Minsterley Hall
Once owned by the Marquis of Bath with, as legend goes, fittings brought from Caus Castle.
Minsterley, Shropshire, SY5 0AA
- Guide dogs welcome
- Large font signs and leaflets
Minsterley Hall was formerly the Shropshire seat of the Marquess of Bath, having been bought in 1634 by the 1st Viscount Weymouth’s father, Sir Henry Frederick Thynne. The house was greatly extended in 1653 following the destruction of Caus Castle during the English Civil War.
In 1688-9, Thomas Thynne, 1st Viscount Weymouth built the Holy Trinity Church at Minsterley as a chapel of ease for Minsterley Hall. The architect was William Taylor of London, who had also worked for Thynne at the great prodigy house of Longleat. The link between the church and house has always been a strong one, and Minsterley Hall still retains a private path to the church to this day.
Some of the timbers that form the structure of the house are reputed to have been reused from Caus Castle in a stunning example of 17th Century upcycling. The fine 15th Century oak screen in the Drawing Room is also thought to have been brought from the castle.
On his Grand Tour, Henry Thynne, 4th Marquess of Bath commissioned the huge Italian marble fireplace for his bedroom, which was installed in 1869. The fireplace is thought to have been worth more than the house itself when it was installed and features the Thynne arms in its intricate carving.
- Guide dogs welcome
- Large font signs and leaflets
The old ghost story...
Outside Minsterley, in an old timber-framed house a Christmas Eve party was in full swing. The high-living host had poured his guests after-dinner port when their conversation was interrupted by an evil whistling through the avenue of trees outside. Their silent questions gave way to concern, then blind terror as a piercing scream cut the air. One shouted “Fiends from Hell!” as the guests scrambled for the door. In the confusion, however, the host disappeared.
Only one man was brave enough to return to search the house. The sight which met him chilled his bones. The host lay dead under an upturned table. His face, his clothes and the surrounding furniture were shredded by the rake of a giant claw…the Devil’s Talon!