Praise for New Place Designer in Architectural Visit
The team at one of Hampshire’s leading independent hotels was delighted to receive a visit from members of The Lutyens Trust, a charity dedicated to preserving and celebrating the work of Sir Edwin Lutyens OM, the architect of its main house.
After making contact and offering to host the organisation’s annual study day, New Place Hotel was delighted with the recent opportunity to reconnect with The Lutyens Trust and bring the history of its beautiful Grade 1 listed manor house to life.
‘Since our new owners took over the property in 2017, they have been very keen to explore its historical significance and we have joined The Lutyens Trust as corporate members and were thrilled with the honour of welcoming its members to see the property.’
Sir Edwin, whose career ran from 1888 till his death in 1944, imaginatively adapted traditional architectural styles to the requirements of his era. Renowned as the designer of beautiful country houses, public buildings and many WW1 memorials including the Cenotaph, the late architectural historian Gavin Stamp described him as ‘surely the greatest British architect of the twentieth (or of any other) century’.
In 1904 Mrs.A.S.Franklyn of Shedfield Lodge commissioned Sir Edwin to design a house that incorporated the magnificent interior of an early 17th century mansion in Bristol that she had inherited, and to perpetuate the name of the Stratford residence of William Shakespeare (with whom her family had connections) called ‘New Place’.
‘We were delighted when New Place first approached us and now to have seen the work, both in progress and planned for the future, to convert into a really splendid hotel’ said Martin Lutyens, Chairman of the Trust and great-nephew of Sir Edwin.
‘This is a significant year for the Lutyens Trust, as we commemorate my great-uncle’s 150th birthday, the 75th anniversary of his death and the 100th anniversary of the dedication of the Cenotaph in London.’
New Place hosted the day for over 40 attendees which comprised of a talk from Trustee and former Editor of Country Life, Clive Aslet, a private lunch in one of the hotel’s dining rooms and tours of the house. The hotel also presented a 150th birthday cake for the occasion.
‘It was a real boost to see people enthralled by the architecture, history and future plans for the house. We hope to welcome back The Lutyens Trust in the future for both advice on and to inspect our development of the house over the next couple of years.’