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THE RICH hISTORY
OF AUBOURN ESTATE

A private family home for five centuries, the estate centres around Aubourn Hall: a rare Caroline Manor House.

Described as an ‘architectural riddle’ by Country Life, it dates back to the mid-1500s and has housed generations of the Nevile family. For the first time in history, the Aubourn Estate will be open to the public, sharing its grounds and captivating history with the local community.

An unusual Enigma

Aubourn Hall is an arresting sight. It commands interest and attention, not just because of its impressive Jacobean exterior and unique mannerism but because of its asymmetrical facade and wonderful mellow brickworkshunning of architectural convention.

The hall is older than you may think. Dating back to the 16th century, the current building is possibly a result of a remodelling of an existing tudor building on the site prior to 1628. Aubourn Hall as you see it today is believed to be designed by the architect John Symthson (son of the renowned Elizabethan architect and Jacobean icon Robert Smythson) for Sir John Meres. Whilst this is unproven, there has been much speculation over its origins. There are strong stylistic clues that imply Smythson was responsible, including records of plans drawn up for the Nevile's nearby house in Grove, Nottinghamshire and in similarities with Smythson’s work at Welbeck in Nottinghamshire.

You’ll notice the asymmetrical entrance, which is atypical of Jacobean design which would more usually favour a core central element extending outwards. While a door placement may seem unimportant, even this holds a tale of strife. A drawing from 1871 shows that the hall originally had two entrances, mirroring each other on opposite sides of the then central drive. The right door was blocked up in the 19th century - rumour has it as a result of a feud over Methodism between two brothers who were not on speaking terms. The brothers were of the Lambe family, farming tenants who occupied the hall for a number of generations until 1901.

Acquiring Aubourn: Nevile family ancestry

The Nevile family have been the custodians of Aubourn Hall and Estate for generations, having originally purchased the property in 1628 from Sir John Meres - who originally commissioned its construction.

This branch of the (in)famous family, originally hail from Grove, South Leverton, Thorney, Ragnall, Stoke Burton and Rolleston - all in Nottinghamshire. Their ancestry can be traced back to Jollan de Neuvile, the youngest son of Gilbert, ‘Admiral’ to William The Conqueror in 1066 and before that to ‘Baldricus Teutonicus’ an important aide to the Duke of Normandy.

This branch of the family has only a slight connection to the Durham Neviles, nor to Warwick the kingmaker and Richard III. However, they are connected to King John’s ‘Forester’ who signed the Magna Carta and as we all know, he was not a good man!

The family was famously fined the enormous sum of £1,737 in 1647 after Gervase, the son of George Nevile who purchased Aubourn Hall in 1628 played an active role as a Royalist in the siege of Newark, an important battle in the Civil War. His son Sir Christopher Nevile (MP) was the last male in the family to live at Aubourn Hall for more than 200 years, he died in 1692.

The family then moved to a more prestigious new house at Wellingore where they remained throughout the Georgian and Victorian eras, while Aubourn was rented to a family of tenants called Lambe. Hence the lack of “improvements” to the house which make it so unusual.

The current owner’s father, Sir Henry Nevile (High Sheriff of Lincolnshire in 1963/4 and Lord Lieutenant of the County from 1974-95) returned from the Army in 1946 with his wife, Jean and developed the farm and subsequently the garden.

Their son, Christopher and his wife, Anabelle, are the current owners of Aubourn and are responsible for the thoughtful reimagining of the property and its commitment to sustainable, regenerative farming and conservation efforts.