Guy's Cliffe
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Guy's Cliffe (variously spelled with and without an apostrophe and a final "e") is a hamlet on the River Avon between Warwick and Old Milverton in Warwickshire, England and in the civil parish of Leek Wootton and Guy's Cliffe. There is a country house there - Guy's Cliffe House - that has been in a ruined state since the late 20th century.
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[edit] History
Guy's Cliffe has been occupied since Saxon times and derives its name from the legendary Guy of Warwick. Guy is supposed to have retired to a hermitage on this site, this legend led to the founding of a chantry. The chantry was established in 1423 as the Chapel of St Mary Magdelene and the rock-carved stables and storehouses still remain. After the Dissolution of the Monasteries by Henry VIII the site passed into private hands. The house itself dates from 1751 and was started by Samuel Greatheed, a West India merchant and Member of Parliament for Coventry 1747-1761.
Guy's Cliffe House was sold in 1947 with the intention of converting it into a hotel, but these plans came to nothing and the house fell into disrepair. In 1955 the house was purchased by Aldwyn Porter and the chapel leased to the Freemasons, establishing a connection with the Masons that remains today. The roof had fallen in by 1966. In 1992 during the filming of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (The Last Vampyre) a fire scene got out of control and seriously damaged the building, leading to an insurance claim. English Heritage has given the building grade II listed status.
[edit] Points of interest
- The chapel, still used for Masonic ceremonies, contains a large statue depicting Guy of Warwick.
- Piers Gaveston, the favourite of Edward II, sought refuge and was (allegedly) apprehended here before his execution on nearby Blacklow Hill at Leek Wootton.
- Saxon Mill on the River Avon, a former water powered mill, now a pub and restaurant.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Warwickshire Museum details for Guy's Cliffe House
- English Heritage: Heritage Gateway, architectural description of listed building
- A History of the County of Warwick Vol 8 (1969) pp434-447 British History Online
[edit] External links
Media related to Guy's Cliffe at Wikimedia Commons
- The GuysCliffeHouse.org.uk Photo Gallery Archive » A collection of historical and modern day photographs, images and depictions of Guys Cliffe House, Warwickshire, England...
- Guys Cliffe House entry from The DiCamillo Companion to British & Irish Country Houses
- The Civil Parish of Leek Wootton and Guy's Cliffe Hubsite
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