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Loseley Park, Surrey

The present house on the site of Loseley Park was built between 1562 and 1568, using stone from the ruins of Waverley Abbey. This ancient abbey had been destroyed by Henry VIII when he converted England from Catholicism to Protestantism in 1532. The abbey then lay ruined until the reign of Henry's daughter, Elizabeth I, when some of the stone was used to build Loseley Hall.

Henry VIII, makes himself felt not only in the stonework of Loseley Hall, but also in some of its decoration. The Great Hall has panelling from Nonesuch Palace, a huge palace which once stood at Cuddington near Epsom. A few paintings by Henry VIII's second wife Anne Boleyn can also be seen here. It was to marry Anne that Henry VIII changed England's religion. He had to escape the influence of a pope who refused to allow a divorce from his first wife Catherine of Aragon. Looking at Anne's paintings it's interesting to reflect on the young woman who indirectly provided the building materials for Loseley Hall as it stands today.

The present Loseley Hall was built after Queen Elizabeth claimed that the previous house was too small for her to stay in. A visit from the queen brought huge prestige, so the owners of Loseley, the More family, knuckled down and built a bigger property. Carvings above the library fireplace commemorate Elizabeth's visits in 1570.

Towards the end of Elizabeth's reign, in 1601 Loseley Hall's owner Sir George More was marrying off his daughters to respectable country gentlemen. He was not impressed when he found out that his sixteen year old daughter, Ann had secretly married the poet John Donne.

Elizabeth's successor James I visited in his turn, and a gilded ceiling in the drawing room commemorates his visit.

 

 

Opening Times: The house is open May to August, Tuesday to Thursday and Sunday, 1pm - 5pm with the last guided tour at 4.15pm.

The gardens are open May to September, Tuesday to Sunday 11am - 5pm. Both house and gardens are open on May 3rd, bank holiday Monday from 2pm - 5pm.

Address: Loseley Park, Guildford, Surrey GU3 1HS

Directions: Loseley Park is a few miles south of Guildford, Take the A3100 Guildford to Goldaming road,and then take the B3000. Click here for an interactive road and satellite map centred on Loseley Park.

Access: All public areas except for the first floor of the house are accessible to wheelchair users. Adapted toilet facilities are available.

Contact:

telephone: 01483 304440

fax: 01483 302036

group tours telephone: 01483 405112

e-mail: enquiries@loseleypark.co.uk

Web site: http://www.loseley-park.com/home.asp