Visits, visitors and staff

Lord and Lady de Ramsey

Photos of the second Lord and Lady de Ramsey, William and Rosamond; credit National Portrait Gallery, in the public domain via Creative Commons licence.

Haveringland Hall tended to be the winter residence of the de Ramsey family. When they arrived at Haveringland or returned to Ramsey Abbey, the whole family travelled with their staff and much of their equipment. These trips involved long processions of horse-drawn vehicles between Haveringland Hall and Attlebridge Station.

Attending church at St. Peter’s

Those attending church from Haveringland Hall had their own entrance via a gate in the north wall of St. Peter’s Church.

Photo of the de Ramsey family pews in the south transept

Various sources suggest that about 40 members of family and staff attended services. The de Ramey family had their own pews in the south transept, bearing a lion rampant from the de Ramsey crest, around a grand oak table, as seen in the photo above. There was even a fireplace – the chimney can be seen from outside.

Photo of carved lion rampant on pew end

House parties and shooting parties

In the 1900s visitors to the Hall, mainly for shooting parties, included Lord Onslow, Lady Milner, Michael, Grand Duke of Russia, the Duke and Duchess of Newcastle, Lord and Lady Pembroke, Duke of Roxburgh, Lord Clarendon, Lady Villiers and HRH Prince of Teck.

After the death of the second baron in 1925, the Swedish Baron and Baroness Cederstrom often visited Haveringland Hall. Baron Cederstrom was the son of the famous singer Adelina Patti and the Baroness Hermione (nee Fellowes), the great aunt of the current Lord de Ramsey

During the 1930s Winston Churchill often visited the hall to see his aunt, Lady Rosamonde.

flora, fauna & villagers!

The parkland, accessed through ornate wrought iron gates and along a stately tree lined avenue from the main road, was a peaceful place with its arboretum, lakes and woodland.

The great lake was home to moorhen, coot, great crested grebe and rarer birds. The well stocked lake hosted was renowned. In Great Wood, gamekeepers attempted to discourage the villagers who disturbed the pheasants whilst picking wildflowers.

Haveringland Hall staff

The Haveringland Hall estate was huge and employed many staff, including tenant farmers, agricultural labourers, gardeners and gamekeepers.

Here is a brief look at some of the staff who were listed with their job roles in various directories of the time.

In 1892

George Body, farmer Larters Farm
John Gray, King’s Head P.H.
Robert Menzies, land agent
George Musk, head gardener to Haveringland Hall
William Remblents, hurdle maker
James Savage, head gamekeeper to Lord de Ramsey
James J. Symonds, farmer Abbey Farm

In 1896

George Body, farmer Larters Farm
George Musk, head gardener to Haveringland Hall
George Oldfield, farm bailiff to Lord de Ramsey
William Remblents, hurdle maker
James Savage, head gamekeeper to Lord de Ramsey
Stephen Viasto, land agent to Lord de Ramsey
John Wilkerson, King’s Head P.H.

In 1904

George Body, farmer Larters Farm
Herbert Buckle, farm bailiff to Lord de Ramsey
Archibald Combe, head gardener to Lord de Ramsey
Edward King, carpenter
Benjamin Newstead, farmer
James Rogers, manager of Lord de Ramsey’s poultry farm
James Savage, head gamekeeper to Lord de Ramsey
Edward Scales, farmer
Stephen Viasto, land agent to Lord de Ramsey
William Wilkerson, King’s Head P.H.

In 1912:

John Howe, farmer
Edward King, estate carpenter & assistant overseer
Elijah Medler, farmer Quakers Farm
Walter Parfitt, farmer Larters Farm
Aubrey Radway, land agent to Lord de Ramsey
George Robinson, farmer Abbey farm
James Savage, head gamekeeper to Lord de Ramsey
H. A. Terry, head gardener to Lord de Ramsey
Edward Wilkerson, farmer
William Wilkerson, King’s Head P.H.