South Luffenham Hall: The Lost Gertrude Jekyll Garden
South Luffenham Hall, Oakham, is for sale at £3,000,000 — with a remarkable story of rediscovered Gertrude Jekyll garden plans lost for a century
During the 1920s, a Mrs Allfrey — who may have taken on South Luffenham Hall from the Hotchkin family — corresponded with celebrated horticulturalist Gertrude Jekyll to seek her expertise in redesigning the grounds. Jekyll drew up plans for the hall, though these stopped short of a complete scheme because she was never formally commissioned; Mrs Allfrey concluded the cost of realising Jekyll’s vision would be too great. The plans were filed away and eventually found their way into the archives of the Gertrude Jekyll Collection in Surrey, where a member of staff misread them as relating to a property in Stafford rather than Stamford. Unable to find any record of the property, the collection’s curators assumed it no longer existed.
An Unknowing Echo of Jekyll’s Vision
Current owner Kathryn Jukes moved into the property in 1998 and began redesigning the gardens in a manner commensurate with the age and style of the house, introducing parterres, yew hedging, formal gardens and spaces for outdoor entertaining. Only later was she contacted by an archivist who helped her obtain a copy of Jekyll’s plans. Satisfyingly, Kathryn’s own vision for the garden was not radically different from what Jekyll herself might have advocated.
A House With Centuries of History
The hall’s starred listing designation, held by fewer than five per cent of listed buildings, indicates the importance of its internal features. A dendrochronological study commissioned by Kathryn found that some of the property’s timbers date from 1695, while one beam in the kitchen dates from 1320. During her tenure, Kathryn has replaced the heating and plumbing systems, rewired the property and safeguarded the roof, while adding an indoor swimming pool complex and converting the former coach house into space suitable as an office or annexe for multigenerational living.
The Details
South Luffenham Hall comprises four reception rooms currently configured as breakfast kitchen, drawing room/dining room, reception room and billiard room, plus six or seven bedrooms with three en suites. The property includes a coach house, swimming pool, outbuildings and 2.14 acres of grounds. Location: Uppingham 5.4 miles, Stamford 7 miles, Oakham 9 miles. Guide price £3,000,000, currently on the market with Savills of Stamford, call 01780 484696.
FAQ
How much is South Luffenham Hall on the market for?
The property has a guide price of £3,000,000 with Savills of Stamford.
What is the connection between South Luffenham Hall and Gertrude Jekyll?
In the 1920s, Jekyll drew up garden redesign plans for the property that were never implemented and were later misfiled and presumed lost, only to be rediscovered decades later and returned to the current owner.
How old is South Luffenham Hall?
Dendrochronological testing found timbers dating from 1695, with one kitchen beam dating from 1320.
