Thicket Priory is packed with history, from before it was even built, to the family residence and the Carmelite Monastery most recently.
Let’s take a look at a few names and pieces of history here at Thicket Priory that you may not know about.
On arrival at Thicket Priory you will first see the clock tower standing proudly centre stage.
Recently we have had some scaffolding up to undergo some essential maintenance to the clock tower, the bell more specifically.
Around the rim of the bell, it reads “C and G Mears Foundry London “, who ran the Whitechapel Bell Foundry from 1844 until 1861. They made some notable bells including the Liberty Bell and Big Ben.
Around the middle it reads “MDCCCXLV11”, which is the year 1847.
There are three large letters around the top of the bell, which look like the initials J.D.J. which are those of the original owner of Thicket Priory, Joseph Dunnington-Jefferson.
The clock maker was Benjamin Vulliamy, of Vulliamy London, meaning we have the prestigious pendulum hanging at Thicket Priory. If you’d like to know more about the clock maker, read more HERE. The intricate design of the mechanism is magnificent!
The views from the top aren’t to be sniffed at either.
Joseph Dunnington Jefferson was married to Anne Vavasour, who came from Hazelwood Castle. Her father was Sir Henry Vavasour…which leads us on to the next piece of history.
Joseph Dunnington-Jefferson married Anna Mervynia, daughter of Sir Henry Vavasour of Hazelwood Castle…which leads us on to the next piece of history.
We have recently acquired, on loan, a portrait of Sir Henry Vavasour. The late Darrell Buttery, an old friend of the late Isobel, Lady Dunnington-Jefferson, looked after this portrait for many years but as his health failed the Dunnington-Jefferson family was delighted to return this picture to Thicket Priory on loan. The artist is Sir William Beechey RA, who painted some very characterful and lively portraits including many royal commissions.
Darrell Buttery
It previously hung in the Yorkshire Club on Lendal Bridge before the club closed over 40 years ago.
The artist is Sir William Beechey RA, who has painted some very characterful and lively portraits including many royal commissions.
Nicky Dunnington-Jefferson, with her late brother Mervyn, were the last children to live at Thicket Priory before it was sold to the nuns and converted into a Carmelite monastery in 1955.
Nicky has visited us many times and loved seeing that she has a bedroom named after her. She also told us about the time she fell in the lake, aged about three, and her brother’s screams alerted the nanny who rushed to pull her out of the water. Nicky loves coming back to Thicket and reminiscing about her happy childhood spent in these lovely surroundings in the company of animals, especially her beloved ponies.
Photograph: Sir John and Lady Dunnington-Jefferson, with their children Nicolette and Mervyn, and Shandy the dog, outside Thicket Priory.
Nicky’s bedrooms is one of my personal favourites, with its roll-top bathtub overlooking the gardens, four-poster bed and wonderful bookcase in the bathroom! The whole team have their favourite rooms in the house….what’s yours? See their favourites HERE.
I hope this has been an interesting read! If you’re interested in more of the History of Thicket Priory, check out the History page on our website or dive into another Blog.
Love
Anna
xXx
