A Lost House

This is Eaton Hall in Cheshire. I passed the site of this once, as my grandparents lived nearby. There is a huge, beautiful parkland and garden where this house once stood. It was demolished in 1961. A more modern chateau was recently erected on the site, sadly echoing the original building.

Eaton Hall was built for the Duke of Westminster (Britain's richest man then, and maybe also now) and expanded in 1870. The architect was Alfred Waterhouse who designed the similar and equally outrageous Manchester Town Hall. It cost £600,000 a colossal sum in those days. The Duke was a great Victorian  millionare, philanthropist (but not playboy) and supported charities including the Metropolitan Drinking Fountain Association and the United Committee for the Preventing of Demoralizing of Native Races by the Liquor Traffic(!)

On a more homely note, bells in the giant clock tower played 'Home Sweet Home' whenever the Duke was in residence.

Find out more about Eaton in 'Victorian Country Houses' by Mark Girouard or here.