Behind the doors of a Regency time capsule

micheleswales
5 hours ago
2 min read

Southill Park Visit by Ann Collett-White

On the morning and afternoon of Friday 5 June, 75 people were welcomed to Southill Park for guided tours of this wonderful house whose Regency interior and its contents have remained unchanged since 1815. Charles Whitbread, Chairman of the St Paul’s Tower, Clock & Bells Appeal and his wife Jane gave the proceeds of ticket sales to the appeal; £1560 was raised. We are most grateful to the continued support of the Whitbread family and their friends to the Appeal.

Southill Park was purchased in 1795 by Samuel Whitbread I, founder of his highly successful brewery business in London. His son Samuel II had the house remodelled by Henry Holland, the fashionable architect of the day. On his death, his assistant, Charles Heathcote Tatham took over the project, including designing much of the furnishings which were made in his brother’s business. Southill Park House is almost unique in being a property which stands as it did during the Regency period but has been beautifully maintained.

The tours given by Mr Whitbread and James Collett-White, the family archivist, are given in a relaxed, sometimes humorous manner but packed with information. Following the tours and refreshments in the dining room hung with fine portraits of Whitbreads and their staff at the brewery, guests were able to wander round the beautiful gardens. There were plants for sale in aid of ‘School Readers’ Jane’s charity which brings volunteers into schools to help with reading.

Visitors came from far and wide, many who had long wanted a chance to see the interiors of this very special house which is only open for group visits once a year, in May or June.