The history of

Fryerning House

Fascinating History

The original and oldest part of Fryerning House was built in the 1850s and was formerly known as ‘the Hut’. This would be the middle part of the current house. The name was because it was a hunting lodge in the woods that would have surrounded the house at the time.

It was built by the Countess of Noailles (née Anna-Maria) who was the grand-daughter of William Coesvelt, a wealthy Dutch painter and collector of pictures throughout Europe. Her father predeceased her grandfather, and the family wealth was split between his sister Sarah and Anna-Maria, so she was wealthy in her own right. Anna-Maria Helene Coesvelt married Antoine-Claude Just de Noailles, duc de Mouchy, in April 1849. She was widowed early in the marriage and her only child died at birth.

The Countess had become a wealthy lady and enjoyed various charitable activities, founding the Noailles School in Oxford and financially supporting Elizabeth Blackwell during her struggle to become the first female doctor in the US. She was engaged in vast numbers of campaigns, and when she died in 1908 her wealth was left to charities. She owned other houses in England, as well as in Paris and the French Riviera. The Hut was probably used as an occasional residence to keep in touch with her aunt, Sarah. 

Countess Noailles had built the house perfectly situated, to the extent that the front of the house faces north and is generally cool, while most of the sun is on the rooms and the garden, which face south. Not only had we acquired a beautiful house with extensive living accommodation, but also 18 acres of gardens, arboretum and ancient woods, known as Bell Grove. An indoor swimming pool was later added which has been fully utilised by all generations.