another property, Hinwick Hall, but sold it at the end of the 19th century.[9]
According to Historic England, Hinwick House remained under the ownership of the Orlebar family until a sale in 1995.[10] Another report indicates that the house was used as a school in the 1880s; during 1914 – 1918 it was used as a hospital for wounded soldiers and in 1990 was operating as the Flemish House Restaurant.[11]
In 2014, the estate was sold and became the principal family home of The Singh Family. The Singh family is said to have spent £3.8 million on the restoration.[12][13] Afterwards, the house was described by the Daily Telegraph as "a celebration of Britishness".[14][15][16] It is Mr. Singh's understanding that the estate had been owned previous to their purchase by a family from Malaysia and then by a local businessman.[17][18]
A report in late 2019 stated that the three-story home has 20 bedrooms and a dozen bathrooms, a Great Hall and a formal dining room, and separate apartments for staff. Three guest cottages, each with two bedrooms, are also on the property.[19]