Once the dower house of Weston-in-Arden, this elegant Manor House was built as the De Zouche family home in 1580. Now a 35 bedroom, three star hotel of character and quality with period-style décor, Weston Hall nestles in seven acres of peaceful grounds with fishing, golf and horse riding close by. The manor of Weston-in-Arden has been an independent commune since at least the time of Edward the Confessor, it is therefore likely that there has been a high status building on the site since at least that time. The original three, south facing gables were erected around 1580 by the Lords Zouch during the reign of Elizabeth I. This construction includes the hotels bar, lounge, library, Dubary and Arden Suites, as well as many of the second floor bedrooms. The oldest surviving example of furnishing is the fireplace in the Newdigate bar, of which the over mantle is late 16th Century. The remainder of the stone building was added in 1893, and includes reception, the restaurant, the lobby and several of the first and second floor bedrooms.
At the time of the Doomsday survey (1086), the manor of Weston, along with the nearby villages of Bulkington, Barnacle and Marston were held by the count of Meulan and were probably granted to him at the time of the conquest.
The overlordship of the counts estates passed through the Earls of Leicester, Winchester and Buchan, and in 1352 the estate passed to one Henry de Beaumont. At this time the Crown effectively administrated the land, as Henry was an only child. Henrys’ grandson, Lord Sir Henry Beaumont was the last recorded overlord of the whole estate, which he held until his death in 1413.
The first known local lord, appointed by the overlord, was Roger de Wateville in 1143, who at this time donated much of the manors’ land to the abbey of St. Mary in Leicester. Rogers’ nephew the first Ernald de Bois inherited the manor upon his death. The de Bois family continued to live at Weston until 1313 when a certain William de Bois granted the estate, as a trust for her son, to the first wife of Lord William la Zouche, who held hands in Ashby and Haringworth.
The lords Zouche held the manor until 1580. However, there was a brief interlude between 1488 and 1495 when John la Zouche fought against the later king Henry VII in the battle of Bosworth. In 1580 the manor was sold as a joint lordship to two country gentlemen, Mr. Humphrey Davenport and Mr. Richard Bucknam. The manor was never again held by a Lord or used as the seat of a Lord. The owners continued to call themselves ‘Lords of the Manor’, but they had little or no power.
The manor passed from owner to owner, many of them knights of the realm. Very rarely did the manor stay in the same family for more than a couple of generations as it had once done, probably as a result of the lord’s loss of power
At the turn of the 19th century the joint lords were Rev Peter Debary (after whom the Hotels’ Dubarry suite is named), and a Mr. Thomas Woods Weston. In the mid 19th century, under the guidance of the Reverend Debary, a mission was founded at the hall whilst his wife ran a free school for local children from the great hall.
At the turn of the 20th century F.A. Newdigate (after whom the hotels bar is named) was lord of the manor having purchased the Hall and title in the 1890’s. The last lord was Lt. Col. Leyland (after whom the hotels restaurant is named). During the Second World War, it was he who allowed the hall to be used as a base for the local home guard. Leyland acquired the manor in 1920 and died in 1958.
It was left to decay during the late 1950s through the 1960s,but was completely refurbished and opened as a eating house and night club called the Trocadero in the 1970s. During the 1980s the night club became Charlie's but closed down after locals in Weston Lane complained about the trouble being caused after closing time at 2am.
It is now a well established hotel and caters for weddings etc. It is now part of the prestigious Best Western chain of hotels. You can see its current website at: http://www.bw-westonhallhotel.co.uk/
At the time of the Doomsday survey (1086), the manor of Weston, along with the nearby villages of Bulkington, Barnacle and Marston were held by the count of Meulan and were probably granted to him at the time of the conquest.
The overlordship of the counts estates passed through the Earls of Leicester, Winchester and Buchan, and in 1352 the estate passed to one Henry de Beaumont. At this time the Crown effectively administrated the land, as Henry was an only child. Henrys’ grandson, Lord Sir Henry Beaumont was the last recorded overlord of the whole estate, which he held until his death in 1413.
The first known local lord, appointed by the overlord, was Roger de Wateville in 1143, who at this time donated much of the manors’ land to the abbey of St. Mary in Leicester. Rogers’ nephew the first Ernald de Bois inherited the manor upon his death. The de Bois family continued to live at Weston until 1313 when a certain William de Bois granted the estate, as a trust for her son, to the first wife of Lord William la Zouche, who held hands in Ashby and Haringworth.
The lords Zouche held the manor until 1580. However, there was a brief interlude between 1488 and 1495 when John la Zouche fought against the later king Henry VII in the battle of Bosworth. In 1580 the manor was sold as a joint lordship to two country gentlemen, Mr. Humphrey Davenport and Mr. Richard Bucknam. The manor was never again held by a Lord or used as the seat of a Lord. The owners continued to call themselves ‘Lords of the Manor’, but they had little or no power.
The manor passed from owner to owner, many of them knights of the realm. Very rarely did the manor stay in the same family for more than a couple of generations as it had once done, probably as a result of the lord’s loss of power
At the turn of the 19th century the joint lords were Rev Peter Debary (after whom the Hotels’ Dubarry suite is named), and a Mr. Thomas Woods Weston. In the mid 19th century, under the guidance of the Reverend Debary, a mission was founded at the hall whilst his wife ran a free school for local children from the great hall.
At the turn of the 20th century F.A. Newdigate (after whom the hotels bar is named) was lord of the manor having purchased the Hall and title in the 1890’s. The last lord was Lt. Col. Leyland (after whom the hotels restaurant is named). During the Second World War, it was he who allowed the hall to be used as a base for the local home guard. Leyland acquired the manor in 1920 and died in 1958.
It was left to decay during the late 1950s through the 1960s,but was completely refurbished and opened as a eating house and night club called the Trocadero in the 1970s. During the 1980s the night club became Charlie's but closed down after locals in Weston Lane complained about the trouble being caused after closing time at 2am.
It is now a well established hotel and caters for weddings etc. It is now part of the prestigious Best Western chain of hotels. You can see its current website at: http://www.bw-westonhallhotel.co.uk/
Pictures marked '*' by Roy Clews for which grateful acknowledgement is given
Pictures marked ** are © 2002–2013 Best Western International, Inc. All rights reserved.
Other pictures and full historical text by Dean Nelson for which grateful acknowledgement is given
Pictures marked ** are © 2002–2013 Best Western International, Inc. All rights reserved.
Other pictures and full historical text by Dean Nelson for which grateful acknowledgement is given
