Nunwell House: A Tudor and Jacobean Country House on the Isle of Wight
Site at a Glance
- Rating
- 4.5
- Popularity
- Very Low
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Primary era
- Early Modern
- External website
- Open
- Eras represented
- Early Modern
- Civilizations
- English
- Site type
- Domestic
- Remains
- Manor House
On this page8 sections
History
Nunwell House is a historic country house in Brading, United Kingdom, on the Isle of Wight. Also known as Nunwell Manor, it is associated with a Tudor and Jacobean building tradition and later additions. The estate has a long medieval history and became the principal seat of the Oglander family, whose records provide an important connection with the political and social history of the island.
Medieval Nunwell
Nunwell was known by several forms of its name, including Nonoelle in the eleventh century, Nunewille in the twelfth century, and Nunnewelle in the thirteenth century. Before the Norman Conquest, the takeover of England by William, duke of Normandy, in 1066, it was one of the manors of Earl Tostig. The king held the manor in 1086.
Land at Nunwell changed hands during the thirteenth century. In 1199, Stephen son of Odo conveyed 20 acres there to Ralph son of Nigel. In 1286, John de Tracy and his wife Benedicta exchanged land at Nunwell for property at Holton with William de Houton. The tradition that the Oglander family had held Nunwell continuously since the Conquest is difficult to substantiate. Roger Oglander may have held the manor in the early thirteenth century, when his servant Geoffrey Escoutard gave land at Nunwell to Carisbrooke Priory. Roger’s grandson recovered two acres there from Gilbert, abbot of Lire, in 1256.
The Oglander manor
By the end of the thirteenth century, Henry Oglander securely held Nunwell from the honour of Carisbrooke Castle. An honour was a medieval feudal jurisdiction consisting of lands held under a major lord or the Crown. Henry died around 1310, and his son Robert died in 1344. The manor then passed to Robert’s son Reginald, who was married to Roberta, daughter of Robert Urry.
In 1346, Reginald held three parts of a feudal share at Nunwell with his co-heirs, or coparceners. This holding later became known as West Nunwell. After Reginald’s death in 1349, the manor was placed in Roberta’s possession. Their son Robert later died without issue, and his brother John succeeded to the manor. Reginald Oglander held it in 1428, although a genealogy published by Berry incorrectly identifies him as John’s brother for this date. Alice Oglander held Nunwell in 1431, and John Oglander died in possession in 1483, leaving a son, Thomas.
West Nunwell and the early modern period
Thomas’s grandson George died in 1567 while holding the manor, which was then known as West Nunwell. His son and successor, Sir William Oglander, died in 1609. William’s son, Sir John Oglander, described the manor house as completely dilapidated. He also wrote that it had once been a substantial house with a village of fifty dependent houses before fire consumed it during the reign of Henry VI.
Sir John Oglander served as deputy governor of Portsmouth and deputy lieutenant of the Isle of Wight from 1595 to 1648. During the English Civil Wars, the conflict between supporters of the monarchy and Parliament, he was a Royalist military and civil officer. He hosted Charles I at Nunwell on the king’s last night of freedom. Charles was defeated by Parliament’s forces and executed in 1649.
Sir John died in 1655, leaving valuable notes about the Isle of Wight that are preserved at Nunwell. His son William inherited the estate and was created a baronet by Charles II in 1665. Charles II was restored to the English throne in 1660, while a baronetcy is a hereditary title ranking below a barony and above a knighthood.
Later succession and protection
The manor descended in the direct line with the baronetcy until Sir Henry Oglander, the seventh baronet, died without issue in 1874. He left the estate to his cousin John Henry Glynn. In accordance with Sir Henry’s will, Glynn adopted the surname Oglander by royal licence in 1895. He was the possessor of Nunwell in 1912.
Nunwell House was recorded as a Grade II* listed building in 1951. This category identifies a building of particularly important architectural or historic interest in England’s system of protection. The park or garden received Grade II status in 1987, a designation for buildings and sites of special architectural or historic interest.
Remains
The house and its setting
Nunwell House stands on rising ground at the end of a large lawn, with a grove of ash and lime trees behind it. The house is in the Tudor and Jacobean styles, with later additions. Its position provides views towards Brading Harbour and St Helens Road, placing the building within the landscape associated with Brading and the eastern part of the Isle of Wight.
Garden and interior collections
The grounds include a 5.5-acre garden with a lily pond. Inside the house, family militaria, meaning objects connected with military history such as weapons, uniforms, equipment, or documents, preserves part of the Oglander family’s historical association with military and political life.
Nearby sites
