The History of Hall Place

A History and Description of the College Estate

The estate at Hall Place lies some four miles to the west of Maidenhead, a similar distance south of Marlow and east of Henley. At 100 metres above sea level, on high ground overlooking the south bank of the river Thames, the estate lies at the southern boundary of the chalk lands of the Chilterns Hills.

Heavy clay soils and clay, flint and chalk mix allows for moderately productive farming with a dominance of oak, ash, beech and sycamore as the re-generating tree species. In an area of relatively low rainfall surface water rapidly disappears underground through a series of swallow holes into the underlying chalk.

The estate is recorded from at least the eleventh century, and was most likely farmed as it is located on a level terrace above the river valley. During the eighteenth century, Hall Place supported a deer park. Mixed farming and woodland are the modern farming practices.

The Berkshire Archaeological survey reports prehistoric, Roman and medieval pottery scattered across the estate and an earthwork enclosure over prehistoric and historic times.

Tudor to the Hanoverian Period

In 1544, the manor of Hurley, excluding The Hall, was acquired by John Lovelace. Between 1545 and 1558 Lovelance built a new manor house named Laby Place, in honor of the Blessed Virgin, on the site of the partially ruined Priory in Hurley, thus shifting the focal point of the manor away from The Hall.

Remains of the Priory lie in the vicinity of Hurley Parish Church where monuments to the families of Hall Place testify to their status within the community.

The Hall never appears to have been in the ownership of one family for very long during this period. In 1536, it was in the possession of Katherine Burgess and her son, William; an Andrey Newberry also owned the house eventually passing to Newberry’s son in 1557. In 1609, it was owned by Sir Richard Mompesson and by 1623, ownership passed to Henry Alford, son of John Alford of Fawley. He died in 1645, a long gap then occurring during which time the Alford family may have continued to own Hall Place.

In the 1690’s, Hall Place came into the possession of Jacob Bancks, secretary to the Swedish Embassy, who came to London from Stockholm in 1681. Banks settled in England and served with distinction in the Royal Navy. He was elected MP for Minehead and was knighted in 1699.

It was Banks who erected the statue of Diana the Huntress at the end of the North Drive and possibly the two bright and flint pillars located within the current student’s hostel area. Banks died in 1724 and was succeeded by a son of the same name. Within a year, however, the Hall was sold to Richard Pennel. A further legacy of Joseph Bancks is that it is likely that it was he who planted the original lime trees avenues to the east, north and, possibly at the time, the south of the estate.

The East Family and the Building of the Present Hall Place - The Mansion

In 1728, the estate was purchased by William East, a London lawyer, who held the lease of the Manor of Kennington, London. East demolished the old Hall and built the existing early Gerogian building – Hall Place – The Mansion. Its construction lasted seven years and was completed in 1735. Nothing substantial remains of the earlier building, which it is believed was much larger than the present one; reference to foundations occur in the 1950’s listing of the current building. Legend has it that there are underground passengers, leading from the manor towards the Thames, possibly exiting on a now filled chalk quarry to the north of the Mansion.

William East died in 1737, only two years after the completion of Hall Place. In the following February, his wife gave birth to a son, who was christened after him and was destined to own the property for no less than eighty-one years. During his minority the house was let from 1738 to 1752 to the Duke of Buccleuch, and from 1752 to 1758 to Lord Folkestone, later to become First Earl of Radnor.

After visiting France and Italy, the young Willian East returned to England on his coming of age, married, and was created a Baronet in 1766. During his long ownership he made scarcely any alterations to the house. On his death in 1819, Sir William East’s eldest son Gilbert, succeeded him, but he died childless, nine years later and the baronetcy lapsed.

The Rocque Survey of 1761 shows the main avenue (east) leading to a forecourt in front of the Mansion; the north avenue leading to a rectangular space enclosed by trees; formal plantations to the south and kitchen gardens to the west of the house.

Thomas Gardner’s 1719 road map ‘London to Bath’ notes turns to Hurley Town, Hurley Ferry and Hurley Place (Hall Place?) although the Hall is not specifically marked. The 1814 road map, London to Bath (Edward Mogg), however clearly shows a large estate belonging to Sir. G. East at Hall Place to the west of Maidenhead Thicket and Stubbings Heath. This series marks ‘Gentleman’s Estates’ at points of interest along the way; Hall Place estate was of some 1200 acres in extent in 1828.