Hewell Grange
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hewell Grange is a country house in Tardebigge, Worcestershire, England.
It is a Grade II listed building; the listing includes some of the gardens.
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[edit] Origins
The land was originally owned by the Bishop of Bordesley, who lived at nearby Bordesely Abbey. When King Henry VIII abolished catholicism in England, he took control of the land and gave it to Thomas Windsor Hickman.
Thomas had drawn attention to himself by showing uncommon valour fighting the French. At the age of 15 he commanded a troop of horsemen, impressing Henry. Hewell Grange was no gift however: Henry had visited Thomas' own manor at Stanwell, Windsor and took a liking to the manor. He proposed to swap Stanwell for Hewell Grange and the surrounding lands. Thomas was reported to be unhappy with the deal, but had to accept.
[edit] Development
The estate remained a seat of the Windsor family (who were made Earls of Plymouth) until it was sold to the state in the 20th century. There are several ruins dotted about the estate, which suggest the Windsors have built a succession of grand houses over the past 400 years. The current building was completed in 1894.
[edit] Prison
The house was used as Borstal from 1946 to 1991, when it became HM Prison Hewell Grange, a Category D ('open' style) prison catering for around 200 non-violent adult male prisoners. It accepts inmates of any term, including life, but not those physically disabled, or with psychiatric issues.
The estate also contains Brockhill Young Offenders and Remand Institution with about 150 places, and Blakenhurst Prison with about 1000 places for Category B inmates (e.g. violent crimes, sexual offences).
[edit] External links
- HM Prison Hewell Grange
- Aerial photo of Hewell Grange. Other map and aerial photo sources.
[edit] See also
- 6839 Hewell Grange, a Grange Class locomotive named after the building.
