Tyntesfield Estate 1865 – 2002
Tyntesfield House and Estate was a huge country estate in Wraxall, which is just outside of Bristol. Described by some as ‘Hogwarts’ (more likely by those who’s reading literature extends only to JK Rowling) ‘the big house’ as it is more fondly called by people in the local area was the gothic revival centre piece overlooking miles of un spoilt countryside and woodland in an area of land untouched by B & Q.
Tyntesfield belonged to the Gibbs family and its rebuilding was largely funded by a successful business in Bird poo.
Tyntesfield? um…
Until the last Lord Wraxall died in the summer of 2001 few people had heard of Tyntesfield except taxi drivers who loved to tell the unfortunate story of the poor bugger being burgled and locked in his car boot as they drive past the gates. Gibbs was no wuss having served with the Coldstream guards and came out from the experience relatively unscathed.
Lord Wraxall was not reclusive and could not suffer fools gladly. He would not have the estate butchered by the incompetence of who he would consider idiots. He knew his stuff when it came to the land around him and would not have allowed imbeciles to ruin it in any way.
What seems to have been forgotten is that Tyntesfield was now only available because of the sad death of a man. A person. There was a total air of disrespect in all the hype that went with the ‘secret’ house being revealed to the public. A secret house that is easily spottable from the main road at the bottom. There is still disrespect from those who felt that rich people had no right to their inheritance, though these people seem to have no problem with people like the Beckhams living in large historic properties.
Still, It was inevitable, the nations biggest land owner were going to stick their beaks in somewhere. But this was good because the National Trust was a great organisation dedicated to saving areas of land for historical posterity and the good of the Nation.
In July 2002, a year after Lord Wraxall died the National Trust purchased the house, contents and an amount of surrounding land and buildings from the executors of the Estate. The smaller amount of land and features was explained as being in keeping with the historical accuracy of the size of the original estate which was only marginally bigger in 1843. But what’s a few acres between friends.
It was purchased with money from a range of sources including the National Trust and £17.425 M from the National Heritage Memorial Fund. Saved by the Nation for the Nation Tyntesfield is accessible to everyone. As good as their grant conditions Tyntesfield was opened to the public 10 weeks after acquisition.
The restoration has not been running entirely smoothly. Tyntesfield has been dubbed a ‘financial black hole’ by the newest Lord Wraxall, Eustace Gibbs the brother of Richard Gibbs, It is claimed that Eustace Gibbs is not confidant that the National Trust know what they are doing in restoring the house backed up with the mounting costs for restoration.
Making Tyntesfield the new sex?
For a year after Lord Wraxall’s death Tyntesfield Estate became the National Trust’s main aim and by their own admission used the purchase and restoration of Tyntesfield to reinvent the National Trust’s aloof middle class members image. A panic induced fundraising effort was launched to beg ‘pennies from the poor’ to secure the future of Tyntesfield and carefully establish the National Trust as the Nation’s favorite heritage organisation. Tyntesfield was to make the National Trust the new ‘sex’. Well if this was the case then perhaps its true what they say about the repressed sex life of the British middle classes. One does wonders why Lord Wraxall didn’t just leave his estate to the National Trust to begin with?
Thirty pieces of silver
But Lord Wraxall is now dead and the family had the arduous task of selling it off courtesy of Shylock incorporated – FPD Savilles. Things change and as time passes move on in natural progression but this should never be to the detriment of what people spend their entire lives looking after.
Funny how death makes people change their minds about a lot of things. Some large scale historical organisations some of whom have spectacularly changed their tune since 2001 never had much regard for Tyntesfield but as soon as it was looking like a prospective sell everybody wanted a piece.
No no no Minogue
In the summer of 2001 the poor sod having only just died then became the most eligible bachelor in the UK.For an upper class residence in the countryside something particularly unpopular in this day and age Tyntesfield created a real hoo haa. It was Tyntesfield fever in the media, the news, the papers, radios, TV, everybody was interested. Rumours of private buyers were rife. The gullible believed Kylie Minogue was after it, then Madonna, would the unlikelyness never end…
But why save Tyntesfield?
Why save Tyntesfield indeed? Why put so much money into saving the house and estate? Tyntesfield is not about history. Its not about preserving what might be a fine example of servants quarters, or a nice painting on the wall. To save Tyntesfield all of Tyntesfield must be saved. When Lord Wraxall died he had done his best to preserve a perfect environment. An amazing piece of Victorian architecture, a house documenting over a hundred years of social history. Woodland and gardens full of fine examples of trees and flowers, and land teeming with wildlife: deer, rabbits, birds, foxes and more.
Tyntesfield was never just a house and pretty gardens but came as a whole. That is what the spirit of Tyntesfield was and that is what should be saved for the nation. Tyntesfield should never become regarded as something to do on a boring sunday afternoon. Should never be regarded as was correctly commented by one web site visitor as ‘inundated by people who think they had a god-given right to enjoy the place in the past as well as now.’
Tyntesfield represents not just a stunning piece of what the nation covets as it’s heritage, but as a lifestyle. A life style that is fast becoming destroyed by ‘progress’ and the destruction of a rural life by ‘escape to the country’. The estate could not have existed without the people who lived and breathed in it all those many years, the people who are part of it, the people who have become secondary to visitor numbers and a sterile environment.
The National Trust now own Tyntesfield because they wanted to save it for the Nation. Now it is up to the National Trust to save what Tyntesfield was when they purchased it, the stunning architecture, the amazing history and heritage and the beautiful gardens filled with all the wildlife.
They must see beyond historical documents, ragged carpets and worn out steps, because if they cannot save what Tyntesfield was not only ‘physically’ but ‘spiritually’ as well, then Tyntesfield as some believe has happened, is already as good as dead.
please do not turn the estate into a mini blackpool. It felt like it on sat 27.6.09 when my husband and i visited. It was a wonderful estate and while the house should be renovated, surely it would be very beneficial to keep the estate, farms and house as a complete estate.
If the whole episode of the sale to the National Trust has not been satisfactory why not refer the matter to Lord Somerset, after all the monies paid is only tax payers intermediary settlements on a piece by piece basis.
The Estate will be better managed by an owner occupier who understands farming at the sharp end.
I am currently in Green Bay in Wisconsin and being the dairy state and allbeit a little senitmental it has prompted me to comment on this site.
I found this site whilst showing some American family part of my background and heritage. I was one of the very fortunate people who knew Tyntesfield well before the public ever caught sight or news. Both of my parents family were instrumental at a time where Tyntesfield was a working estate. I knew the farm and many workers there and the ‘life’ which was hard but a real way of life has sadly disappeared other than living on through the memories of many people who knew the estate as it was. I know we cannot live in the past and something had to be done to renovate the house however the point I want to get across is that Tyntesfield is more than a beautiful house and a perfect example of rural England. There is a much greater story of real people and livelihoods which sadly is lost. My memories are so important of this place. I feel very priviledged to have known the estate as it was, not what it has or may become.
All very amusing, I particularly like the teletubbies and mock BBC4 documentary particularly the first Class travel photo.
I can only say that the high esteem in which the Author of this site holds the National Trust is probably only surpassed with the respect and admiration which I hold for the custodians of our Heritage at North Somerset planners and English Heritage. Particularly the planners who’s incompetence petty mindedness and incompetent jealousies seem boundless.
Reading these comments has been very interesting,illuminating and I must say I agree with many of the views expressed regarding the ‘restoration’ of the house itself.
It has been my pleasure to meet the current Lord Wraxall,Sir Eustace Gibbs, as he bought a property in my village last year, he is a very pleasant gentleman and in conversation with him he voiced his concern that the NT does not have the funds or the expertise to maintain or restore (how I hate that word) a property the size and complexity of Tyntesfield.
Why not do at Tyntesfield as has been done at Calke Abbey?
Don’t restore unless absolutely necessary- rather, care for it, keep it weatherproof and in good order but above all let it be seen as it once was-a home.
I have just visited the wonderful estate for the first time, with a friend who has NT membership and also a voucher for me. I had let my NT membership lapse as I had other priorities last year. After the visit to the grounds and chapel I looked up the NT site to see about renewing membership. I got no further than all your comments and read them with increasing horror. I am a member of the RSPB and love the countryside; I am also a member of Avon Wildlife and several national groups supporting and protecting our rich natural heritage. I shall NOT renew my NT membership until I hear that the NT at Tyntesfield are going to employ proper methods of culling animals, and of clearance of any further hedges. Has the RSPB been informed of this illegal damage to nesting birds??
If not, why not?
This represents an ecological disaster so far; let us try to avoid further by action in the right direction.
Ellie Farrar
It would be useful if Phil Smith could publish his information or better still, contact the RSPB. I have spoken to their Exeter Office, the local one for the South West, and they would take action against the Trust if they had a witness, . The unprecedented damage to birds’ nests described by Phil would be considered illegal; we know it is unethical and not-eco-friendly, but it should be punishable, too. Phil could take this further, and his action would have some effect; otherwise his information is wasted on the internet.
Ellie Farrar
My career was ruinied by uni educated idiots, Phil Smith is a bloody hero for speaking up for his beliefs, I worked for the National Trust for 8 years loved it, spent five years at Nostell Priory, when I went to work at Tyntesfield it was was my dream job ,management ruined it, took the floor from under my bloody feet, broke my sodding heart, i lost the will to live. I am a Barnsley Lad, working class, so it seems the toffs are in control, I worked bloody hard to do the best I could, my staff where always happy and if JN reads this, which I very much doubt, he can feck off and I put a hex a gypsy curse on him and he deserves it
Ricky Travis. I believe you lost your entire set of keys to the house, did you not?
Please does anyone know any of the original Estate staff? I am trying to find some information on my great grandmother who used to work as a maid in the estate. She then owned the Failand inn. Please if anyone can help it would be greatly appreciated.