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Madresfield
One house (home), one family, one thousand years The Real Brideshead
416 pages, Hardcover
First published June 2, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 16, 2010
Am visiting Madresfield in a couple of weeks so must get on with reading this!!
A fantastic insight into the lives of the Lygon family and Madresfield. A tour of the house is splendid - especially seeing the beautiful Arts & Crafts workmanship
A fantastic insight into the lives of the Lygon family and Madresfield. A tour of the house is splendid - especially seeing the beautiful Arts & Crafts workmanship
August 15, 2024
As I live near the village of Madresfield, I was intrigued to learn more about the history of the Court and Estate. It's probably most famous as the inspiration for the family in Brideshead Revisited, as Evelyn Waugh. The author was great friends with members of The Lygon family, in residence at Madresfield for generations. In fact, the family has been in residence here for over a thousand years.
Jane Mulvagh, the author of this book, has taken a deep dive into the annals of its history, its legacy and the exploits of its residents. These custodians share in the facts and myths, the rumours and events as well as care for the many documents, letters and antiquities that have been collected and preserved over the centuries. Mulvagh has woven these into the fabric of this book to create a canvas of the life and times at Madresfield and its influence beyond. She describes the evolution of the building from the days of Robert De Braci, who settled in the 'Mowersfield' in 1196 to today, where part of the original ditch, about four metres wide is still in evidence.
In fact it was only in the epilogue did I come to realise that I live in a house, built on land sold by Lady Morrison, in 1989 so that she could cover the cost of death duties, when she inherited Madresfield. I felt somehow even more connected with and attached to its story. My children attended the village school and I fondly remember trips to Madresfield Playroom at Christmas for a visit from Father Christmas, followed by roast turkey with all the trimmings. The annual village fetes in the summer bookended our regular visits inside the grounds, but otherwise the Court and its residents were a mystery to me. Mulvagh has opened the doors of the Court to reveal centuries of intrigue and drama as well as a home to 28 generations (now 29) of Lygons. Fascinating facts such as:
"Neither pair [of outer doors] has handles or locks on the outside. This house has never been left unoccupied"
Each generation has left its mark however, either by their own antics or those of their guests, who have ranged from painters to writers, Prime Ministers to royals, rebels to traitors and cabinet ministers. An inheritance squabble was even the inspiration for Charles Dickens' Bleak House.
I soon discovered that my local stately home - more an extended Manor House - was indeed more famous, influential and at times its residents more notorious, than I realised. That when my family visited for these annual events I was walking in famous footsteps. Musical footprints of Edward Elgar himself, whose father tuned the great house's pianos and organ. Indeed the thirteenth Enigma Variation was dedicated to '***' on the original score, which was later revealed to be 'My Sweet Mary' - Lady Mary Lygon - to whom Elgar had given piano lessons since childhood.
There are also images within the text, which bring to life the many faces of the family over the centuries, as well as antiquities and rooms which are often not on view to the general public. Mulvagh has included extracts from letters and diaries kept in the muniments room, which holds precious documents dating back to the Middles Ages and beyond. The oldest is the Foundation Charter for Malvern Priory dated 1121.
As a local, I found it truly fascinating to discover the part of Madresfield has played in politics, in the media and the behaviour of its colourful residents. Even if you are not a local, it's fair to say that its legacy, influence and people have reached across the globe with the ebb and flow of popularity and at times disgrace.
Today Madresfield is in the hands of yet another generation beyond Mulvagh's book. In this day and age of the public's desire to know everything that goes on behind the scenes, Madresfield is opening its doors more than ever before, with House tours, Garden tours and hosting more events in the grounds, along with preparing local produce, such as beer and ales, as well as its own butchery. In Great Malvern there is also a Madresfield restaurant, celebrating their sustainable farming and meat.
A new era in the Lygon family has begun, adding another chapter to their long and enduring story.
Jane Mulvagh, the author of this book, has taken a deep dive into the annals of its history, its legacy and the exploits of its residents. These custodians share in the facts and myths, the rumours and events as well as care for the many documents, letters and antiquities that have been collected and preserved over the centuries. Mulvagh has woven these into the fabric of this book to create a canvas of the life and times at Madresfield and its influence beyond. She describes the evolution of the building from the days of Robert De Braci, who settled in the 'Mowersfield' in 1196 to today, where part of the original ditch, about four metres wide is still in evidence.
In fact it was only in the epilogue did I come to realise that I live in a house, built on land sold by Lady Morrison, in 1989 so that she could cover the cost of death duties, when she inherited Madresfield. I felt somehow even more connected with and attached to its story. My children attended the village school and I fondly remember trips to Madresfield Playroom at Christmas for a visit from Father Christmas, followed by roast turkey with all the trimmings. The annual village fetes in the summer bookended our regular visits inside the grounds, but otherwise the Court and its residents were a mystery to me. Mulvagh has opened the doors of the Court to reveal centuries of intrigue and drama as well as a home to 28 generations (now 29) of Lygons. Fascinating facts such as:
"Neither pair [of outer doors] has handles or locks on the outside. This house has never been left unoccupied"
Each generation has left its mark however, either by their own antics or those of their guests, who have ranged from painters to writers, Prime Ministers to royals, rebels to traitors and cabinet ministers. An inheritance squabble was even the inspiration for Charles Dickens' Bleak House.
I soon discovered that my local stately home - more an extended Manor House - was indeed more famous, influential and at times its residents more notorious, than I realised. That when my family visited for these annual events I was walking in famous footsteps. Musical footprints of Edward Elgar himself, whose father tuned the great house's pianos and organ. Indeed the thirteenth Enigma Variation was dedicated to '***' on the original score, which was later revealed to be 'My Sweet Mary' - Lady Mary Lygon - to whom Elgar had given piano lessons since childhood.
There are also images within the text, which bring to life the many faces of the family over the centuries, as well as antiquities and rooms which are often not on view to the general public. Mulvagh has included extracts from letters and diaries kept in the muniments room, which holds precious documents dating back to the Middles Ages and beyond. The oldest is the Foundation Charter for Malvern Priory dated 1121.
As a local, I found it truly fascinating to discover the part of Madresfield has played in politics, in the media and the behaviour of its colourful residents. Even if you are not a local, it's fair to say that its legacy, influence and people have reached across the globe with the ebb and flow of popularity and at times disgrace.
Today Madresfield is in the hands of yet another generation beyond Mulvagh's book. In this day and age of the public's desire to know everything that goes on behind the scenes, Madresfield is opening its doors more than ever before, with House tours, Garden tours and hosting more events in the grounds, along with preparing local produce, such as beer and ales, as well as its own butchery. In Great Malvern there is also a Madresfield restaurant, celebrating their sustainable farming and meat.
A new era in the Lygon family has begun, adding another chapter to their long and enduring story.
February 18, 2024
When I came upon this book I immediately wanted to read it, because I'd read Brideshead several times, both in Czech, and in English. But once I actually tucked in, I realised it was the entire history of the house and its inhabitants, which spanned a millennium. And so I have to confess I skimmed a lot of the first few chapters, (despite the Middle ages usually being my jam), because I have so many other books to read and aside from the family and the house serving as inspiration to Waugh, my interest in what preceded was rather limited.
Still though, what a fascinating looking house! The author was right, the 80's TV show choosing a relatively normal looking grand castle chateau thing kind of changes the vibe. The Lygon family's idiosyncrasies make more sense in combination with Madresfield. (And vice versa.)
I ended up inhaling the late 19th century and 20th century chapters, aka the last 100+ pages of the book, because that's what I came to the book for, but I understand why the author chose to go for the entire history while she was at it. I just wonder how many Brideshead fans were ready for that whole ride...
Still though, what a fascinating looking house! The author was right, the 80's TV show choosing a relatively normal looking grand castle chateau thing kind of changes the vibe. The Lygon family's idiosyncrasies make more sense in combination with Madresfield. (And vice versa.)
I ended up inhaling the late 19th century and 20th century chapters, aka the last 100+ pages of the book, because that's what I came to the book for, but I understand why the author chose to go for the entire history while she was at it. I just wonder how many Brideshead fans were ready for that whole ride...
April 24, 2020
A book with a lot of details of the Lygon family that has been living for 28 generations, unbroken, at one place: Madresfield Court, Worcestershire (since 1086/ 1196). In a house that never has been bought nor sold.
The Lygons are one of a handful of families who can claim such unbroken longevity in one place: the Fulfords of Fulford, Devon (since before 1200); the Gordon-Duff-Penningtons of Muncaster, Cumbria (1208); the Hoghtons of Hoghton, Lancashire (since early 1200s); the Giffards of Chillington Staffordshire (since William the Conqueror).
In this book the history of this family is written. The ups and downs financially and socially. The black sheeps. Renovations to the house and garden.
Lovely read.
The Lygons are one of a handful of families who can claim such unbroken longevity in one place: the Fulfords of Fulford, Devon (since before 1200); the Gordon-Duff-Penningtons of Muncaster, Cumbria (1208); the Hoghtons of Hoghton, Lancashire (since early 1200s); the Giffards of Chillington Staffordshire (since William the Conqueror).
In this book the history of this family is written. The ups and downs financially and socially. The black sheeps. Renovations to the house and garden.
Lovely read.
August 29, 2022
Interesting enough but too much about the house and not enough about the family,just a small nod to how Evelyn Waugh got his ideas for brideshead
Currently Reading
January 14, 2009this book is about my english ancestors/relatives! the lygons
June 4, 2016
Listened on audio, well written account of the real 'Brideshead'
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews