Greenham Hall

Greenham Hall is a historic country house in Stawley, Somerset, England. The property is associated with the nearby town of Wellington and is recognized as a Grade II listed building. Although it is included in a brand-style directory here, Greenham Hall is primarily a heritage property and hospitality venue rather than a conventional consumer brand, manufacturer, or corporate group. The house was originally known as Tremlett House. The Reverend Thomas Clarke acquired the estate in 1696, and the property later passed to his grandson, Thomas Edward Clarke. Clarke, a solicitor, inherited the house in 1840 and commissioned the rebuilding of the principal residence in 1848. His marriage to Georgina Mary Hall in 1846 linked the house with the Hall family name, although the property continued to have other names during its history. In the nineteenth century it was also occupied by the Manley family. Charles Chapman acquired Greenham Hall in approximately 1875. Chapman had made his fortune as an oil merchant in Sydney, Australia, before returning to Britain and purchasing property. Following his death in 1894, his English estates passed to his sons, with Major George Alexander Chapman generally identified as the owner and resident of Greenham Hall. The Chapman family ownership continued until about 1920. In 1920 the house was acquired by Admiral of the Fleet Sir John Kelly, who had recently held a senior operational position at the Admiralty. Kelly lived at Greenham Hall until his death in 1936. His widow, Maisie, died the following year, after which their daughter Antonia Kelly inherited the property. During the Second World War, Greenham Hall served as a collecting point for army units, giving the country house a temporary military role beyond its use as a private residence. Antonia Kelly sold the property in 1946, shortly before her marriage to David St Clair Erskine. The house was subsequently acquired by the Norman family and passed to the Ayre family in 1970. The Ayre family remains associated with ownership of Greenham Hall. Since 1985, the property has operated as bed-and-breakfast accommodation, combining heritage-house character with visitor lodging. Its principal offering is therefore accommodation in a historic Somerset country-house setting rather than a portfolio of branded products.

Greenham Hall's documented history begins in 1696, when the Reverend Thomas Clarke purchased the property then known as Tremlett House. The estate was later inherited by Clarke's grandson, Thomas Edward Clarke, a lawyer who received it in 1840. Clarke married Georgina Mary Hall in 1846, and the couple had nine children. In 1848 he arranged for the main house to be rebuilt, creating the principal nineteenth-century structure associated with Greenham Hall. Clarke put the property up for sale in 1864, after which the Manley family became the next recorded residents. By approximately 1875, Greenham Hall had been purchased by Charles Chapman. Chapman came from relatively modest circumstances, emigrated to Sydney, Australia, and built a successful oil-merchandising business. After selling that business, he used his wealth to acquire country property in Britain. Following his death in 1894, his three sons inherited his English property. Major George Alexander Chapman, the eldest son, appears to have been the principal owner of Greenham Hall and lived there with his wife, Amy Parker Jenkins, and their children. The Chapman family's tenure ended around 1920, when the property was sold to Admiral Sir John Kelly. Kelly had become Director of Operations at the Admiralty in 1919 and was later known as an Admiral of the Fleet. He remained connected with Greenham Hall until his death in 1936. His wife, Maisie, died in 1937, and their daughter Antonia Kelly inherited the house. During the Second World War, Greenham Hall was used as a collecting point for army units. This wartime function temporarily transformed the property from a private country residence into a logistical and military assembly location. Antonia Kelly sold the house in 1946, shortly before her marriage to David St Clair Erskine. The Norman family then acquired the property, and in 1970 ownership passed to the Ayre family. The Ayre family continues to own Greenham Hall according to the available reference material. In 1985, the property began operating as a bed-and-breakfast establishment. Its modern identity consequently combines the preservation of a historic listed country house with small-scale visitor accommodation. The property is not documented as part of a larger hospitality chain or publicly traded company, and no separate corporate parent or listed security is identified in the available material.

• 1985

  Conversion to bed-and-breakfast accommodation

  [1]Greenham Hallen.wikipedia.org

  Greenham Hall began operating as a bed-and-breakfast property, adding a hospitality function to its heritage role.

• 1970

  Ayre family ownership begins

  [1]Greenham Hallen.wikipedia.org

  Ownership passed from the Norman family to the Ayre family.

• 1946

  Kelly ownership ends

  [1]Greenham Hallen.wikipedia.org

  Antonia Kelly sold the property shortly before her marriage to David St Clair Erskine.

• 1939

  Wartime military use

  [1]Greenham Hallen.wikipedia.org

  During the Second World War, Greenham Hall was used as a collecting point for army units.

• 1920

  Acquired by Admiral Sir John Kelly

  [1]Greenham Hallen.wikipedia.org

  The country house was sold to Admiral Sir John Kelly, a senior Royal Navy officer.

• 1875

  Chapman family acquisition

  [1]Greenham Hallen.wikipedia.org

  Charles Chapman acquired Greenham Hall after building wealth through the oil trade in Australia.

• 1848

  Main house rebuilt

  [1]Greenham Hallen.wikipedia.org

  Thomas Edward Clarke commissioned the rebuilding of the principal house, establishing the main structure associated with the present property.

• 1840

  Thomas Edward Clarke inherits the estate

  [1]Greenham Hallen.wikipedia.org

  Clarke's grandson, Thomas Edward Clarke, inherited the property and later became responsible for its nineteenth-century rebuilding.

• 1696

  Thomas Clarke acquires the property

  [1]Greenham Hallen.wikipedia.org

  The Reverend Thomas Clarke purchased the house then known as Tremlett House, marking the beginning of the documented ownership history.

A historic Somerset country house positioned around heritage, architectural character, rural setting, and bed-and-breakfast hospitality.

• Hospitality · 1985

  Greenham Hall accommodation

  Bed-and-breakfast accommodation in a historic country-house setting in rural Somerset. The offering is centered on staying at the listed property and experiencing its architectural and historical character rather than on a standardized chain-hotel product.

1. 1Greenham Hallen.wikipedia.org