Northwich u3a monthly meeting - June 2025
Our June speaker was Clive Brookes who enlightened us all about ‘Marbury Hall through the Centuries’. In fact, it was eight centuries, beginning in the 13th , when John de Merburie, a rich farmer who owned much property and land in mid Cheshire, acquired the estate. The Merburie family were sheriffs of Cheshire in 1413 and 1414 and Sir Lawrence de Merburie presided over the court. The first house was built of timber and thatch, but in Tudor times, it gained a brick façade.
In the 18th century, Marbury changed hands and passed to the Savage family - Richard Savage, 3rd Earl Rivers. One Elizabeth Savage married James Barry, 4th Earl Barrymore and in 1712 bought Marbury estate. During all the intervening years, the hall was changed and wings added.
In 1784, Hugh Smith Barry inherited Belmont Hall, another large, local house. He also inherited an estate in Cork and Marbury. Many of the rich families at this time, sent their sons on the ‘Grand Tour’ around Europe and up until 1942, there were many items which had been brought back from the tour in Marbury Hall. There were many significant items, including some which are now in America’s Getty Museum. There was a bust of Alexander which, Clive assured us, was sold for over $500,000 and a bust of Marcus Aurelius which was sold for over $2,500,000! In addition, there was a piece of the Elgin Marbles which is now in London and the Jenkins’ Vase which is in Cardiff National Museum.
By 1910, the hall was very large and the façade was ‘dressed up’ to look like an 1850 Fontainebleau chateau.
The last dynastic owner was Robert Smith Barry who was a pilot in WWI. Unfortunately, he was crippled by death duties when several of his relatives died and he sold the estate. It was bought by a country club and made into a very exclusive club. It could seat over 120 for lunch, had an airstrip in case a member wanted to fly in, a motoring club and eventually an eighteen hole golf course. It had 60 bedrooms and the outdoor swimming pool was one of the first in the country.
1940-48 were the ‘war years’ at Marbury. It housed British, Americans, Polish, Germans and probably Italians. Clive regaled us with many anecdotes and photos of the men who lived there at that time.
1948-74 were the ICI years. ICI bought it and housed single men in the hall and families in all the huts on the grounds.
Sadly, the hall was demolished in the 1970s but there are reminders all around the park of what was there, for example, the foundations of the lodge, remains of the ice house, the mill and the summer house.
This was an absolutely fascinating talk about a mansion which was on our doorstep but which few people saw or knew anything of the history. To see so many photographs and maps etc. of the Marbury history was truly absorbing.
Come and join us at the next meeting on 16th June 2025 at 2pm at Owley Wood Recreation Club, Weaverham, when George King will tell us all about, ‘Solar Energy’.