The mysterious history of the Tudor mansion, which is considered cursed in England

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

Parnham House one of the most impressive Tudor mansions in England. This majestic building of the 16th century amazes not only with its beauty, magnificent architecture, it has a huge historical value. At the same time, the house has a very bad reputation. The mansion is rightly considered damned. Its owners were haunted by misfortunes, and the last of them died under very, very mysterious circumstances. This residence was built back in 1400. This is the oldest mansion in Dorset. For two centuries, Parnham House belonged to the Strode noble dynasty, which took over in the mid-1500s. Richard Strode married Elizabeth Gerard, whose ancestors built this mansion in the early 15th century. The house is located off the road, on a hill. The estate is surrounded by a park in which there are many stone statues and figuratively cut bushes. All this has remained unchanged over the centuries.

In 1551 the house was rebuilt by the Strode family. The bad stories with the mansion began after a tragedy struck the house during the English Civil War. On July 5, 1645, defending the house from the "roundheads", Lady Strode was brutally killed by the soldiers of Colonel Fairfax. The mansion passed from hand to hand. In 1810, the new owner, William Oglander, trying to restore the former grandeur of the estate, entrusted its reconstruction to the famous court architect John Nash. The magnificent characteristic spiral staircases and stone windows are the main evidence of the work of the specialist who also worked on the restoration of Buckingham Palace.

Sir William Oglander - Received the title of Baronet in 1665. So, apparently, they noted his services to the crown, because he supported the monarchists in the English Civil War. For two hundred years Parnham House belonged to the Oglander family. Unfortunately, the Oglander family of baronets has died out. The estate began to change rapidly again from one owner to another. In 1896, following Hans Sauer, “who sought to restore the interior of the Tudors,” according to Dorset Life, but did not have time, Vincent Robinson acquired the estate. Attempts to restore the house were also unsuccessful for this owner. The owners died, the mansion was transferred to others.

After these people, the property was transferred into the possession of the family of the famous pilot William Rhodes Moorhouse. He was an ace in the British aviation, killed during the First World War. Rhodes Moorhouse was the first pilot to receive Britain's highest military honor, the Victoria Cross. Moorhouse was a hero. On a combat mission, William flew out without a gunner, and a 45-kilogram bomb was placed in his place. Flying as low as possible above the ground, the aviator dropped a bomb on the signal booth of the railway. At the same time, his plane was riddled with bullets, Moorhouse was seriously wounded, but was able to land the car and report on the completion of the mission. Only after that he fell down dead and died the next day without regaining consciousness.

In the 1920s, Parnham House became a country club. Among its visitors were such famous personalities as Arthur Conan Doyle and the Prince of Wales. During World War II, the estate was requisitioned for the needs of the American army. From 1956 to 1973, the mansion was a retirement home. After its closure, Parnham remained empty for three years and was purchased by John and Jenny Makepeace to open a woodcarving school there. All leading cabinetmakers were trained in this institution. Until some time, the Makepeace couple, who have a furniture business, found it very convenient to use Parnham. In 2001, the Makepeaces sold the mansion to its last owner, Michael Treichle.

Treichl, an Austrian financier, has dedicated 15 years of his life to rebuilding this huge house. Although the previous owners, the Makepeaces, said that anyone who buys this house should be allowed to demolish it. In 2009, Dorset Life admired the work done in the home by the financier and his former model wife, Emma: “They exceeded expectations in recreating the splendor of a stately listed I-listed home, but at the same time, they were able to give it the intimate atmosphere of a delightful family home.”.

"Under the leadership of the British authorities and leading architects, changes were made in the layout to bring daylight into the once separated dark rooms and corridors. The rooms have been expanded and enlarged. But instead of becoming attic and inhospitable, on the contrary, they attract with their atmosphere of comfort." Trehlom spent more than $ 14 million on all of this work. But a suspicious fire broke out in Parnham on April 15, 2017. Almost immediately, the BBC and other media reported the fire as “suspicious.” In the press, it became the main story "In 32 years, this is one of the most intense fires I have ever seen," said the Beaminster fire chief, Mark Greenham.

Michael Treichl was arrested on suspicion of arson. Treichl himself commented on it this way: “The restoration of Parnham House was my life's work. To accuse me of arson, in an attempt to destroy it, is just madness!”The financier was released on bail. Two months later, a strange thing happened - Treichl was found drowned in Lake Geneva in Switzerland. It was a very suspicious death. The circumstances remained unclear. The police suspected suicide. The case was closed in the same way, and the investigation of the fire at Parnham House was also dropped.

Now the long-suffering house is still in the process of being sold. The government report says that restoration work must be carried out as soon as possible, otherwise the mansion will collapse. The fire turned him into a charred shell. The estate comprises 131 acres of magnificent land, which until recently was a beautifully manicured park. Now this place looks completely abandoned. Whoever undertakes the implementation of such a grandiose project in the end will have to obtain permission from local authorities to carry out any work, because this property is listed by England in the first class. This historic building is of exceptional interest.

The sale of the Elizabethan manor for £ 3 million was negotiated with a mystery buyer in early 2019. For unknown mysterious reasons, it failed. The buyer revoked the deposit and disappeared without revealing his name. Time goes by and it works against Parnham House. It is difficult to say what will happen in the near future with the fragile structure of the building damaged by the fire.

The stately Tudor mansion is still waiting for its owners. Maybe Lady Strode's restless spirit still rushes through his deserted corridors? Who knows … But one thing is clear: if there is a daredevil who buys it, then he will not only have to fight the bureaucratic machine of Britain and spend colossal funds. The owner needs to love it in order to turn it into a fabulous modern home. If you are interested in the architecture of the past, read our article on 18 most beautiful castles in the world.