Great Brickhill Manor
Location/Address
None recorded
Type
Description
Remains of eighteenth and nineteenth century landscaped park and gardens at Great Brickhill Manor
The remains of a park, garden and pleasure grounds laid out in the early and mid-C19 around a now lost C18 and C19 country house, probably on the site of an earlier manor house. The framework of the site survives largely intact, particularly the boundary, entrances, park features including The Shrubberies, an extensive belt, and elements of the garden layout, but the principal buildings and some of the drives and paths have gone. Even so, the site of the former house remains as the focus of the landscape. A detached approach from Watling Street to the north-east through Duncombe Wood survives, terminated at either end by two sets of lodges.
Detailed description in Buckinghamshire Gardens Trust report.
Statement of Significance
Asset type
Remains of eighteenth and nineteenth century landscaped park and gardens at Great Brickhill ManorArchitectural and Artistic Interest
Architectural interest: The former C18/C19 house, stable yard and freestanding C19 conservatory were a group of considerable architectural note. Although they have gone, their site remains open and still forms the focus of the landscape design. The group of boundary features, including lodges, gateways, walls, including the park wall, and eye‐catcher are of considerable interest for their contribution to the ornamental design. Artistic interest: The site is a typical country house park, garden and pleasure grounds laid out in the early and mid‐C19. Although the main park drive from the west has gone, and the grounds been neglected, much of the layout remains largely intact, still focussed on the site of the house, and the design is still evident in outline, with many mature trees surviving including in the pleasure ground and in The Shrubberies boundary belt. The garden retains a raised platform that terminated the terrace along the south front of the house. A detached approach from the north‐east survives with lodges at either end.Group Value
The park and gardens at Great Brickhill Manor have group value with other small to medium C19 parks in north-east Buckinghamshire, including Bletchley Park, Horwood House, and Stockgrove Park.Historic Interest
The site was associated with a notable Bucks family for several centuries, and with Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli, who may have been influenced in his choice of architect E.B. Lamb for remodelling Hughenden Manor near High Wycombe c.1863. The survival of books from the elder Philip Pauncefort‐Duncombe’s library indicates influences on his taste in his development of the landscape in the 1790s‐1830s.Archaeological Interest
Archaeological potential is high for the site of the lost C18/C19 features associated with the country house estate, including the house, stable yard, gas works, conservatory and lodges, together with the drive and path system. The park retains evidence of earlier uses including ridge and furrow cultivation in the north‐west quarter.Images and Documents
Date Listed
11 Jan 2023
Last Updated
11 Jan 2023
Find Out More
Find out more about this Asset in Buckinghamshire's Local Heritage List:
https://local-heritage-list.org.uk/buckinghamshire/asset/4396
https://local-heritage-list.org.uk/buckinghamshire/asset/4396