The February 2007 meeting of Thatcham Historical Society listened to Sarah Hammond talk about Shaw House, a grand Tudor house near Newbury, and the recent years of restoration work.
A packed house at Kennet School listened to her talk about the history of the house, the progress of the restoration project and the future use of the house. She was introduced by this year’s chairman of the Historical Society Sue Broughton.
Sarah Hammond began by showing maps of the site as it is now, and then as it was in the 1880s which she described as “completely surrounded by countryside.” She said that the setting made a big difference to how impressive the house appeared and added “It has really lost a lot of its gardens.” She compared Shaw House to better-known houses such as Montacute in Somerset and Corsham in Wiltshire, adding that the surrounding land which had been attached to the house was a signifier of wealth and status.
History
She said that traditionally, the house was thought to have been built in 1581, and said that recent scientific analysis had confirmed this through dendrochronology, or tree-ring dating. Three samples were taken from the roof timbers, and tests established that the trees they came from were felled in 1579-80. Not only does this confirm the date on the house, but it contradicts some suggestions that the third floor of the house had been a later addition.
It was built by the Dolman family, who purchased the manor of Shaw in the 16th century, having made their wealth in the cloth trade. Thomas Dolman (II) inherited the manor and built the house, which stayed in the Dolman family for four generations.
Thomas Dolman IV late in the 17th century invested his family fortune in renovations to the house, adding the East staircase, and remodelling a suite of rooms on the first floor. “He wanted them to be fit for a Queen,” said Sarah Hammond. This was meant literally, for Queen Anne arrived to stay one night at the house, on October 26, 1703.
The house passed to the Duke of Chandos, whose main house was in London and Shaw House is described by him as his “country cottage.” Wallpapers he used in redecorations of 1728 have been identified in Ireland, and reproductions made for Shaw as part of the restoration. The Andrews family, which had sugar plantations in the West Indies, acquired Shaw House and documented it well. Their descendants were the Eyre family, who were the first to raise children at Shaw House for over a century.
In 1905 it was acquired by wealthy widow the Hon. Mrs Kathleen Farquhar, who developed the Rose Garden at Shaw, and whose son was killed in the First World War. In the Second World War it was requisitioned for use by troops and in 1943 when the Council School in Newbury was bombed the girls and boys moved out to Shaw House. They continued to use the house until 1985.
The best known period in Shaw House’s history is that associated with the Civil War, when it was involved in the Second Battle of Newbury, 1644. “There is a traditional story of King Charles I narrowly escaping death on one of the rooms of Shaw House,” said Sarah Hammond, reading the inscription on a plaque installed to mark the spot:
“The hole in the Wainscot which appears thro’ the aperture of this Plate, was occasioned by a ball discharged from the Musquet of a Parliamentary soldier at King Charles the first while he sate dressing himself, in this Projection. The ball was found, and preserved during many years but is now lost. This regicidal Attempt seems to have been made on Oct 26 or 27 AD 1644.”
She was enthusiastic about the history of Shaw House school, which began as a mixed school. The boys began to move out from 1947, but it was a gradual process. “The latest date we have for boys at Shaw House was 1956” she said. Dozens of people involved with the school have come forward to contribute their memories, and there are copies of the school magazine from 1948 onwards.
Restoration Project
Sarah Hammond then explained the financing and extent of the recent restoration project, which has cost over £6 million. Of this, £4.2 million came from the Heritage Lottery Fund, £1 million from Vodafone, £1 million from the former Berkshire County Council and £125,000 from English Heritage.
Although the house was closed to the school in 1985, it was not until 1998 that ownership was transferred to West Berkshire Council, and a Conservation Plan was prepared for the following year. Feasibility studies then followed, and in 2001 came the Stage One bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund. From 2001 to 2003 came archaeological research and recording, detailed design, repair schedules, business plan, planning permission and listed building consent, and public consultation. November 2003 saw the Stage Two bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund and in June 2004 the decision from the Heritage Lottery Fund to back the project. The main contract was awarded later the same year and in January 2005 the site was handed over to the contractors William Sapcote & Sons. 55 miles of scaffolding poles, 11,000 metres of scaffolding boards and 65,000 fittings were needed to protect the house during the restoration process. McCurdy & Co. from Stanford Dingley, most famous for the Globe Theatre in London, were brought in to work on the roof timbers. Materials were carefully conserved. “It was really important to reuse as many of the tiles on the roof as possible,” said Sarah Hammond, adding that they had to be removed to the ground by hand. 80% of the original tiles were put back on the roof. Leadwork had to be replaced. Stone and brickwork was only replaced where absolutely necessary. Samples of mortar were carefully made to ensure that it matched the old mortar in colour. “We wanted the house to look its age,” said Sarah Hammond, who is an Interpretation and Learning Officer employed by West Berkshire Council.
Windows and wooden panelling were repaired as required, and where panelling had formerly hidden historic features it has been hinged so that access to these can be maintained for the future. Paint analysis was used to uncover former colour schemes, and wallpaper identified, including some William Morris wallpaper found in the housekeepers room (the Pink and Rose room), and wallpaper of 1750 associated with Joseph Andrews.
Some alterations were required. Lifts were added, using the space which in the 19th century was used for water closets. New toilets were added, in the basement. The formerly unknown Elizabethan bakehouse was discovered as part of the restoration process and has been recorded by Oxford Archaeology. It cannot be opened to the public, but a hatch has been created with a ladder for access. “Nothing like this bakehouse is known elsewhere,” said Sarah Hammond, adding that bakehouses in this period were normally in separate buildings because of the fire risk.
Future Use
Shaw House will have a number of uses, with the aim of making it self-financing. It is now the home of the Register Office, which moved from Peake House in November 2006. It has office accommodation for West Berkshire Council’s Education Staff, who also moved in last November. It will provide a venue for civic and community functions, and also has nine rooms for hire, available to the public. It will be open to the public in two ways: for pre-booked parties of adults and school groups; and with arrangements for visit by the general public, which include planned open days.
Although staff moved in at the end of last year, a date is still waited for the full public opening, likely to be in the late summer of 2007. “Shaw House has never been open to the public before,” said Sarah Hammond. “We want it to be perfect.” Questions from the audience followed, a vote of thanks was given by Joyce Hoile and refreshments followed