M25 Salisbury Hall



Post to the north Bell Roundabout
Post to the east Ridge Hill



M25
This section was originally the A6 but was adapted into the M25 in the 1980s.

Ridge Hill
Salisbury Hall. Formerly called Shenley Manor. And in the 9th this was part of the Manor of Shenleybury held by Asgar the Stallar. In 1380 it to Sir John Montague, later the Earl of Salisbury.  A new house was built about 1507 by Sir John Cutte, Treasurer to King Henry VII and Henry VIII. This was bought in abut 1668 by James Hoare, a London banker and then to Jeremy Snow who rebuilt it.
Salisbury Hall House. Built in 1668-79 for Sir Jeremiah Snow but some parts date from the 14th. It is in red brick and 20th extensions replace the earlier service wings. Snow’s arms are carved on a pediment. Inside are 16th medallions with busts of Roman emperors brought from Sopwell Priory. The house is completely surrounded by a moat. In the late 19th it was occupied by a succession of farmers but in 1905 Lady Randolph Churchill lived here and in the 1930s it was the home of Nigel Gresley, of the London and North Eastern Railway.
Mosquito. The house was chosen by de Havilland in 1939 for development, in private, of a high-speed, unarmed bomber, of wooden construction, the de Havilland Mosquito design team moved here as a security precaution against the British Government stopping work on the project. The Mosquito was conceived as an unarmed high speed bomber but developed into the first multi-role combat aircraft. A hangar was built across the moat where the first prototype was hand built out of wood using non-strategic material and labour. Construction from wood is a specialty of this area, connected with the Chiltern furniture industry and several de Havilland aircraft were made of wood. Three Mosquitoes were flown out of the surrounding fields to Hatfield De Havilland left in 1947 and the Hall became derelict. In 1955 Walter Goldsmith an ex Royal Marine Major named took it on.
De Havilland Aircraft Heritage Centre.  This is the the oldest aircraft museum in the country. It first exhibit was the Mosquito Prototype W4050 which was saved by Bill Baird and Walter Goldsmith. Baird was trying to find a home for this aircraft, and Goldsmith fundraised among the original sub-contractors and a Robin hangar was found in which the Prototype was assembled. A committee was formed including Geoffrey de Havilland.  More aircraft were added to the collection and the freehold of the site was acquired. It opened to the public in 1959. The name was changed to the Mosquito Aircraft Museum, and in 1974, the Supporters Society was formed and later the de Havilland Aircraft Museum Trust Ltd
Granary.  This dates from the late 17th and is timber framed and standing on staddle stones.
Barns. These are on the east side of the hall and include a tack room. They are late 17th and timber framed and weatehrboarded. The tack room is 18th.
Nell Gwynne's cottage. This was originally the pump house to Salisbury Hall. It is early 18th in red brick with some timber framing. Nell Gwynn is said to have lived there in the 17th and to haunt the hall
Dairy. This is 19th and is linked to the pump house.
Secret passages. There are stories of several. Some are said to run from deep cupboards in the attics.   Also on the side of the moat is said to be a circular bricked-up opening going to an underground passage nearly five feet high, which connected Salisbury Hall with St Albans Abbey.
Salisbury Hall Farm 

 Sources
British History. On line. Shenley. Web site
British Listed Buildings. Web site
Chelsea Speliological Society,. Newsletter
De Havilland Museum. Guide book and leaflets
De Havilland Museum. Web site
Historic England. Web site
London Transport. Country Walks
Osborne. Defending London
Whitelaw, Hidden Hertfordshire

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Bromley by Bow

Post to the west (north west quarter) Mile End Post to the west (north east quarter) Post to the east Bromley by Bow Post to the north Old Ford Addington Road Addington Arms . Pub dating from the 1860s. It does not appear to be still there. Police stables . From 1938 twenty horses were located here. These stables were built in moderne style white concrete by police surveyor Gilbert Mackenzie Trench. There is a stable at the back as well as tack rooms and a chimney for the forge – there was a full time farrier. Above are two flats for married police officers. The white concrete wall is original.  Alfred Street 1-5 Inland Revenue Office . Sold off 1981. Has been used as a college an as offices Almshouses Way, This was once called Priscilla Street.  1 Drapers' Almshouses . These were built in 1706.  What remains is a brick group of four tenements with central raised and pedimented chapel. They were restored in 1982 but were originally part of a larger group...
Read more

South Norwood

Post to the south Woodside Post to the east Birkbeck Post to the north Anerley Albert Road This road is the earliest built here, first listed in 1855, and although the Croydon Canal was no longer in use it influenced the alignment of the road. From the junction with Portland Road looking the curve of the road reflects the line of the old canal which was to the north of the houses. It is named after Albert, the Prince Consort. 74-76 Stanleybury . Very large three-storey semis. Built for William Stanley, who moved to 74 in 1867. William Stanley’s works in South Norwood was complimented by his local philanthropy. His site is now a close of modern flats. Accidentally demolished. 67 small trading estate and MOT centre .  At one time this was home to a theatre transport specialist. St.Mark . This was the first church in the area and is the parish church by G. H. Lewis. The nave was built in 1852 and the church was extended in 1862 and in successive years until 1890. It is in Ke...
Read more

River Lea/Bow Creek Canning Town

River Lea/Bow Creek The Lea winds itself generally southwards towards the Thames TQ 39505 81448 Canning Town on the Essex bank of Lea/Bow Creek. This was, and is, a heavily industrialised area together with a very down market housing area with markets, shops, cinemas, pubs and many charitable and missionary organisations. In the 2000s public transport has been transformed and much housing renewed, and it is an area in a great deal of change. Post to the west Poplar Post to the south Leamouth   and Dome Post to the east Canning Town, Butchers Road Post to the north West Ham Station Appleby Road The road is named after a local ARP warden who was killed during the Blitz. A pre-war suburban ideal is demonstrated in this West Ham estate. Barking Road It was built by the Commercial Road Turnpike Trust from the East India Docks eastwards. Now the A124 it formed part of the original A13 before the building so the East Ham  and Barking Bypass in 1928. It was widened ...
Read more