Stonehouse WRBL

The chairman Janet Walsh led the exhortation and silent tribute.

Everyone was welcomed.

When the business side of the meeting was finished, our speaker John was welcomed.

He gave a very interesting and informative talk on the history of Woodchester Mansion.

This building is a fine unfinished Gothic revival mansion house in the secluded valley of Woodchester Park near Nympsfield, and is Grade 1 listed.

The house is now owned by Stroud District Council, and the National Trust took over the parkland.

The estate has a long history dating back to 1631, and was owned by the Ducie family for two centuries.

King GeorgeIIIrd visited there in 1788.

William Leigh was the son of a Liverpool trader.

He bought the Woodchester Park Estate with 4,000 acres of land in1845 and demolished the existing house.

He set about building a new mansion.

The construction continued until 1871 when all work stopped.

No one really knows why.

The building appears complete from the outside, but floors and whole rooms are missing inside.

The stone carvings featured outside have a dog theme and are among the finest in the world.

William Leigh was a convert to the Roman Catholic faith and was very devout.

He built the church of The Annunciation in Woodchester in 1849, and also a Dominican Friary there, which was used by Friars until 1968.

This Friary was demolished in 1970.

John was thanked by Janet Walsh.

The competition was won by Janet Walsh and Myrtle Dawe.

The outing takes place on June 26.

Our next meeting will be on July 31 when a talk will be given on the work of the R.S.P.C.A.

The competition will be for a keyring.

Visitors are always welcome.