993
THE ESTATES GAZETTE
June 10, 1899.
Branksea Island, Dorsetshire.
garden (protected from the north and east) through which the castle is approached from the sea. There are also charming terrace, woodland and other walks, flower, fruit and vegetable gardens, three greenhouses, vineries, etc. Adjacent to the gardener’s cottage is a quay with landing stage and crane.
The stabling and farm premises are at a convenient distance from the castle, and comprise a dwelling house, two cottages, three store houses, harness room, two chaise houses, building suitable for a set of stabling for five horses, etc.
We cannot do better than reproduce an appreciation of this romantic and interesting spot by the author of “ The Curiosities Natural and Artificial of the Island of Great Britain,” which, though published more than 100 years ago, still applies to the place. “ The Isle of Browsea has been embellished with everything that can render it agreeable. This spot deserves particular attention from all those who amuse themselves with viewing the numerous works of taste and wealth that ornament their country. It is an island of about 900 acres of land in the midst of 20,000 of water which is Poole Harbour. A more peculiar spot can hardly be conceived, the highlands of the Isle of Purbeck, and other tracts about Poole, surround the whole space, and landloek it on every side. The coasts hang in very bold steps ; all of which Mr. Sturt planted with the quantity of a million of trees of various sorts, chiefly firs. One end of the Island lies directly against the narrow mouth of the harbour, in this point a beautiful edifice, Brownsea Castle, having been built. It is a quadrangular building, light, and admirably suited to the spot; but the views commanded from the windows are inimitable, looking out to sea through the narrow straight to the harbour’s mouth—such a view of the ocean as is desirable. You there catch the Needles and the Isle of Wight mountains at a distance, but the circumstance truly picturesque is the shipping, every saix that comes to and from Poole (a placs of great trade) bends her course in a line up to the castle, and then tacks through a channel, half a mile broad, under the very windows ; nothing can be finer than this, while the surrounding coasts are bold. In the front is a battery of ten nine-pounders. Sailing round the Island it offers several beautiful views, the castle beiDg a noble object. The lawns, laid out by Mr. Sturt, are with a few scattered groves of tall trees, and a farm or a cottage or two under them, as agreeable landscapes as can be seen, and when the woods all get up the whole will be a glorious scenery. In respect to the agreeableness of residence, nothing can exceed this island. It is full of hares, pheasants and partridges, and the springs of fresh water are as fine as can anywhere be met with. When all these circumstances are considered, with the amusements of sailing, fishing, etc., that it is within a short distance of Poole, and so truly singular that no spot resembles it, will any one hesitate to pronounce it one of the most agreeable places in the kingdom ? ”
BRANKSEA:
THE CHURCH PROM ABOVE THE FARM AND PARKSTONE IN THE DISTANCE.
| Comprised in the estate are a number of residences, including the Villa, the Villiers, ! Seymer’s Cottage, five cottages with gardens, and five blocks of cottages, forming Maryland Village.
I The island is grandly timbered, and possesses two extensive fresh water lakes. It l offers quite unique attractions for yachting, boating, shooting and fishing, while first-! rate hunting with the Blackmoor Vale, Lord Portman’s and other packs, is easily , accessible.
of a mile of which is situate the freehold building estate Broad Green Place, for upwards of 40 years in the occupation of Miss Eliza Cox, which is to be sold by auction at the London Mart, on June 26, by Messrs. Robt. W. Fuller, Moon and Fuller. The mansion stands in well-timbered and park-like grounds of 121 acres, and frontages exist for nearly a mile to London-road, St. James’-road, and Kidderminster-road. The land is ripe for the erection of shops and private residences, and being the only remaining building land available between the town and Thornton Heath, is one of the best building speculations in the market.
, The borough of Croydon enjoys great popu-! larity as a suburban residential neighbourhood, and with much reason. The educational advan-, t-ages are one reason of the rapid growth of the town, and still more important are the unequalled railway facilities afforded from the , eight stations which the district contains ; but most important of all is the position held by , Croydon as the healthiest town in England, the average rate of mortality therein being the lowest of the 33 large towns of the kingdom. The town lies high, and it has beautiful environs. The main Portsmouth line runs through West Croydon station, within a quarter
CHARMING spot, well-known to visitors to the south coast, is the most attractive residential estate, known as Branksea Island (sometimes called Brownsea), which Messrs. Trollope, of 14, Mount-street, Grosvenor-square, London, W., in conjunction with Messrs. Giddy and Giddy, of 4, Waterloo-place, London, S.W., will offer for sale at the Mart, on July 18. The estate to be offered comprises the whole of the island, containing 748 acres, together with the historic castle, which has recently been renovated throughout.
Branksea Island lies at the east end of the bay of Poole, opposite the entrance, three miles north-west from Studland, and a short distance south-east of the town of Poole-The length of the island is above a mile and a half, and its breadth is about three-quarters of a mile. It is not mentioned in Domesday Book, but it might then have been included in the survey of Studland, and probably some of the salterns that were said to have been in that parish, were upon the shores of the island. Before this, we find it remarkable for the Danes landing there, or retreating thither from Frome Mouth a.d. 1015. In 1293 the temporalities of the Abbot of Cerne here were valued at 51s. lid.; and in the reign of Edward I. he had a patent “ de wrecca maris” there. After
BRANKSEA CASTLE-FROM THE EAST
the dissolution, the island and the water surrounding it were granted to John Vere, Earl of Oxford, and from that time there have been about twenty owners. In the reign of James I. the island was in the possession of Robert Cecil, Earl of Salisbury. Leland says, “ There be three isles in the Haven of Pool, whereof the most famous is Brunkeshey ; some say there has been a Paroch in it. There is yet a chapel for an hermite; it longith to Cerne Abbey.” The ohapel was dedicated to St. Andrew, and there are some remains now evident.
During the reign of Elizabeth the woods here, except Alum and Chyme Silwer were granted to John Engleby for 21 years. Sir Robert Clayton began copperas works, but they were neglected about 1700. Hutchins observes that Auditor Benson, at the expense of ¡£200, caused a botanist to collect all the curious plants on the island, to the number of several hundreds, and that they were pasted up in the hall of the castle.
In 1762, the property was conveyed to Sir Gerard Napier and Mr. Alfred Sturt; and on the death of the former the whole property devolved to Mr. Sturt—an ancestor of the present Lord Alington—who is said to have expended not less than ¡£50,000 in additions to the castle, in plantations, gardens, and other improvements. He iestored the great hall built by Auditor Benson, and made great plantations of various kinds of trees, and manured and cultivated it with different kinds of agriculture with so much sucoess that the island which previously had lain rude and uncultivated, covered with heath and furze, began to see the improvements of art, and in a few years to a great extent repaid the cost of labour bestowed upon it.
The fine old castle stands at the east part of the island, opposite the entrance into Poole Bay.	It was built in the reign of Queen Elizabeth,
and Sir Christopher Hatton, admiral of the Isle of Purbeck, was governor of the castle, having power to muster the inhabitants of the island. The great tower of the castle, together with some lower wings about half the height of the tower, was built towards the end of the reign of Henry VIII., and in the first year of Edward VI. various items of artillery and ammunition were received by the Mayor and his brethren of Poole towards the defence of “ Castell of Bronkee.” The castle was fortified during the Civil Wars, and in 1645 was garrisoned with 20 men under command of the Governor of Poole. In 1772, the authorities cf Poole petitioned against the castle being used as a place of residence by the owner of the island, but the prayer of the petition does not seem to have had much effect, for since then the owner of the island has continually lived there.
The principal apartments of the castle are a grand reception hall, 56ft. in length, with handsome domed roof, from which apartment ascends the beautiful grand oak staircase; twelve principal bed and dressing rooms, a suite of gentlemen’s rooms and eight secondary and servants’ bed rooms, together with twelve unfinished rooms in the tower ; dining room, measuring 50ft. by 29ft.; the library, about 44ft. by 24ft.; the drawing room measuring about 26ft. by 38ft.; and the fine billiard room, about 40ft. by 25ft. The other family apartments are numerous, convenient and well-arranged. The park and grounds of great natural beauty are well-timbered and inexpensive to maintain, and include a walled pleasure