Pylewell Park in Lymington 'brought back to life' after three-year revamp

A NEW Forest country manor has been “brought back to life” after undergoing a three-year revamp following generations of neglect.

Grade II listed Pylewell Park, near Lymington, has seen a raft of its historic features restored in an effort to turn the site around after years of financial uncertainty.

And last week those efforts paid off when the events team took home a coveted Wedding Industry Awards gong.

Pylewell’s estate manager Rupert Bogarde said “everything” needed looking at.

“There had been a big family living here for 30 years – 10 children, 40-odd grandchildren – you can imagine the toll that takes on a house. The estate just needed everything doing to it: furniture, walls, scrubbing ceilings, washing everything, repairing the plumbing.

“Previous generations had no idea how to look after it. Now the younger generation has taken over.”

But revamping such a vast historical site has not been without its issues, particularly with a small team of eight overseeing the task.

“We’ve had to involve all sorts of agencies – English Heritage, Natural England, etc – to find out what we can and can’t do. It’s been quite a juggling act, but the team have got the backing of the family, and we’ve been utterly devoted to making this huge challenge work, and I’m very proud to be part of it.”

A settlement on the estate features in the Domesday Book, but the current house dates back to the 17th century, with significant additions – and destructions as the east and west wings were levelled in the ‘50s – over the next 300 years. It was acquired by William Ingham Whitaker in 1879 and inherited by John Roper-Curzon, the 20th Baron Teynham, in 1988 after the death of his mother Elspeth Grace Whitaker. He died in May last year aged 92, and the house is run by a trust comprising Roper-Curzon family members, all of whom still live on the estate.

Rupert, who is married to John’s daughter Sophie Roper-Curzon, said there was still work to be done.

“The house had been struggling for a while, with heavy inheritance tax demands and so forth, and that’s not over yet. It’s an ongoing battle but the signs are very positive. We had to change the way it was managed in keeping with the younger generation, and embrace the commercial side.”

The estate’s mill is currently being turned into business offices, and Pylewell is renowned as a premier wedding venue, recognised in its recent award and that it is booked up until 2023.

“The mill has capacity for a number of offices, which should be ready by June. We’ve had quite a few interested parties, some keen local companies, and it really is so beautiful down there, next to a great big lake.

“And with the weddings, you can take over the whole house if you want. The entire family can stay in all the rooms, sleeping up to 26, or you can simply have a top flat. It’s all available.

“But it’s all testament to the wonderful team we have here. We’ve all been so very busy – everyone has had to be so resourceful and pull together to turn this around and bring Pylewell back to life.”