Bylaugh Park
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Bylaughhall.jpg
Image:Bylaughhall.jpg
The grand estate at Bylaugh, in Norfolk, England, was acquired for the Lombe family (later Evans-Lombe) family by Sir John Lombe in 1796. Although the details remain a little unclear, it is rumoured that he won it from Richard Lloyd in a card game, some say as the result of Lloyd's butler drugging his wine. Sir John died in 1817, and with no children to inherit the estate it passed to his brother Edward. Sir John's bequest included a large sum of money deposited in trust to be used for the building of a mansion on the estate.
After some years of little activity, the Court of Chancery instructed that the trust money should be used, and eventually architects Charles Barry, Jr. and Richardson Banks were commissioned to design a suitable house. William Andrews Nesfield advised on the position of the house, and was responsible for laying out the grounds and gardens. The clock tower and surrounding buildings are vaguely reminiscent of the Houses of Parliament which were designed by Charles Barry, Sr.
The house was completed in about 1851. It was amongst the first buildings ever to employ steel girders in the supporting structure. The exterior stonework, including the balustrades and the terrace walling are of magnesian limestone. When completed, the estate was the third largest in Norfolk with over 19,000 acres (77 km²).
During the Second World War, Bylaugh Hall was requisitioned by the RAF's 100 (Bomber Support) Group as their headquarters.
By 1950, the house was in disrepair. It was stripped of its lead and interior fittings, and abandoned. The main hall is presently a ruin, but many of the surrounding buildings including the orangery (winter gardens), stable courtyard, old brewery and servants' quarters have been restored by the present owners and are used as self catering holiday accommodation and for wedding functions
Bylaugh Hall is now home to a series of international Tango Festivals under the banner of England Tango (http://www.englandtango.com). Future events include Salsa, Ballroom, Jive and other dance styles.