Travelling through Time: The History of Ellenborough Park with Concierge and In-house Historian, Jonathon Bennett
15 November 2024
Nestled in the Cotswolds, Ellenborough Park is an impeccable manor house with a vibrant backstory.
People have been residing in the hotel's grounds since 2000BC with the house itself being nearly 600 years old. Join us as concierge and in-house historian, Jonathon Bennett, gives us a guided tour to uncover the history of Ellenborough Park and the surrounding area.
How far back does the history of Ellenborough Park date?
The Main House dates to at least since 1485. It is incredible to think that during this period King Richard III was on the throne and would soon be the last English King to be killed in battle later that year.
What is the most surprising thing about the history of Ellenborough Park?
The extent of history which our estate has witnessed. The original door to our Main House showcases musket bullet holes which date back to the English Civil War and it is thought that Oliver Cromwell himself shot at the door! I am also surprised at just how much the families whose history is intertwined with Ellenborough Park are still present today. We are often visited by the descendants of our two main dynastic families including the De la Bere family and the Law family who date back to Edward Law, the Earl of Ellenborough, whose portrait still hangs in our Reception area to this day.
What are 3 things a guest must do while staying at Ellenborough Park?
- Walk or drive to the top of Cleeve Hill which is the highest point in the Cotswolds. The far-reaching views are staggering, and you can even arrange a game of golf on their popular course.
- Visit the delightful surrounding Cotswold villages. There are many lovely buildings made of the infamous Cotswold honey coloured limestone alongside quaint shops and stunning views. I strongly recommend Broadway!
- Go to Cheltenham Races during one of the meetings. Our 90-acre land neighbours Cheltenham Racecourse, and the horse racing grounds are reputed to be one of the finest in the country. Excitement is guaranteed; however, winners are not.
Your role involves assisting guests to make their stay as memorable as possible – are there any particularly unique or interesting requests you have helped with?
During one Christmas a few years ago, a family of Americans staying at the hotel asked me if they could ring the local church bell in our neighbouring village. Fortunately, I had some contacts and managed to get them into the belfry. It was a tight squeeze, but they had a practise then really got into it. It was a lovely and personal moment that I had the pleasure of making possible to create some fantastic memories during the festive season.
How does history influence the guest experience at the hotel?
Ellenborough Park looks stunning on arrival as you come down the sweeping drive, with Cheltenham Racecourse in the distance and panoramic views of the surrounding area. Guests’ expectations are already high, and many are naturally curious as to how such a magnificent building came in to being. Every day we were asked if there is any information available detailing our extensive history. When I first started at Ellenborough Park over 10 years ago, I quickly realised that its amazing history was simply not being told. Having a keen interest in history since I was a boy, I decided to write a book on the subject with the help of Laura Randall, our Marketing Manager. We pulled together all the information, photographs, and paintings which we could find from the last 550 years and put together our history booklet which is now available to guests. These have proved incredibly popular, and I have a personal enjoyment in leading history tours around our Main House to compliment our booklet and provide further historical information.
Find out more about the history of Ellenborough Park or explore more historic properties with our Now & Then collection.
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