HOMES Scholarly squire of Stanway House TANWAY House is one S of the fascinating most beautiful stately and homes in the Cotswolds. An outstanding example of an English Jacobean manor house, it was built between 1580 and 1640 by the Tracys, a Gloucestershire gentry family. Since 1978 it has been the home of the Hon James Donald Charteris, Lord Douglas of Neidpath. A history scholar (he did postgraduate work at Oxford University), Lord Neidpath is an authority on the magnificent deep golden-coloured Cotswold stone house and even wrote its official guidebook. About eighty per cent of the house is open to the public on Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout June. July and August, and Lord Neidpath is consid- Report: Tracey Tobin Pictures: Paul France tional system of rent collecting," he said. Maintaining tradition is obviously very important to Lord Neidpath (40), who is also keen to restore Stanway's brewhouse. He explained: "It was last used before the Great War when a "brewing woman" would turn up each autumn on a bicycle to brew the year's barley crop.' It seems every room at Stanway and practically every object has a story attached to it, and the scallop shell pattern that decorates the Gatehouse IS no exception. The scallop shell is the crest of the Tracy family and Sir William de Traci You could hardly imagine a happier place for retirement... ering whether to extend this. At the was one of four knights who murdered height of the season it can attract St Thomas a Becket in Canterbury about 100 visitors a day. (About 5,000 cathedral during Henry Il's reign. came last year). The story goes that Sir William was He is currently busy working on obliged to go on a pilgrimage to plans to reinstate an eighteenth cen- Jerusalem after the King had repented tury baroque water garden, built in the the crime so the family adopted the soon as funds permit.' It seems Stanway House has always project that will be completed "as their crest. grounds of the house by one of his shell badge of St. James of Comancestors, John Tracy. It's an ongoing postella, patron saint of pilgrims, as You traditions the house is the name author J.M. Barrie, Important who been Another particularly the wrote sort famous the of classic place interesting that's children's associated attracted people. story with happier There's a portrait of John Tracy, squire of Stanway from 1682-1735 in the Audit Room - an intriguing place. Lord Neidpath explained that the room was so-called because it was used to collect quarterly rents from tenants of the Stanway estate. In the centre is a long wooden, "rent table" where rent books were once kept for each tenant. The estate now has more than 80 tenants and Stanway still retains the quarterly rent-collecting tradition. "Such rent audits were almost universal before 1914 and, as far as we know, Stanway is one of the few Important traditions "Peter Pan.' From 1923-1933, at the invitation of Lady Cynthia Asquith, (daughter-inlaw of Liberal Prime Minister Lord Asquith), Barrie would stay at Stanwav for six weeks every summer. Lord' Neidpath explained: "He was very fond of cricket and liked to organise cricketing parties here. And in 1925 he built our cricket pavilion.' There's such a wealth of charming stories attached to Stanway (told by Lord Neidpath with such delight and infectious enthusiasm) it's not surprising to learn that he intends to write a book about the house. It's sure to make fascinating reading. estates that still keeps to this tradi- make fascinating ABOVE: Lord Neidpath and his Labrador Judy in front of the Gatehouse at Stanway, which is decorated with the scallop shells the Tracy family crest. LEFT: The Great Hall at Stanway, the traditional centre of manor life, where a manorial court was held until the end of the eighteenth century. THE MANOR, CHURCHDOWN VILLAGE: ... and there's a £1000 saving bonus for early completion. Located in the heart of Churchdown Village and with all essential shops and other necessities just round the corner, properties at The Manor offer everthing that the retired need. There's a noticeably friendly atmosphere, everyone enjoys complete independence with security behind their own front doors, and the resident Warden is there if ever needed. This is one of Clifton Retirement Homes' 'flagship' retirement developments, yet running costs are very reasonable by comparison with many other retirement properties. If you're searching round for something to suit your parents or older relatives, or are looking out for yourself, The Manor could prove a highly desirable answer. Come and have a look! 20 11 Only five 1 & 2 bedroom properties now remaining. STAVERTON AIRPORT Ready for immediate occupation. CHURCHDOWN PASS (A40) Prices from £53,500 (less bonus) VALLEY BY- A CHELTENHAM including carpets and curtains. GOLDEN C CHURCHDOWN THE Showhome open 11am to 4pm MANOR daily including weekends. R.6 CHURCH Clifton Gloucester. House, Telephone: 39/41 St. (0452) Catherine 307678 St, Clifton Retirement Homes An imposing mullioned window dominates one end of the Great Hall. The window looks out onto the parish church which suffered at the hands of radical Victorian vicar the Rev. Bullogh-Webster who removed its box pews.