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This article is about the Hewell Grange country house and estate. For Hewell Prison, see Hewell (HM Prison)
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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Origins
The land was originally part of the estates of Bordesley Abbey. At the Dissolution of the Monasteries the property passed 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 King Henry VIII. 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.
Development
The estate remained a seat of the Windsor-Clive 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.
Lord Windsor, later the first Earl of Plymouth (1857–1923) commssioned Bodley and Garner to build the current country house in a lavish Jacobean style (1884–91).
Prison
Main article:Hewell (HM Prison)
The house was used as Borstal from 1946 to 1991, when it became HM Prison Hewell Grange, a Category D open prison. Over the years two other purpose built-prisons were opened on the estate - HMP Blakenhurst and HMP Brockwell, which held different categories of prisoners.
In June 2008, the 3 prisons formally merged to create HMP Hewell. Blakenhurst, Brockhill and Hewell Grange prisons remained at their existing sites but were brought under a single management team.
Gallery
 'Hewell Grange', A magnificent house. 2005. |
 An Etching of the Old Hall, circa 1730. |
 The ruin of the old hall, June 2005. |
External links
- Aerial photo of Hewell Grange. Other map and aerial photo sources.
- Painted Cloths by Garner and Bodley at Hewell Grange
See also
- 6839 Hewell Grange, a Grange Class locomotive named after the building.
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