View source for Stansted Park

{{Short description|Edwardian country house in Stoughton, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2019}}
[[File:Stansted Park 20.jpg|thumb|right|Stansted House]]
[[File:Stansted Park 10.jpg|thumb|right|Side view]]
'''Stansted Park''' (including '''Stansted House''') is an [[Edwardian]] country house in the parish of [[Stoughton, West Sussex|Stoughton]], [[West Sussex]], England. It is near the city of [[Chichester]], and also the [[village]] of [[Rowlands Castle]] to the west over the border in [[Hampshire]].

The house is set in the {{convert|1800|acre|km2|adj=on}} park, with woodland and open land grazed by deer. Stansted House has [[Restoration style|Carolean]] revival decor and is listed Grade II*.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{NHLE|num=1000327|desc=|accessdate=7 November 2021}}</ref> The surrounding area, Stansted Park, is also listed Grade II*.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

==History==
The area that is now the Park is mentioned in the [[Domesday Book]] of 1086, as being included in the [[Hundred (county division)|Hundred]] of Bourne. Some sources suggest that at some time before 1094, a [[Hunting lodge (U.K.)|hunting lodge]] was built for [[Roger de Montgomery]], 1st [[Earl of Arundel]]. The historic listing summary adds that "Stansted probably originated as a park within the Royal Forest of Bere Porchester, whose over-lords were the earls of Arundel. It was recorded as in use for hunting and for timber production in the medieval period, while a survey of buildings of the Manor of Stansted in 1327 included a hall and a chapel".<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

In 1177, [[Henry II of England|Henry II]] visited Stansted. Two other monarchs visited in the next hundred years, [[Richard I of England]] hunted boar here in 1194 and [[John, King of England]] visited in both 1214 and 1215. The next monarch to arrive here was [[Edward VI]], in 1552.<ref name="Stansted Park Timeline">{{cite web |url=https://www.rowlandscastleheritagecentre.org.uk/stansted-timeline/ |title=Stansted Park Timeline |date=29 April 2002 |work=Rowlands |access-date=13 January 2021 |archive-date=24 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124120216/http://www.rowlandscastleheritagecentre.org.uk/stansted-timeline/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[John Lumley, 1st Baron Lumley]] built a house on the site which was visited by [[Elizabeth I]] on 23 August 1591. [[Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury|Robert Cecil]] described this house as "fayre, well builte without and not meanly furnished within, but want of water is a greate inconvenience."<ref>Paul E. J. Hammer, 'Letters from Cecil to Hatton', ''Religion, Politics and Society in Sixteenth-Century England'' (Cambridge, 2003), pp. 232-3.</ref>

A new house was built on the present site, starting in 1686, for [[Richard Lumley, 1st Earl of Scarbrough|Richard Lumley]], probably to a design by [[William Talman (architect)|William Talman]]. The historic listing states that Richard laid out "formal gardens, radiating avenues and parkland on its east side. He probably also cut the central avenue through Stansted Forest to the west".<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

The property was inherited in 1776 by [[George Montagu-Dunk, 2nd Earl of Halifax]]; he also built the nearby folly tower, now known as [[Racton Monument]]. After his death in 1771, the estate was inherited by his daughter Anna Donaldson. Seven years later, [[George III]] and Queen [[Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz|Charlotte]] visited; the property was later sold. Subsequent owners made modifications to the building and the grounds, most significantly in 1782.

While under the ownership of [[George Wilder (cricketer)|George Wilder]], the main block was destroyed by fire in 1900 but the stables and the service wing were not affected; the block was rebuilt "in the style of Wren",<ref name="ReferenceA"/> on the exact footprint of the previous building, in 1903. The architect was [[Arthur Blomfield]]. It was purchased by [[Vere Ponsonby, 9th Earl of Bessborough]], in 1924. During [[World War II]], the house sheltered orphans from Southsea.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.chichesterpost.co.uk/2018/01/changing-times-stansted-house-changes-years/ |title=Changing Times {{!}} Stansted House changes through the years |date=19 January 2018 |work=Chichester Post |access-date=13 January 2021 }}</ref> In 1939, [[Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother|Queen Elizabeth]], the consort of [[George VI]], spent one night here and in 1962, [[Anne, Princess Royal]] visited Stansted House and went for a swim.<ref name="Stansted Park Timeline"/>{{dead link|date=November 2021}}

Since 1983 the House and Estate have been owned by Stansted Park Foundation, a [[charitable trust]] charged with the preservation of the estate for the benefit of the nation.  The trust was set up by [[Frederick Ponsonby, 10th Earl of Bessborough]], who died without a male heir in 1993. An illustrated history of Stansted Park from the 12th century is included in Lord Bessborough's book ''The Enchanted Forest''.

The park is crossed from west to east by the [[Monarch's Way]] long-distance footpath.

In early January 2021, the Foundation issued this statement: "Due to funding and staffing issues Stansted Park House, the Arboretum and surrounding Grounds, including the walled garden and maze will now remain shut to the public until Easter 2021. The walled garden playground has now been removed as the structure fell into disrepair and was deemed unsafe. There are currently no plans to reinstall new apparatus". The Foundation's Web site was listing some planned events, starting in May 2021.<ref name="COVID">{{cite web |url=https://www.stanstedpark.co.uk/ |title=COVID-19 Statement |date=3 January 2021 |work=Stansted Park|access-date=13 January 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.stanstedpark.co.uk/whatson |title=What's On|date=3 January 2021 |work=Stansted Park |access-date=13 January 2021 }}</ref>

==Chapel of St Paul==
[[File:St Paul's Church, Stansted Park, West Sussex (Geograph Image 1914616 0266c084).jpg|thumbnail|St Paul's Chapel]]
The chapel was built by [[Lewis Way]] in 1812–1816, as part of his mission to convert the Jews.<ref name="Price">{{cite book | title=The Road to Apocalypse | publisher=Notting Hill Editions | author=Price, Stanley & [[Munro Price|Munro]] | year=2012 | location=London}}</ref> It is [[Grade I listed]].<ref name=blb>[http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-301293-church-of-st-paul-stoughton-west-sussex Church of St Paul, Stoughton], British Listed Buildings</ref> It was an inspiration to the poet [[John Keats]] when he was writing ''[[The Eve of St. Agnes]]''.<ref name="acny">{{cite web | url=http://www.achurchnearyou.com/stansted-st-paul | title=St Paul, Stansted | publisher=A church near you | date=2010 | access-date=19 October 2013}}</ref> The church was restored by [[Harry Stuart Goodhart-Rendel]] in 1926.

The Park's web site adds some specifics: "It was consecrated on 25th January 1819 [and] contains a unique East window with Christian/Jewish iconography and Hebrew tablets of the [[Ten Commandments]]."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.stanstedpark.co.uk/st-paul-s-chapel |title=Private Chapel |date=2 May 2018 |work=The Stansted Foundation |access-date=1 January 2021 }}</ref>

During the 1926 restoration, the sanctuary was re-decorated, with inspiration from [[Sainte-Chapelle]], in Paris. During [[World War II]], the chapel was damaged but it was restored in 1947.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rowlandscastleheritagecentre.org.uk/stansted-chapel-2/ |title=The Chapel of St Paul, Stansted |date=6 April 2016 |work=Rowlands |access-date=13 January 2021 }}</ref>

For some months in 2020, the chapel was open for "a short service of Prayer", once a month; as of mid January 2021, this service was not being offered. The Park's Web site stated that restoration of the chapel had recently been completed, "supported by a grant from the [[Heritage Lottery Fund]]", but does not specify the date.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.stanstedpark.co.uk/st-paul-s-chapel |title=Private Chapel |date=2 May 2018 |work=Stansted Park|access-date=1 January 2021 }}</ref>

==Light Railway==
[[File:Stansted rail badge.jpg|right|upright=0.7|thumb|Logo of Stansted Light Railway|alt=Silhouette of a steam locomotive with cow catcher and smoke plume below the cursive letters "SPLR", surrounded by the words "STANSTED PARK LIGHT RAILWAY" arranged in a circle, all in yellow on dark green]]
The '''Stansted Park Light Railway''' ({{coord|50.88442|N|0.92255|W|type:landmark_region:GB_dim:100|display=inline}}) is a {{RailGauge|7.25in}} [[Gauge (railroad)|gauge miniature railway]] on the grounds of Stansted House. The railway opened on Easter 2005, and is designed to attract more visitors to the House.

The railway uses [[locomotives]] and [[Passenger car (rail)|carriages]] designed and built by [[railway]] volunteers. The railway is rapidly expanding. The new extension is now complete, and incorporates a 12-foot span [[girder bridge]]. A new locomotive shed is also nearly finished..

==Early cricket==
In June 1741 a [[cricket]] between [[Slindon Cricket Club]] and [[Portsmouth Cricket Club]] was played in the park.<ref name=TJM18>McCann, p. 18.</ref> It is the earliest report of a match involving the Slindon team. The team's patron [[Charles Lennox, 2nd Duke of Richmond]], wrote in a letter to his friend [[Thomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle]], that "above 5,000 people" were present.<ref name=TJM18/><ref>Maun, p. 104.</ref> This is the only time that Stansted Park is mentioned in surviving cricket records. The cricket club still plays fixtures during the summer months.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* {{cite book |last=ACS |author-link=Association of Cricket Statisticians and Historians |title=A Guide to Important Cricket Matches Played in the British Isles 1709 – 1863 |year=1981 |publisher=ACS |location=Nottingham }}
* {{cite book |last=McCann |first=Tim |author-link=Timothy J. McCann |title=Sussex Cricket in the Eighteenth Century |year=2004 |publisher=Sussex Record Society }}
* {{cite book |last=Maun |first=Ian |title=From Commons to Lord's, Volume One: 1700 to 1750 |year=2009 |publisher=Roger Heavens |isbn=978-1-900592-52-9}}
* Lewis Way - A Biography by Geoffrey Henderson, 2015

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website|https://www.stanstedpark.co.uk/}}
* [http://www.splr.org.uk/ Stansted Park Light Railway]

{{Coord|50.887058|-0.917282|type:landmark_region:GB|display=title}}

{{English cricket venues to 1770}}
{{Ridable miniature railways in England}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cricket in Sussex]]
[[Category:English cricket venues in the 18th century]]
[[Category:Country houses in West Sussex]]
[[Category:Gardens in West Sussex]]
[[Category:Chichester]]
[[Category:Historic house museums in West Sussex]]
[[Category:Historic house museums in Hampshire]]
[[Category:East Hampshire District]]