Can you picture a grand mansion, built for a Duke but later owned by a soap tycoon? That’s Moor Park! This magnificent Palladian mansion has seen its fair share of history. It all began much earlier, with a palace built for the abbots of St Albans. Henry VIII gifted this palace to Cardinal Wolsey and even enjoyed royal entertainment within its walls. But after Wolsey, the palace fell into disrepair. In 1670, the Duke of Monmouth, illegitimate son of Charles II, acquired the property and began the construction of Moor Park in its current form. The Duke’s rebellion against James II ended in disaster, and his widow eventually sold the estate to Benjamin Styles. Styles, who had amassed a fortune through the South Sea Company, decided to remodel Moor Park rather than demolish it. He encased the existing structure in elegant Portland stone, creating the grand facade we see today. Moor Park was then passed from one notable owner to another, each leaving their mark on its history and design. In 1918, Lord Leverhulme, the soap magnate, added his chapter to Moor Park’s story. He established the renowned golf course and sold some of the surrounding land to finance its creation. This led to the development of the exclusive Moor Park estate. During World War II, Moor Park played a pivotal role in Operation Market Garden as the headquarters of the 1st Airborne Corps. Inside these walls, amidst the grandeur, strategies were formed for the daring mission to capture the bridges of the Lower Rhine. Today, Moor Park stands as a testament to its rich past. Owned by the Moor Park Golf Club, the mansion is not only a clubhouse but also a window to history. Take a moment to imagine the lives lived and events witnessed within its elegant walls.
Центральный дом работников искусств
Step through the grand wooden doors of the Central House of the Workers of Art, and you’ll be transported to