Uppark (National Trust)

The house at Uppark, originally distinguished from the demolished Down Park in the parish, was constructed around 1689 for Ford Lord Grey, later Earl of Tankerville in 1701. The design is attributed to William Talman. It is a half-H shaped house, with the main facade facing south, and comprises two storeys, an attic, and a basement. The house has nine windows and four dormers, the dormers having segmental pediments. The exterior is of red brick with a stone string course. An enriched wooden eaves cornice, featuring modillions, runs along the roofline, which is covered with slate and hipped. The central three bays project slightly and feature a pediment displaying the arms of the Fetherstonhaugh family. Long and short stone quoins flank this projection and the wings. The windows are set within stone architraves, with missing glazing bars; the two centre first-floor windows are flanked by carved swags. A central doorway, approached by wide curved steps with an iron handrail, has engaged Corinthian columns, an enriched tympanum below the entablature, and a curved scroll pediment. The east and west front elevations each contain seven windows and five dormers. The central doorway on the east front was the original main entrance; the present main entrance is on the north side, where the original wings are concealed and linked by a colonnade added around 1810 by Humphry Repton for Sir Harry Fetherstonhaugh, with a corridor behind it leading to the Staircase Hall. The house was sold in 1747 to Sir Matthew Fetherstonhaugh, who oversaw the majority of the interior decoration around 1770. The interior has subsequently remained largely unaltered, with most rooms retaining their original curtains and having experienced very little redecoration. This interior was possibly designed by Henry Keene. The staircase dates from the original construction of the house in 1689. The Dining Room was altered around 1810 by Humphry Repton for Sir Harry Fetherstonhaugh’s son. Emma Hart, later Lady Hamilton, resided at Uppark with Sir Harry Fetherstonhaugh for a period prior to her association with Charles Greville. Notable visitors during Sir Harry’s ownership (1774-1846) included the Prince Regent and Edward Gibbon. H G Wells spent part of his boyhood at the house towards the end of the 19th century when his mother was housekeeper to Miss Frances Fetherstonhaugh, nee Bullock.