Orsett Hall

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Orsett Hall was a grade 2 listed building in Orsett, Essex. It was set in 12 acres of parkland and was the centre of the Orsett Hall agricultural estate. The house was destroyed by fire on 11th May 2007.

Orsett Hall before the fire, by John Winfield

1 History
2 The fire
3 References
4 External links

[edit] History

The house dated in part to the 17th century, but was enlarged and reconstructed in brick by Richard Baker about 1750 and was set in 12 acres of parkland. With the purchases of additional farm land in Orsett and nearby parishes, Baker established an agricultural estate centred on the house. In 1827, the house and estate passed from the Baker family to a nephew, William Wingfield, who changed his name to Wingfield-Baker. At the end of the 19th century the estate was inherited by Thomas Whitmore as a debt of honour. (A family legend says that it was won in a game of cards.) The house was refurbished in the early 20th century by Colonel Sir Francis Whitmore who described it as "an uninhabitable shell, without light, water or sanitation".^[1] It was the Whitmore family home for more than fifty years. It was sold by Sir Francis' son, Sir John, in 1968. At the time of the fire it was in use as a hotel, conference centre and wedding venue.

[edit] The fire

The last event held at the Orsett Hall was Chafford Hundred Campus' School Prom, held on 10th May 2007. Only a few hours after they left the building, it caught alight and collapsed. The fire broke out in the kitchen while breakfast was being prepared and spread rapidly. Guests were evacuated and fortunately no one was seriously hurt. More than 70 Essex firefighters and crews attended, including two fire engines from Orsett, two from Grays, two from Basildon including an aerial ladder platform, one from Southend, and a Fire Brigade Command Unit from Brentwood. The building collapsed at around midday.

The house contained antique furniture and Sir Francis' ceremonial uniform as well as a number of paintings, photographs and documents relating to the history of the house and family. Sadly, nothing was saved. Prior to the fire, documents from the Orsett Estate during the 19th and 20th centuries had been deposited in the Museum of English Rural Life at Reading. There are some other documents related to Orsett Hall in the Essex Record Office.