Wallsworth Hall
Wallsworth Hall is a stately home in Twigworth, Gloucester, England.
The hall was featured in Simon Jenkins (2004) acclaimed book 'England's 1000 Best Houses'. The hall was built on the site of a timbered house from the Tudor period soon after 1740 by Samuel Hayward, as a wedding present for his wife, Catherine.
The oldest part of the building faces up towards the side garden and the main front was added a little later. The building still has many of its original features, including the magnificent staircase, which is thought to have been installed in 1753. In 1865 a top floor, new roof, two extensions and the off-centre clock tower were added which updated the building dramatically. In 1903 the whole estate covering 655 acres (2.65 km2) including land, houses and farms was split up and offered for sale. It was purchased at auction and many improvements were made, after 1943 all properties were put on the market including household items, fixtures and fine pieces of furniture were sold. The Hall was then used as a residential nursery and a training centre for nurserey nurses.
After 1953 the house spent much of its time empty until in 1987 the Grade 2 building was purchased by The Nature in Art trust, a registered charity, which spent 12 months renovating the building and now operates it as an art gallery.
Samuel Hayward who built Wallsworth Hall was born in 1714. He was a merchant, landowner and magistrate. He married his wife Catherine (1728-1804) in about 1740 and soon after built Wallsworth Hall. The couple had two children Catherine Augusta born in 1745 and Samuel born in 1757. Unfortunately their only son Samuel died when he was seven years old and Catherine then became the sole heir.
In 1790 Samuel Hayward died at the age of 76. Catherine his wife then became the proprietor of Wallsworth Hall. She died in 1804 and her son in law Walter Wilkins inherited the house. The daughter Catherine Augusta had married Walter Wilkins in 1777. Their grandson later changed the family name in 1839 to De Winton.
Walter Wilkins was born in 1741. His father was John Wilkins who was a lawyer and his mother was Sybil Jeffreys. After completing his education William worked for the East India Company in Bengal for fourteen years after which he returned home in 1772 and bought Maesllwch Castle and estate in Radnorshire. In 1796 he was elected to Parliament as the Member for Radnorshire a position he held until his death in 1828.
In 1822 while Walter was still the owner an advertisement for the Hall appeared in a newspaper and is shown on the right. The house was described in the following terms.
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