Babraham Hall

Babraham Hall

History of Babraham Hall

Listed building:

Country house. 1832-33 by Philip Hardwick (1792-1870), for H.J. Adeane, Jacobean revival style with additions and alterations in 1864 and c.1900. Red brick with limestone dressings; slate roofs and metal coverings to tower and corner turret. Three storeys and basement; two storey and attic north-west range. The original building with symmetrical three-gabled facade perhaps encases part of c.1770 building. Extended to south-east by one bay and to north-west beyond north tower by a range including a billiard room, and unified in the garden facade by a loggia-raised over the semi basement.

For detailed history:

https://www.babraham.ac.uk/sites/default/files/media/files/babraham%20history.pdf

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W M Palmer (1924) describes the original house, built by Robert Taylor in 1576. The antiquarian, Cole, said that it was one of the finest Gothic houses in the country. The house was bought by Sir Horatio Palavicini in 1593 but sold by his son to pay his debts. It was pulled down in 1767 and all the materials sold. In 1768 Cole saw the stone columns and quoins lying on the riverside at Chesterton where they were to be used in repairing the sluice.

1941 08 08
Sudden passing of Mrs. Adeane. We deeply regret to record the death of Mrs.C. R.W. Adeane, O.B.E., which occurred suddenly from heart failure at Babraham Hall on Thursday evening of last week. Mrs. Adeane was in Cambridge only a few hours earlier, and almost up to the last carried on her indefatigable work for the many good causes in which she was interested. The deepest sympathy will go out to Ald. Adeane, Lord Lieutenant of the county, and his family in their loss. By her unfailing charm of manner as much is by her ever-ready willingness to help any good cause, Mrs. Adeane had made herself a wide circle of friends, both in the county and elsewhere. And since the beginning of the war particularly, she had rendered unstilted assistance to her husband in helping on the many charitable organisations to which he gave a lead. It was Mrs. Adeane who instituted a fund for the Air Defence Corps. Before the sitting of Linton Court on Wednesday, the chairman (Mr. H. Titmarsh) paid a tribute to the memory of Mrs. Adeane. “Since the court last met,” he said, “we have lost a much-loved member. For the last 20 years Mrs. Adeane has served this court with unfailing courtesy.” Mr. Titmarsh went on to speak of her wide sympathy and understanding. She had passed on, as she would have wished, with-out any fuss or ostentation; her charming personality was a refreshing memory to them . . . She had left behind her a sense of irreparable loss’.

1943 02 11
Death of Mr, C, R. W. Adeane,—We regret to announce the death of the Lord Lieutenant, Mr. C. R. W. Adeane, who passed peacefully away at Babraham yesterday in his 80th year. Mr. Adeane had been in failing health for some time and had been confined to the Hall since Christmas. Mrs. Adeane died in July, 1941, and he is survived by one son, Lt. Col. Robert Adeane, who has been serving abroad for three years, and by five daughters. Mr. Adeane was educated at Eton and Christchurch, Oxford, and married in 1888. Since early in the 18th century, the name of Adeane has been an honoured one in Cambridgeshire and ever since the family have maintained the closest association with .the county’s history. Mr. Adeane, no less than other members of his family … enjoyed his patronage, and all will miss the great personal interest he took in their activities. His father, grandfather and great grandfather in turn all represented the county in Parliament, but Mr. Adeane was unsuccessful, when he stood as Liberal candidate for South Hunts, in 1900. A Justice of the Peace for the County since 1886, he was Vice-Chairman of the County Quarter Sessions from 1912 to 1915. It was in the latter year that he was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire. He had seen many years of service on the County Council, which he first joined in 1892. He was a member for three years and then, after a break, was elected again in 1904. Babraham Hall, which has been the seat of the Adeane family for generations …43 02 11, 43 02 15

1943 08 05
Army cadets camp at Babraham Park – 43 08 05