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"Island Hall is a delightful early Georgian house associated with my family since 1804; we would like to welcome you to this site and to our family home."
Christopher and Lady Linda Vane Percy of Island Hall
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The House
Island Hall is an elegant riverside mansion built in the late 1740s. The house is situated in 3 acres of gardens including an ornamental Saxon island in the river Great Ouse.
Island Hall is a family run private home and all tours are given by a member of the family. You can also stay for tea, dinner or attend one of our evening concerts.
Visiting is easy by road or rail: drive a short distance from the A14 or A1(M) or alight at Huntingdon station.
Please join us for:
- Tours of the house and grounds with a family member
- Lunches in the stone flagged hall
- Traditional homemade English afternoon tea
- Croquet tea on the house's main lawn
- Candle lit Dinners and Dinner Concerts
We also offer Private Functions tailored to suit your needs
All tours, given by a member of the family and last for around 1 - 1.5 hours, guests are then free to explore the house and gardens and enjoy their refreshments.
Groups may book directly through Island Hall by downloading a booking form. Individuals or groups of less than
16 should book tours with our partner, Invitation to View.
To arrange a group or organisation visit in the evening or a
tailored event, please call.
Tel: 01480-459676 (during office hours); |
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To contact us:
Christopher Vane Percy
Island Hall
Godmanchester
Huntingdon
Cambridgeshire
PE29 2BA
e-mail: enquire@islandhall.com
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News and Upcoming Events
The Gardens of England: Treasures of the National Gardens Scheme Mon, 20 May 2013 20:59:53 +0000 With text by George Plumptre, preface by Joe Swift and Foreword by HRH The Prince of Wales Island Hall is in good company in the new NGS hardback recently published by Merrell. Available now on Amazon! In England, gardening and garden-visiting are national obsessions. More than 80 years ago, the National Gardens Scheme (NGS) was […]  Read Entire ArticleHistoric Gardens of Cambridgeshire: and the Isle of Ely by Timothy Mowl & Laura Mayer Mon, 20 May 2013 20:56:51 +0000 The latest book in the county garden series published by Redcliffe Press features Island Hall. This volume focuses on Cambridgeshire, written with consultant with Laura Mayer. As usual, he is finding the most unexpected buildings and undiscovered garden sites. Tim Mowl published his first article on Marford, a village of Gothick cottages in Flintshire, in […]  Read Entire ArticleCentenary of Philip Edward Tillard D.L. J.P 1836-1913 four times Mayor of Godmanchester Sun, 12 May 2013 12:28:12 +0000 In our nation’s history only two monarchs have celebrated a Diamond Jubilee, and the events of last year’s festivities are still fresh in our minds. During this special year we also celebrated the 800th anniversary of the Town’s Charter. 2013 is the centenary of the death of Philip Edward Tillard, known as Edward Tillard, who […]  Read Entire ArticleValentine Exhibition & Tea Review by Selina Daley Tue, 19 Feb 2013 19:33:36 +0000 On Sunday the 17th of February I went along to Island Hall?s Valentine Celebration Tea, owned by the Vane Percy family. I admit that I was dubious about throwing myself into such uber romance being a singleton. I also admit that taking my recently engaged friend who had met all at the house on that […]  Read Entire ArticleIsland Hall is now on Facebook! Fri, 01 Feb 2013 16:15:38 +0000 Take a look at our band new Facebook profile, ‘like’ us to keep updated with events & dates for your diary We look forward to seeing you soon.  Read Entire ArticleSCHEDULED TOURS FOR SMALL GROUPS 2013 Fri, 04 Jan 2013 16:36:10 +0000 These are scheduled tours for small groups (groups of under sixteen) or individuals, that you can join, with like minded people to view the house and gardens guided by a member of the family. Included in your admission is homemade tea and cake 17.50 pounds per head. (*THESE TOURS MUST BE BOOKED DIRECTLY THROUGH INVITATION […]  Read Entire ArticleEvents at Island Hall Announced 2013 Fri, 04 Jan 2013 16:25:04 +0000 February Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th Valentine Celebration Tea Experience a tour of the house and enjoy a unique exhibition of antique fans – courtesy of the Fan Circle International – on a theme of love and romance, included in the exhibition is our collection of the Victorian and Edwardian Valentine’s Cards sent within the […]  Read Entire ArticleAn Enchanting Evening of Carols at Island Hall 14th December in Aid of The Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire & Northamptonshire Fri, 09 Nov 2012 19:02:22 +0000 On Friday 14th December Island Hall is hosting it’s annual charity carol concert, come and celebrate the festive season with us! Join us for An Enchanting Evening of Carols at Island Hall, performed by the acclaimed local choir Tapestry in aid of The Wildlife Trusts – The Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire & Northamptonshire Champagne […]  Read Entire ArticleSpecial Candlelit Tours with Invitation to View Fri, 09 Nov 2012 18:51:39 +0000 These are scheduled tours for small groups (groups of under sixteen) or individuals, that you can join, with like minded people to view the house and gardens guided by a member of the family. Included in your admission is homemade tea and cake 16.50 pounds per head. (*THESE TOURS MUST BE BOOKED DIRECTLY THROUGH INVITATION […]  Read Entire ArticleThe Fan Circle International Visit Island Hall Wed, 31 Oct 2012 19:14:44 +0000 Island Hall was thrilled to welcome The Fan Circle International on Saturday 29th November for a delightful talks and delicious tea. The trip was organised by Sue Angell, Program Organiser for the group. Members who attended were invited to bring some of their personal collections of rare and exotic fans. The theme chosen for the […]  Read Entire Article |
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WELCOME
"On behalf of my family I would like to extend a very warm welcome to Island Hall. I am the seventh generation of my family to live in this delightful early Georgian classical house that was first acquired by my great-great-grandfather Jacob Julian Baumgartner - a naturalised British citizen of Swiss birth.
Island Hall remained a family home for a century and a half until the Second World War, when it was requisitioned and used by the WAAF and then by the RAF's Pathfinder Squadron.
In common with many historic houses, things looked bleak after the war. It had suffered from its wartime use - with Nissen huts covering the garden. The local authority took over responsibility for the building, converting it under the Emergency Housing Act into 15 tiny flats, even using the huts themselves for accommodation.
I saw the house myself for the first time in 1957, from the river, as a schoolboy on a boating party, and dreamed of owning and restoring it one day. At that time I knew nothing of the history of the house and its connections to my family.
Twenty years later, during the 1977 Firemen's Strike, a fire broke out on the ground floor. This was brought under control, then broke out again during the night gutting the south wing, but luckily the main body of the house was left untouched, so there was no damage to any of the early Georgian panelling or to the fine oak staircase. At this point it was thought the house might even be demolished and I saw the house myself for the second time in 1979, in this dire state of near dereliction, but was pleased to find that it had just been acquired by Simon Herrtage, who carried out a major restoration of the structure back to its original 18th century design.
Then, in 1983, we bought the house, re-assuming the family connection and responsibility, as home for our three children who have grown up here and grown to love it too.
We have continued the process of restoration and redecoration, including the restoration of the mews house and the gardens. We have made an exact replica of a lost 18th century Chinese bridge to reconnect the gardens to the island, from which the house takes its name. We have also cleared the island, encouraged wild flower growth and, having lost an elm avenue many years ago, we have just this year replanted a dozen Princeton Elms, thus creating the first new elm avenue in the county.
We have tried to decorate the interiors with a sense of history, but also a sense of style (we were flattered when Simon Jenkins included our house in England's Thousand Best Houses and referred to the interiors as "a delight" and Country Life magazine featured a visit to our house in the documentary made during their centenary year).
We have portraits and furniture relating to my family and items relating to my wife Linda's family, the Grosvenors. Her father was 5th Baron Ebury and she is the sister of the present Earl of Wilton. Linda also has a collection of vintage prams.
Although Island Hall lies in the heart of old Godmanchester near the parish church, its position on the river and the views over the water meadows give it very much the atmosphere of a classic English country house, which is one of the reasons we love it, and we know visitors respond to it too.
The interiors are attractively English baroque in character. As for the outside, some architectural experts see it as an essentially early Palladian house, others see it as having a touch of the Thomas Archer Baroque; most of our visitors find it satisfyingly domestic, comfortable and fun.
It is a genuine pleasure to welcome interested visitors to our much loved family home and I hope that you will enjoy your visit."
Christopher Vane Percy
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