Striking the balance
Not many of our great country houses which have survived into the twenty first century are still in individual ownership. Staunton is unusual for having become once again a family home after sixty years of varying fortunes. It had come to be viewed as a public amenity and our task was to retake possession of so much as was needed to remake a family home. Eleven years on, I think we have the balance about right.
These houses were built by individuals, and they reflect the owners’ prejudices and the fashion of the time. It has been our good fortune to acquire a house empty of furniture, so that we’ve had the fun of going to auctions and filling the rooms with pieces we like. In the gardens and wider vistas, where tree planting had been largely neglected for more than half a century, we’ve relished the task of reclothing the landscape. We have made mistakes, but they are our mistakes.
To do all this we use our own team and local contractors. From the Estate Office we rent out houses, flats, offices, workshops, even pieces of land. Other family members run complimentary businesses; one daughter with her husband runs the land agency business Andrew Large Surveyors, another, Charlotte Meynell is a caterer and offers splendid accommodation at nearby Breedon Hall. We even have politicians in the family (but not all supporting the same agenda).
We are members of the Historic Houses Association (hha.org.uk) and will shortly be offering Staunton Harold Hall as an occasional corporate or film location. – Colin Firth clambering out of the lake maybe?
This is a flavour of who we are and what we do. Please make contact if you want to know more.
John Blunt
Please contact Rowan on the address below for any enquiries
Contact Information
Please contact the office below, or complete the online form left. We will respond to request as soon as possible.
Phone: 01332 864435
The Estate Office
Staunton Harold Hall
Ashby-de-la-Zouch
Leicestershire
LE65 1RT
Location
The Estate is situated a few miles from junction 13 of the M42 for Ashby-de-la-Zouch. The estate is clearly marked from the first island into Ashby by the ‘brown’ heritage signs, Ferrers Centre. Follow these through Lount passing the Ferrer’s Arms on your left and take the next left turn. You will see the entrance to the Estate & Hall on the left after the turn.
Hours
The Estate is open to the public throughout the year, barring Christmas Day and Boxing Day. The Ferrers Centre is closed on Mondays.