Hester Lynch Thrale [4] owned several homes and properties in Wales inheireted from the Salusbury family.
At various times, she also lived in leased or rented properties. She stayed in comfortable rooms in Regent's Terrace, Penzance for a few months from summer 1820 until March 1821.
See also Henry Thrale's homes and properties [5].
[9]
In 1794 Hester [10] and Gabriel Piozzi [11] started building a new house - which they called Brynbella - on Hester's Bach y graig estate, in the Vale of Clywd, south of - and close to - Tremeirchion [12]. The house is in the style of an Italian villa, with two bows flanking the front, two wings on either side, a flight of steps leading to the door, a balcony outside the windows leading to the porch, and several stables and outhouses at the rear. The house faces west, above a stream leading to the River Clywd. Piozzi diverted the trout stream to flow near to the kitchen.
They took up residence in 1795. Piozzi took pleasure in his manorial role, and he improved the cottages and was benevolent to the cottagers. He also improved the scandalous state of Tremeirchion church [14]. On 1 September 1794 Hester wrote in Thraliana…
Cecilia [15] keeps healthy yet abhors the Place; & when Mr Piozzi rides to Brynbella, She goes the other Way; professing with more Sincerity than Politeness her Hatred of Wales, and of our House in particular!
Much of the original Piozzi furniture, specially made by Gillows of Lancaster [16], was sold after Hester's death in 1821 by her adopted son and heir, Sir John Salusbury Piozzi Salusbury [17] who had badly managed the estate.
Period | Occupant |
---|---|
Built in 1794 1794 - 1821 | Hester Lynch Piozzi (Thrale) |
1821 - 1858? | Sir John Salusbury Piozzi Salusbury |
1858? - 1900 | Mr Ralli (Greek Consul at Liverpool. Has another home at Mia Hall in Trelawnyd) |
1900 - 1920 | Mrs Mainwaring |
1920 - 1944 | Dr Glynne & Dr Evans |
1944 - 1994 | Glazebrook family |
1994 - date | Mr & Mrs Peter Neumark |
[19]
After the death of Mrs Glazebrook aged 93 in December 1993, Brynbella was put up for sale. The well organised two-day sale of the contents of Brynbella - the 'Sale of the Century' - as it was described in the local press generated a great deal of interest. According to Sotherby's, the romantic ltalianate villa was a "house of treasures", and the sale itself "a very important auction". The auction took place in June 1994. A date which assumes some significance when one remembers that Mrs Piozzi, a member of the Salusbury family, moved into her "little cottage", as she termed Brynbella, exactly 200 years before in 1794. The Hall has obviously played quite an important part in the life of Tremeirchion over the years, and it was evident that the locals were excited by the sale, for nearly everyone went, just for a look. Jackson, Stopps & Staff, of Chester, listed the price of the property as £750,000; but it is said that this figure was exceeded.
The contents, in the form of fine art and antiques and furniture, were expected to raise around £1 million; but in the event it was reported that they eventually sold for more than £1.7 million. The sale contents - mostly collected by the Glazebrooks - included a Cecil Kennedy still life of flowers oil painting which raised £43,000, a few Richard Wilson's [10], and a painting by Phillip Steer entitled "A Turn of the Cards" which was expected to fetch over £80,000. A James Stark painting entitled "Sheep dipping at Thorpe" sold for £91,700 to Mr Richard Green. As a listed building, the Hall, with its gardens. its two lodges, and its lovely stables with their cupola, bell tower and clock, was always a scene of great activity, especially in summer, when regular open days and Strawberry Fairs [11] were held. Every Christmas since the last war, a local choir visited the Hall. Visitors were always amazed at the wonderful chandeliers and the marvellous mahogany and walnut doors, still in perfect condition. The local church, Corpus Christi [12] took advantage of the crowds attending the sale of Brynbella, and organised three open days of its own. Over 200 people came to see the Church's Salusbury vaults, and the hatchment or coat of arms presented to the church by Mrs Piozzi, with other valuables. They could also inspect wall tablet commemorating Mrs Piozzi [14].
Brynbella is a private residence currently and the house is not open to the public. The gardens are open by appointment [15] as part of the National Gardens Sceme. Mr & Mrs P Neumark Telephone: 01745 710669 LL17 0UE
[24] Hester Thrale [4] inherited the Welsh Bach y graig estate of the Salusbury family after the death of her mother [25] in 1773. It comprised a wood, a farm or two, a dilapidated Church and a few cottages.
Bach y graig House was the earliest brick house in Wales. Built in 1567 by Sir Richard Clough [26]1, second husband of Katherine Tudor of Berain [27]. Richard made a pilgrimage to the Jerusalem, became a Knight of the Holy Sepulchre [28]2 and returned to Great Britain where he accumulated a considerable fortune and was knighted, becoming Sir Richard Clough.
Bach y graig House was a pyramidal building six stories high, eccentric, ugly and inconvenient. Above a large hall a number of little rooms clustered under the turret or cupola which topped the lot. The painted glass windows included the arms of the knights of the Holy Sepulchre, with a heart, including…
1567
R. C.
C
his own and his wife's initials; and beneath, 'Cor unum, via una;' the arms of Elystan Glodrudd; and those of Sir Thomas Gresham [29], and of several kingdoms with which these munificent merchants traded. There are, besides, some broken wheels, with a sword, the usual emblems of St. Catherine.
When Hester and Henry Thrale visited in July 1774 accompanied by Samuel Johnson, it had been dilapidated and unoccupied. The floorboards were stolen, the windows broken and boarded-up. The picture of The children of Israel bitten by serpents still present.
Later Hester's second husband Gabriel Piozzi [30] - was seen as a quiet, civil and amiable man and landlord - repaired Bach y graig House…
at a monstrous expense because his little wife was vain of it.
The main house was demolished in 1817 but its other buildings still stand as a farm and guest house3. There is a nature trail through 40 acres of ancient woodland which hosts several ancient species of plants.
It is said that his Satanic Majesty was the not architect of Bach-Y Graig, but merely the contractor, who supplied the bricks and other materials; the clay for the former having been, as is supposed, dug from the bottomless pit, and baked in his own kiln, in the nether regions; the ambitious builder consenting to consign his soul to him, as payment, in case any human eye should see them when in conference together at midnight, in the room alluded to, which had no window.
It is also said that Satan only supplied at once the daily quota, and that when the workmen had used up all the materials each evening, they always found a fresh supply in the morning. But, at last, the builder' lady, wondering that her lord should always retire to this dark room at midnight, with that curiosity which is natural, if not peculiar to ladies, one night peeped slyly through the key-hole, and having caught a glimpse of Satan's person and hideous physiognomy, set up a scream, in her fright; and at that instant, the devil snatched away her lord through the wall, carrying a large portion of the brickwork along with him, in his hurry to secure his prey.
To account for this legend, it is said that Sir Richard was a great astronomer, that he had an observatory at the top of the house, where he used to spend nights together taking observations of the heavens; and while he was thus engaged, and, perhaps, "devoutly looking up from nature to nature's God" the ignorant peasantry thought he was seeking divination, and holding conference with evil spirits.
To bring you a more reliable & user-friendly experience by mid-2024, we are significantly improving Thrale.com.
Consequently, this page has temporarily been moved here [34].
Sorry for any inconvenience and thank you for your patience.
An account of all residences Hester or Henry are known to have had in Bath or Bristol
Henry and Hester Thrale had lodgings here in the spring of 1776, and Johnson had a room here as well1.
In April 1780, Henry and Hester Thrale took up residence in 14 South Parade. This property was recommended by Sir Philip Jennings and was at the east end of fashionable South Parade. Today a commemorative tablet on the wall informs passes by that Fanny Burney stayed there in 1780. Unfortunately the tablet does not mention the names of Fanny's hosts and friends - the Thrales.
From around 1788, Hester and Gabriel Piozzi, were spending more time in Bath. Here they are know to have had residences in Beaumont Street and Alfred Street.
Hester and Gabriel Piozzi [30] were known to be staying here "in their usual house" between 1 December 1805 - 7 March 1806. The house was next to Hannah More [37]'s house.
Hester's last permanent lodgings were at this ornate little house between 1814 and 1817. The house was designed by John Wood the Elder [38] for Robert Gay, a London surgeon who owned the land and gave the street its name. A bronze tablet is affixed to the outside of the wall commemorating Hester's residence.
Hester took temporary residence here when she left Brynbella [39].
Hester Thrale moved here in the Summer of 1820. The house was in Royal York Crescent [40]. For a short while while this house was repaired, she stayed in Penzance. On her return the house was not ready so she took residence at 120 Sion Hill, Clifton, where she died.
Hester Thrale also inherited some family property in at Bodvel, North Wales (near Pwellhi). This included two churches. Little is known of this.
[48]
Offley Palace is said to have been built in the eighth century by the Saxon King Offa [49], from whom the village probably takes its name. According to local legend, Offley Palace once stood where Offley Place, currently a training and conference centre [50], now stands in the Hertfordshire village of Great Offley [51].
This was where Hester Lynch Thrale [4] grew up and was first introduced to Henry Thrale [52]. At this time (mid 1700's) it was owned by Sir Thomas Salusbury [53] (Hester's uncle).
After the death of Sir Thomas Salusbury's first wife - Anne Maria Penrice [55] - the estate would have been inherited by Hester as Salusbury's closest relative. However - much to Hester's disappointment, Salusbury married again to Mrs. King [56] who inherited instead.
The Great Ash Tree - much loved by Anne Maria Penrice - in Offley Park was brought down by a heavy storm in 1760. This was the subject of these verses [57] by Hester Thrale. A year later - in 1761 - Hester Thrale wrote verses about Offley Place [58], and verses about the fall of the great ash tree at Offley Park in 1760 [59].
It was later home to George Hughes (1821-1872) and his wife, Anne Salusbury Hughes, daughter of Samuel Steward and Anne Salisbury.
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[10] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Wilson_%28painter%29
[11] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strawberry_Fair
[12] http://www.thrale.com/church_corpus_christi_tremeirchion
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[14] http://www.thrale.com/hester_lynch_piozzi_mourning_tablet
[15] http://www.ngs.org.uk/gardens/gardenfinder/garden.aspx?id=22093
[16] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Gillow
[17] http://www.thrale.com/sir_john_salusbury_piozzi_salusbury
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[26] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Clough
[27] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katheryn_of_Berain
[28] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_the_Holy_Sepulchre
[29] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Gresham
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[40] http://www.about-bristol.co.uk/clf-02.asp
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[49] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Offa_of_Mercia
[50] http://www.offleyplace.com/
[51] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Offley
[52] http://www.thrale.com/henry_thrale_17249_1781
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