The House from an 1825 engraving
Earlier Houses: An earlier house was seriously damaged in the 1640s during the Civil War and replaced by the current house.
Built / Designed For: W. Cook
House & Family History: One of the few houses built during the Commonwealth, Highnam Court was purchased in 1838 by Thomas Gambier-Parry, an accomplished artist, musician, and art collector. Thomas developed the Gambier-Parry process of fresco painting and is responsible for the frescoes in Highnam Church. His son, the English composer Charles Hubert Hastings-Parry, is best known today for the choral song "Jerusalem."
Collections: Thomas Gambier-Parry formed an important collection of early Italian paintings and objects at Highnam Court; after his death his heirs donated the collection to the Courtauld Institute of Art, in whose collection it remains today.
Garden & Outbuildings: Thomas Gambier Parry began the layout of the gardens in 1840; by 1874 they rivaled any in Britain. By the beginning of the 20th century the gardens were overgrown, a state in which they remained until 1994, when Roger Head purchased the Estate and began the restoration of the gardens.
Architect: John Raphael Brandon
Date: 1869Architect: Lewis Vulliamy
Date: Circa 1840-55Country Life: CVII, 1376, 1462, 1950.
Title: Country Houses of Gloucestershire: Volume One, 1500-1660, The
Author: Kingsley, Nicholas
Year Published: 1989
Reference: pg. 90
Publisher: Gloucestershire: Nicholas Kingsley
ISBN: 0951421700
Book Type: Hardback
House Listed: Grade I
Park Listed: Grade II
Current Seat / Home of: Roger Head
Past Seat / Home of: W. Cook, 17th century. Sir Berkeley William Guise, 2nd Bt., early 19th century. Thomas Gambier-Parry, 1837-88; Sir Charles Hubert Hastings-Parry, 1st Bt., 1888-1918.
Current Ownership Type: Individual / Family Trust
Primary Current Ownership Use: Private Home
House Open to Public: Limited Access to Grounds Only
Phone: 01452-308-251
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.highnamcourt.co.uk
Historic Houses Member: No