Manor of Groves Hotel, Sawbridgeworth

The Manor of Groves Hotel (formerly Grove Lodge) in High Wych, near Sawbridgeworth in Hertfordshire is a building of historical significance and is listed on the English Heritage Register. It was remodelled over an existing older building in 1823 by a prominent London lawyer. The house was a private residence for many distinguished people over the next 150 years and in 1988 was converted to a hotel. It still serves this function and provides accommodation, dining facilities and caters for events such as conferences and weddings. There is also a golf course.

The Manor of Groves dates back to ancient times. The Victoria History of the County of Herford describes its history in the following terms.

When Thomas Nathaniel Williams (1781-1841) bought the Manor in about 1823 he made major alterations and additions to an existing house which gave the building its Georgian appearance which can still be seen.

Thomas was born in 1781 in Shoreditch, London. He became a lawyer and had an office in London. In 1805 he married Catherine Jeffery. It appears that the Manor of Groves was his country house as Thomas continued to practise law in London after it was built. He died in 1841 and the house was advertised for sale in the same year. The advertisement is shown. The house was bought by Jones De'ath. He was born in Hunsdon, Hertfordshire in 1802; his father William was a miller. Jones became a farmer and lived with his widowed father in Little Parndon until he bought the Manor of Groves. In 1852 at the age of 50 he married Mary Barnard who was the same age. He continued his farming when he moved to the house. In 1873 Mary died and Jones continued to live at the house until his death in 1891 at the age of 89. The house was advertised for sale and the advertisement is shown.

Edmund Broughton Barnard who was one of Mary’s nephew’s bought the house. Edmund was a prominent politician. He was born in 1856 in Sawbridgeworth and was the son of William Barnard, a wealthy miller and brewer who lived in Fair Green House in Sawbridgeworth. He was educated at Brighton School and the University of Cambridge where he was reputed to be an excellent polo player. In 1887 he married Alice Maud Richardson who was the daughter of Charles Richardson, of Torwood, Wimbledon Park. They had a very large wedding which was extensively reported in the newspapers. Edmund later became the Member of Parliament for Kidderminster. In about 1903 Edmund sold the Manor of Groves and moved to Fair Green House in Sawbridgeworth which was his childhood home.

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