Copped Hall - Part II

One of the first projects was to carry out sufficient restoration work to the racquets court to enable it to be used to house a colourful exhibition of the Estate’s history and to serve teas on open days. One of the Trust’s proudest moments came this summer when His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales visited Copped Hall to see the restoration work. He met Trustees and friends and toured the mansion, its cellars and stables before opening an exhibition of 18th Century botanical water-colours painted by Matilda Conyers - daughter of John Conyers who built Copped Hall.

Each summer Copped Hall hosts an archaeological dig as part of the Trust’s education programme and objectives, with enthusiasts excavating the site of the original Elizabethan house. Lectures, concerts and plays have been staged in the grounds and painting groups are often to be found in the gardens, which are gradually being restored.

Membership of the Friends of Copped Hall Trust is £20 a year for individuals or £30 per family. Lifetime membership is available at £350 for an individual and £500 per family. Regular newsletters are mailed to Friends detailing the programme of activities. A working party of the Friends of Copped Hall Trust meets every Sunday from 10.00am. New volunteers are always welcome. Organised walks take place every third Sunday of the month beginning between 10.00am and 10.45am.

For more information visit the Copped Hall website

Recorded history at Copped Hall began in the 12th Century when there was already a substantial building on the site belonging to the Fitzaucher family who served the King as huntsmen.The original Tudor mansion was built between 1564 and 1568 and folklore has it that the first performance of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ was held there.

The present house was sold to George Wythes in 1869 and his grandson Edward James Wythes carried out extensive improvements to the house and grounds, including a conservatory and a new extension which housed food storage and preparation areas in the basement, ground floor staff offices and stores and first and second floor guest bedrooms. An Italianate two level, ‘parterre’ garden was added, together with a causeway, two garden pavilions and a ‘ha-ha’. The mansion is listed Grade II and the parkland to the west and south of the Hall is included in the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens (Grade II*).

All images courtesy of The Copped Hall Trust Archives