Cold Brayfield House 'Waterhall' - Cold Brayfield, Buckinghamshire, UK
Posted by: Dragontree
N 52° 09.673 W 000° 38.397
30U E 661424 N 5781595
Cold Brayfield House or ‘Waterhall’ was first recorded as being owned as either a house or land in 1194. It was the Manor house of the area and still stands as a fine building dominating the landscape.
Waymark Code: WM3NQM
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 04/26/2008
Views: 45
John and Reynold Grey have important connections with the house before the Manor House was passed on to Lord Fulk de Rycote (Lord of Oxfordshire in the 13th century). William Fulk inherited the house in 1247 when he came of age and was in contest with the Greys for years to come (Reynold Grey was a tenant of ‘Waterhall’ and Lord of Snelston, nr Lavendon). Finally a messuage and carucate of land was sold to the Greys in 1280.
Waterhall was still the name of the manor in 1308 and remained in the Grey family until 1448. Notable names the house passed to were Robert Olney, John Earl of Wiltshire and then John Lord Mordaunt. A fishery in the River Great Ouse, which runs at the bottom of the hill at the edge of the estate, was also allotted to him. A Lord of Cold Brayfield John Bodington became known as the Lord of the Manor in 1674. William Farrar (who was many years chairman of the committee of ways and means, in the House of Commons) possessed the house in 1720 and the property remained in the Farrar family until the 20th century when Denis Herbert Farrar inherited Waterhall.
A well known local man, Richard Orlebar, then bought Cold Brayfield House as he also purchased many of the other local manors.
The house you see today is a Grade II listed country house converted to include flats. The main structure was built in the 19th century but incorporates original material from the 18th century and earlier at the rear. An elaborate cast iron verandah can be seen from the aspect overlooking the river. There is a very pleasant country walk along surfaced footpaths between Cold Brayfield and Newton Blossomville where, if you’re lucky, you can see kingfishers from the footbridges. There are excellent views of the house from the footpath which takes you past the ha-ha and cow field.
Earliest Recorded Date of Construction: 01/01/1700
Additional Dates of Construction: 1194 - Land purchased
13th Century - William Fulk and the Greys
1448 - Olney then Mordaunt
1674 - Lord of Cold Brayfield John Boddington
1720 to 20th Century - Farrar family
20th Century - Orlebar
Recent History - Flats
Architectural Period/Style: Elizabethan then Queen Anne
Type of Building e.g. Country House, Stately Home, Manor: Country House/Manor House
Interesting Historical Facts or Connections: A typical Manor House of the area with connections to Farrar and Orlebar families. Victorian additions to the building were made especially the verandah.
Listed Building Status (if applicable): Grade 2 Listed Building
Main Material of Construction: Stone
Private/Public Access: Private but footpaths run along the grounds
Related Website: [Web Link]
Rating:
Architect (if known): Not listed
Landscape Designer (if known): Not listed
Admission Fee (if applicable): Not Listed
Opening Hours (if applicable): Not listed
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