| Date | 9 January 2015 |
|---|---|
| Source | Slough Observer |
| Reference | VP-0085 |
| Volume | Views of the Past |
| Collection | Views of the Past |
Transcript
Court has ancient roots
DORNEY Court for many years has been a favourite film location and its credits include Zombies, Pride and Prejudice and Agatha Christie’s Poirot to name a few.
It is a delightful house and architecturally superb having been given a Grade I Listing by English Heritage.
A manor house has existed at Dorney since at least Domesday where it was held by Aldred a man of Morcar and was among the lands of Miles Crispin. Post-Domesday the manor house passed to a large number of owners including the Cave, Bray and Hill families.
In 1542, the house was sold by James Hill to Sir William Garrard, a former Lord Mayor of London. Garrard died in 1571 and was succeeded by his son William Junior.
William Garrard’s daughter, Martha married James Palmer, who was knighted in 1629.
Dorney Court was purchased by James Palmer, the younger son of Thomas Palmer Baronet of Wingham, Kent in 1624.
He was appointed Gentleman of Bedchamber by James I and Charles I and Chancellor of the Order of the Garter from 1645.
From Sir James, Dorney Court has passed from father to son in direct succession in the Palmer family down to the present day.
After James’s death the house passed to his oldest son Charles, who became Sir Charles Palmer, 5th Baronet, of Dorney.
His own son, also called Charles Palmer, died before him, and so he was succeeded at his death by his grandson, Sir Charles Harcourt Palmer, 6th baronet, of Dorney.
The house then continued to be passed down from father to son to the present day.
The exterior of the house that survives today was restored and remodelled during the Victorian period towards the end of the nineteenth century and the original bricks of the 17th house were used in the restoration. The interior of the house has remained unchanged since the beginning of the sixteenth century. The oldest part being a panelled parlour and the Great Hall which boasts linenfold panelling from Faversham Abbey. Dorney Court is next open in 2015 over the May Bank Holidays and Sundays and Mondays through August.
ARCHITECTURALLY SUPERB: Dorney Court has English Heritage Grade I Listed status.
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