Billingbear House

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Billingbear House was situated in the parish of Waltham St. Lawrence in Berkshire, England.

Originally owned by the Bishop of Winchester, the land was given to Sir Henry Neville (father of Sir Henry Neville) in 1549 by King Edward VI. He finally took possession in 1567 and began construction of a Tudor mansion.[1]

When the house was visited by Cosmo III, Grand Duke of Tuscany in 1669, his host was Col. John Neville.[1] A member of the duke's retinue painted a view of the house, which is in the Laurentian Library, Florence. A copy was published in 1821.[2]

The house stood until 1924, when it was destroyed by fire, and the shell then torn down.[3]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Count L. Magalotti, Travels of Cosmo the Third, Grand Duke of Tuscany, through England during the Reign of King Charles the Second 1669 (1821), p.277.