Busbridge Hall, the
seat of F. B. S. Wilder, Esqr.
by whom this Plate was presented.
By T. Allom. Eng[raved] for Brayley's
History of Surrey by T. A. Pryor
Dorking : Published by & for R. B. Ede.
There is a significant amount of information in Brayley
and Britton's book, where this steel engraving was published:
"... about one mile from Godalming, is Busbridge, the
property and sweetly-situated seat of Francis Boyle Shannon
Wilder, esq. - This estate, anciently called Bushbridge,
gave name to a family, one of whom, James de Bushbridge,
towards the close of the reign of Henry the Eighth, sold
it to John Eliot, of Godalming; whose son, Laurence Eliot,
appears to have settled here. That gentleman accompanied
Sir Francis Drake in his memorable circumnavigation of the
globe, whence he returned to England in November, 1580. He
died on November 7th, 1582, seised of this property, which
devolved on Laurence, his eldest son ; whose decease occurred
in September, 1619"[1].
...
" ... Mrs. Bever, in 1775, sold Busbridge
to Sir Robert Barker, knt., a military officer, who had served
in the East Indies, and was commandant of the artillery at
the capture of Manilla, in October, 1762. He was created
a baronet in March, 1781, but continued to reside here until
his decease in September, 1789. His property became the subject
of a suit in Chancery ; and in December, 1791, this estate
was sold under a decree of that court, to Nathaniel Webb,
esq. ; who re-sold it to Henry Hare Townsend, esq., (a son
of the celebrated Alderman Townsend), by whom, in 1823, it
was transferred, by sale, to Robert Monro, esq. ; and again,
by him, in 1837, to its present owner"[1].
"Busbridge-Hall is seated in a finely-wooded
dell at the head of a broad expanse of water, apparently
terminated by a long rustic bridge of wood, under which its
surplus waters drain off into the lower ponds. Originally
built by Sir William Eliot, who was a Justice of the Peace for
Surrey in the time of the Commonwealth, this mansion was
enlarged by Sir Robert Barker; and great improvements, both
in the house and grounds, have been made by the present proprietor.
The house is a handsome building, of uniform elevation, and
stuccoed in imitation of stone"[1].
" ... The pleasure grounds and park include a great
variety of beautiful scenery, diversified by surrounding
hills, sheets of water, noble trees, and flourishing plantations.
The beech, fir, and chestnut trees, are remarkably fine.
A neat entrance-lodge to the grounds, in the Swiss style,
has been recently built at the hamlet of Crownpits"[1].
In 1815 Busbridge Hall was offered for sale at the Auction
Mart in London:- "the truly elegant and Modem Mansion
of BUSBRIDGE HALL MANOR, gardens, pleasure-grounds, together
with the valuable property of Hambledon, and the manor of
Courts Leet and Court Baron, Heriots, Quit-rents, and other
immunities, divided into nine very desirable and improvable
Farms, lett to most respectable tenants, exclusive of the
Farms, and Coppices, on hand, containing altogether, 1662
statute acres. The Mansion-house is of a modern structure,
built with stone; the principal rooms on the ground floor,
are well proportioned eating, drawing and boudoir, billiard,
and summer eating rooms, most complete and well-arranged
offices. On the first floor, a noble proportioned library
and music room, five large, airy bed-chambers, and three
dressing-rooms, a handsome bed-chamber in the attics, and
three bachelors' rooms, numerous servants apartments at the
back of the house, a spacious paved yard in which are enclosed
the carriage horses, stables, kennel, agricultural buildings,
and all other domestic out-offices; a detached capital kitchen
garden, abundantly cropped, with extensive walls clothed
with the choicest fruit trees; a delightful conservatory,
tea room, aviary, temples, rustic dairy, bathing-house, and
fishing room, grottos, hermit's cell, and wilderness. The
beauty of the pleasure-grounds are almost unparalleledly
varied and extensive, both for rides and walks, adorned by
the most stately timber, shrubs and exotics; a magnificent
piece of water, bridges and waterfalls[2].
..."
A rather amusing fishy tale was also recounted by Brayley
and Britton. "In August, 1837, a Pike was shot in one
of the ponds at Busbridge, which had been partly choked by
its own voracious attempt to swallow a carp of seven lbs.
in weight, and which was in part digested. Its length when
taken out of the water, was four feet and a half, and its
girth two feet one inch; with the carp, it weighed thirty-seven
and a half lbs. When stuffed, it shrunk in length, but still
measures three feet nine inches to the fork of the tail,
in the glass case in which it is kept at Busbridge hall"[1].
Such things were popular in Victorian Britain.
 |
Although it does not say so, these arms must be those
of the Wilder family. |
Francis Boyle Shannon Wilder was born in Sarum, Berkshire and
christened there on 15 Dec 1785; he was the son of Joan and
Henry Wilder. In 1806 he petitioned the directors of the
United East India Company to become a Writer on the Bengal
Establishment in 1806; such things were long drawn out affairs
but he was appointed for Madras in Feb-Apr 1807. He married
Augusta Cornwall of Durham, who was born in 1813, at St.
George's Hanover Square on 29 Aug 1834. He died in London,
aged 69, on 9 February 1849. Because of his service in India,
his Will was proved there by his widow in 1856. Augusta was
by then living at Busbridge Lodge, Ryde, on the Isle
of Wight[3].
Bennett Gosling had moved into Busbridge Hall by 1850 -
see
next page for more info. |
