Harleyford Manor
{{Short description|Country house in Buckinghamshire, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2023}}
File:Harleyford Manor - geograph.org.uk - 292794.jpg
Harleyford Manor is a country house near Marlow in Buckinghamshire.
The house is listed Grade I on the National Heritage List for England, and its gardens are also listed Grade II on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens.{{NHLE|num=1311225|desc=Harleyford Manor (house)|access-date=20 December 2016|mode=cs2}}{{NHLE|num=1000543|desc=Harleyford Manor (garden)|access-date=20 December 2016|mode=cs2}}
The urn to the south west of the house, the ice house to the north east, and the dairy to the north, and the temple to the north east are all listed Grade II.{{NHLE|num=1125635|desc=Urn 200 meters to south west of Harleyford Manor|access-date=20 December 2016|mode=cs2}}{{NHLE|num=1311168|desc=Ice house 230 meters north east of Harleyford Manor|access-date=20 December 2016|mode=cs2}}{{NHLE|num=1332134|desc=Dairy 120 meters to north of Harleyford Manor|access-date=20 December 2016|mode=cs2}}{{NHLE|num=1125636|desc=Temple 700 meters to the north east of Harleyford Manor|access-date=20 December 2016|mode=cs2}}
In addition to the buildings, two statues of Robert Clayton, to the west and to the east of the house, are also listed Grade II.{{NHLE|num=1311203|desc=Statue of Sir Robert Clayton on terrace circa 220 meters to west of Harleyford Manor|access-date=20 December 2016|mode=cs2}}{{NHLE|num=1311171|desc=Statue of Sir Robert Clayton 620 meters east of Harleyford Manor|access-date=20 December 2016|mode=cs2}}
History
The house was designed by Sir Robert Taylor in the Georgian style and built for William Clayton, a Member of Parliament, in 1753.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/domesday/dblock/GB-480000-183000/page/14|title=Harleyford Manor|publisher=BBC|accessdate=4 July 2015}} The house remained in the Clayton family until 1950.{{cite web|url=http://www.parksandgardens.org/places-and-people/site/1626/history|title=Harleyford Manor|publisher=Parks and Gardens|accessdate=4 July 2015|archive-date=5 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150705091503/http://www.parksandgardens.org/places-and-people/site/1626/history|url-status=dead}} The present owners, who have owned the property since 1952,{{cite web|url=http://www.harleyford.co.uk/|title=Harleyford|accessdate=4 July 2015}} converted the property to office use in 1988.{{cite web|url=http://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/news/11813704.Historic_Grade_I_manor_house_to_become_a_block_of_flats_/?ref=mr|title=Historic Harleyford Manor to become flats?|publisher=Bucks Free Press|date=24 February 2015|accessdate=4 July 2015}} They operate a large marina and offer boat mooring services but plan to convert the property into flats.
The Clayton family
The Clayton family who owned Harleyford Manor from the time it was built in 1753 until 1950 were notable wealthy landowners. William Clayton (1718-1783) who was the originator of the house was the second son of Sir William Clayton, 1st Baronet. He was a Member of Parliament for Bletchingley from 1745 to 1761, and for Great Marlow from 1761 to 1783.History of Parliament. [http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1715-1754/member/clayton-william-1718-83 Online reference]
He frequently entertained at Harleyford Manor and there are several historical documents which record these occasions. In 1759 Elizabeth Montagu, the notable social reformer made the following comments:
{{blockquote|"On Wednesday we dined at Mrs. Clayton's at Harleyford. I think it the most agreeable situation I have seen on the Thames, I mean as a place of residence, every object speaks peace and plenty, the silver Thames glides at the foot of their garden, lofty trees crown the summit, they have fine prospects, sweet lawns, fine cornfields and distant villages."Emily J. Climenson, "Elizabeth Montagu, the queen of the bluestockings", p. [https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/70593/pg70593-images.html Online reference]}}
The Royal family were also visitors to the house. In 1780 a letter records that the King, Queen, Princesses and Princes all visited Harleyford Manor.Letter from Margaret Planta to Mary Hamilton (HAM/1/7/10/1), March 1780. [https://www.digitalcollections.manchester.ac.uk/view/AR-HAM-00001-00007-00010-00001/1 Online reference] The King and Queen at this time were George III and Queen Charlotte. Two years later Queen Charlotte records a recent visit that she made to Harleyford Manor. She said.
File:Sir William Clayton circa1800.jpg
File:Sir William Clayton at Harleyford circa 1800.jpg
{{blockquote|"I saw Lady Louise Clayton (William Clayton's wife) in perfect Health both at Harleyford and upon (Windsor) Terrace. Their place is now in the greatest beauty. We went all round it the other day and admired it very much"Letter from Queen Charlotte to Lady Charlotte Finch, July 1782. [https://transcribegeorgianpapers.wm.edu/scripto/transcribe/246/6078 Online reference]}}
When William died in 1783 his son Sir William Clayton (1762-1834) 4th Baronet inherited the property. He was also a Member of Parliament and a wealthy landowner. In 1785 he married Lady Mary East, daughter of Sir William East, 1st Baronet of Hall Place, Berkshire. The couple had five sons and two daughters.History of Parliament. [https://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1754-1790/member/clayton-william-1762-1834< Online reference]
File:Harleyford Manor 1795.jpg
In 1795 a book called "The New Print Magazine : Being a Collection of Picturesque Views and Beautiful Scenes in the Several Counties of England and Wales" was published. It contained an engraving of Harleyford Manor which is shown.The New Print Magazine : Being a Collection of Picturesque Views and Beautiful Scenes in the Several Counties of England and Wales
William was in the 1st Regiment of Buckinghamshire Yeomanry Cavalry in about 1800 and he had several portraits of himself made in his uniform. Two of these are shown. One is a coloured portrait and the other is an engraving of him in front of Harleyford Manor.See portraits
When William died in 1834 his eldest son General Sir William Robert Claytonin (1786-1866) inherited the house. He had a prominent career in the army and in 1815 was at the Battle of Waterloo. In 1817 he married Alicia Hugh Massy, daughter. and heir of Lt.-Col. Hugh O'Donel, MP of Tralee. The couple had two sons and two daughters.History of Parliament. [https://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1820-1832/member/clayton-william-1786-1866 Online reference]
Sir William Robert Clayton (1842-1914) 6th Baronet married Aimee Gertrude Mackenzie who was the daughter of Edward Mackenzie of Fawley Court Court Henley."Debrett's Peerage, Baronetage, Knightage, and Companionage", 1884, [https://books.google.com/books?id=Vlo-AQAAIAAJ&dq=Aimee+Gertrude+clayton&pg=RA1-PA107 Online reference]
Sir Gilbert Augustus Clayton-East (1846-1925) passed the house to his son Sir George Frederick Lancelot Clayton East (1872-1926) when he died in 1925. His son was the owner for only one year as he died in 1926 and it was inherited by his son Sir Robert Alan Clayton-East-Clayton (1908-1932). He died young at the age of 24 leaving no children. The house was then inherited by his kinsman Sir Harold Dudley Philip Clayton (1877-1951). He sold the house in 1950.Country Life Illustrated, Vol 108, 1950, p. 319. [https://www.google.com.au/search?sca_esv=567523571&sxsrf=AM9HkKmOAlDK_RDrqD8-GwfcGMTG84ezog:1695368280023&q=Sir+Harold+Claytons+home+at+Marlow+,+Buckinghamshire+,+was+sold&tbm=bks&source=lnms&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiyi-CA272BAxVomlYBHTtnBUAQ0pQJegQIRRAB&biw=1327&bih=649&dpr=2.81 Online reference]
References
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{{coord|51.553267|N|0.808941|W|region:GB-BKM_type:landmark|display=title}}
Category:Grade I listed buildings in Buckinghamshire
Category:Country houses in Buckinghamshire
Category:Grade I listed houses
Category:Grade II listed parks and gardens in Buckinghamshire
Category:Grade II listed buildings in Buckinghamshire
Category:Buildings and structures on the River Thames
Category:Georgian architecture in England