Uppark (National Trust)

SU 71 NE, 15/1

HARTING, COMPTON ROAD, Uppark (National Trust)

(Formerly listed as: Up Park)

18.06.59

I

So called originally to distinguish the house from Down Park in the same Parish, long since demolished. The present house was built about 1689 by Ford Lord Grey of Warke who was created Earl of Tankerville in 1701, and its design is attributed to William Talman. It is half-H shaped, the main front facing south. 2 storeys attic and basement. 9 windows and 4 dormers with segmental heads. Red brick. Stone stringcourse. Wooden enriched modillion eaves cornice. Hipped slate roof. The 3 centre window bays project slightly with a pediment over containing the arms of the Fetherstonhaugh family in the tympanum. Long and short stone quoins flank this projection and the wings. The windows are in stone architrave surrounds with glazing bars missing, the centre first floor windows flanked by carved swags. Central doorway at the head of wide curved steps with iron handrail, the doorway having engaged Corinthian columns, and enriched tympanum beneath the entablature and a curved scroll pediment. The east and west fronts have 7 windows and 5 dormers each. The central doorway in the east front was the original main entrance. The present main entrance is on the north. Here the wings of the original half-H are hidden and joined by a colonnade added by Humphry Repton about 1810 for Sir Harry Fetherstonhaugh with a corridor behind this leading to the Staircase Hall. The house was sold by the third Earl of Tankerville in 1747 to Sir Matthew Fetherstonhaugh Bt who was responsible for the insertion of most of the interior decoration of the building. This dates from about 1770 and has hardly been altered in any respect since, most of the rooms having never even been repainted and even still retaining their original curtains. This interior was possibly designed by Henry Keene. The staircase, however, dates from the construction of the house in 1689. The Dining room was altered by Humphry Repton about 1810 for Sir Matthew Fetherstonhaugh's son, Sir Harry Fetherstonhaugh Bt. Emma Hart, afterwards Lady Hamilton, lived with Sir Harry Fetherstonhaugh here for a short period in the early part of her career before her association with Charles Greville. The Prince Regent, Edward Gibbon and others visited the house during Sir Harry's ownership (1774-1846). H G Wells spent part of his boyhood in the house when his mother was housekeeper to Miss Frances Fetherstonhaugh, nee Bullock, at the end of the C19.

Listing NGR: SU7798017584