Hollystone Hall is a minor Haverford holding, but is convenient for house parties, being large enough to take many guests, with more accommodation in Hollyden Village, and more still close by in Aylesbury. It is also only a half-day’s fast trip from London. When the family do not need it, Hollystone runs on a skeleton crew headed by a husband and wife team, and a highly capable cook.
Hollystone Hall is a Tudor manor, with an extensive Elizabethan garden and the River Thame at the southern boundary. It fell into disrepair in the 18th century, as successive generations of the builder’s descendants lost the family fortune, estate by estate.
Eventually, the owner in 1762 lost the house to the then Duke of Haverford in a dicing game. Rumour has it that Haverford’s stake was his current mistress, and — upon winning the house — he ensconced said mistress within.
Be that as it may, in the chatelaineship of the current Duchess of Haverford, the house and garden have been fully restored. The 25 acre garden has water channels, ponds and islands, with terraced promenades, and viewing platforms. The islands are linked by ornamental bridges.(The land was low lying and subject to flooding. After a ruinous flood in the early days of the Hall, the owner created the water gardens, taking water from 500 metres upstream and returning them below the garden. A bypass channel prevents too much water entering the garden.)
The carriage way accessing the house runs along a long dyke then crosses the moat to the house. The outer moat encloses the house and the formal garden Tudor knot garden, which the Duchess of Haverford has brought back to its former Elizabethan glory.
An inner moat, also bridged, separates the house and formal garden. Beyond the 25 acre gardens are rich pastures stocked with sheep. The duchy runs an extensive breeding programme for sheep that provide long combing wool.
Hollystone Hall was the site of the house party in the Bluestocking Belles’ box set Holly and Hopeful Hearts. This house party is the one that James Winderfield gate crashed in order to court Sophia Belvoir. (To Win a Proper Lady)
