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Twyford Moors House

Introduction

The site has gardens of some 3.25 hectares, which remain much as they were originally laid out. Features include a sunken ornamental rockery and grotto, a round garden centred on an ancient oak tree, traditional squares, topiary and rose garden, croquet and tennis lawn. There are also 12 hectares of parkland.

The 3.25 hectares (8 acres) of formal gardens are as originally laid out, with a sunken ornamental rockery and grotto, a round garden centred on an ancient oak tree, traditional squares, topiary and rose garden, croquet and tennis lawn. The parkland, of about 12 hectares (30 acres), was originally planted with two specimens of every known type of tree in Britain. This created a stunning landscape of mature trees with numerous copses. An avenue of broad leaf trees lines the entire length of the eastern boundary and there are countless specimen trees. There are also 500 yards of double bank fishing.

The house has been sold twice from 2004-2008. Currently a landscape assessment is being prepared.

Visitor Access, Directions & Contacts
History

The house was built between 1861 and 1862 by Conway Mordaunt Shipley, grandson of Jonathan Shipley of Twyford House (possibly to escape the effects of the turnpike road which had dissected the parkland to the east of Twyford House). Conway employed Henry Woodyer to design the house with a fine Gothic revival interior (now listed), including the hall, staircase and fireplaces richly decorated with exacting designs in oak, stone, marble and plaster. There is also a Lodge by Woodyer.

Conway Shipley died in 1888, but his widow lived there till 1933 dying at the age of 90. It then passed to Curtis Mordaunt Lea Shipley who opened it as a Country House Hotel in 1935. The hotel ran only until the World War 2. Curtis divorced but his wife, Carrie, continued to live there, marrying a second time and becoming Mrs John Dykes. She continued to live there with her son, Robert Mordaunt Shipley until 1988. The estate was sold in 1989.

Period

Victorian (1837-1901)

Associated People
Features & Designations

Designations

  • The National Heritage List for England: Listed Building

  • Reference: Twyford Moors House
  • Grade: II*

  • Site of Special Scientific Interest

Features

  • Rockery
  • Description: Sunken ornamental rockery.
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  • Rose Garden
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  • Tennis Lawn
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  • Croquet Lawn
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  • Avenue
  • Description: An avenue of broad leaf trees lines the entire length of the eastern boundary.
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  • House (featured building)
  • Description: The house has a fine Gothic revival interior (now listed), including the hall, staircase and fireplaces richly decorated with exacting designs in oak, stone, marble and plaster.
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  • Gate Lodge
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  • Grotto
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  • Specimen Tree
  • Description: There is a round garden centred on an ancient oak tree.
  • Topiary
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Key Information

Type

Park

Purpose

Ornamental

Principal Building

Domestic / Residential

Period

Victorian (1837-1901)

Survival

Extant

Hectares

15.25

Open to the public

Yes

Civil Parish

Twyford