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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 the Eighth when he converted England from Catholicism to Protestantism in 1532. The abbey then lay ruined until the reign of Henry's daughter, Elizabeth the First, when some of the stone was used to build Loseley Hall. Its very presence, is an echo of those painful days when finding yourself on the wrong side of a religious divide could be highly dangerous. Henry the Eighth, 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 his wife Anne Boleyn can also be seen here. It was to marry Anne Bolyen that Henry required a divorce from Catherine of Aragon, which eventually required Henry to change the religion of the country. 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 house was built after the protestant monarch 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 the house, the More family, knuckled down and built a bigger property. Carvings above the library fireplace commemorate Elizabeth's visits in 1570, so she must have been satisfied with the work done on the house.

Towards the end of Elizabeth's reign, in 1601 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 the First 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 August Bank Holiday Monday.

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:

phone: 01483 304440

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