Held at:

Private Collection

Reference:

LD_rs_0006

Source:

Original photographs

Title:

Digital Images Collection: Photographs of Michaelchurch Court in the 1920s

Place name:

Michaelchurch Escley

Date:

c.1917 - 1930

Description:

During the 1920’s and 30’s Michaelchurch Court went through a renaissance both as a house and as part of the social network of the local gentry. After the death of Henry Trafford in 1910 the house and estate passed to his son Randolph, but it was not until his eighteenth birthday in1925 that Randolph came fully into his inheritance. He wasted no time in spending part of his new-found wealth on improvements to the house and grounds, including demolition of the old North Wing and construction of a large swimming pool in the early 1930s. Around this time, too, many purchases of fine furniture and household effects were made. Randolph also indulged his interests in fast cars and aircraft, and seems to have entertained a wide variety of guests at the Court in fine style.

 

Photographs of the Court and grounds are shown below. Brief descriptions and dates are given where known, though in some cases these are speculative.

 

Michaelchurch Court c.1920

 

View from the grounds of Michaelchurch Court, looking East over the Escley valley

Michaelchurch Court gardens

 

Michaelchurch Court gardens

 

 

The front porch and original main entrance at Michaelchurch Court

Gardens and ornamental pond at Michaelchurch Court

 

The Victorian Wing [South face] from the top terrace

Gardens and upper ornamental pond at Michaelchurch Court

 

The stables at Michaelchurch Court, with the coach house behind c.1917

The Victorian Wing [South face] overlooking the Croquet lawn

 

Ornate gates at Michaelchurch Court, leading to the Croquet lawn

The croquet lawn at Michaelchurch Court; June 1917

 

Michaelchurch Court from the front courtyard;  June 1917

View of Michaelchurch Court from the lake [looking West]; 1917

 

Horse [Wishing Well] and groom [Edward Francis], at the front entrance c.1917

‘Wishing Well’ and Edward Francis, Michaelchurch Court c. 1917

 

Randolph Trafford with foxhound puppies in the Court garden c. 1917

Bettina Maud Capper in the courtyard at Michaelchurch Court c. 1917

 

Captain Hunter and Captain Hope on ponies in the Court garden c. 1917

Family and visitors in the courtyard at Michaelchurch Court 1919

 

Randolph Trafford on ‘Simon’ in the courtyard, 1919

Captain Hunter on ‘Dixie’ at Michaelchurch Court, August 1919

 

Captain Hunter on ‘Dixie’ at Michaelchurch Court, August 1919

Michael Hunter c.1919, after hunting

 

Randolph Trafford and Dickie Lloyd at Michaelchurch Court, 1920

Michael Hunter  on ‘Dixie’ c. 1919

 

Randolph Trafford and Dickie Lloyd, probably with Bettina Capper and Michael Hunter c.1920

French governess at Michaelchurch Court 1920

 

Bishop of London with Bettina Capper and her mother on the top terrace at Michaelchurch Court 1920

Bishop of London and Dr Hincks on the front steps of Michaelchurch Court, 1920

 

Michaelchurch Court 1920

Alfred Capper on the front steps of Michaelchurch Court, 1920

 

Alfred Capper and the Bishop of London at Michaelchurch Court, 1920

Bettina Maud and Alfred Capper in front of the North wing, 1920

 

Bishop of London and Randolph Trafford on the tennis court, August 1920

Mrs Capper and Michael Hunter playing tennis at Michaelchurch Court, August 1920

 

Mrs Capper and the Bishop of London, Michaelchurch Court August 1920

Randolph Trafford and the Bishop of London, Michaelchurch Court August 1920

 

Chauffeur with Mrs Capper and the Bishop, leaving Michaelchurch Court 1920

Chauffeur with Mrs Capper and the Bishop, leaving Michaelchurch Court 1920

 

Chauffeur and passengers at Michaelchurch Court c. 1920

Bishop of London by the fountain on the terrace at Michaelchurch Court, 1920

 

Michael Hunter at Michaelchurch Court, c. 1920

Christening of Bettina Audrey Hunter, January 22nd 1921 at Michaelchurch Court

 

Bettina Audrey Hunter with Mr Hunter in the Hall at Michaelchurch Court, 22nd January 1921

Bettina Audrey Hunter with her grandmother and great grandmother at Michaelchurch Court, 22nd January 1921

 

Michaelchurch Court North Wing in 1926, shortly before it was demolished

 

Composite picture of the front façade of Michaelchurch Court, dated 21 July 1921.

 

Observations:

Photographs reproduced with the kind permission of the Baxendale family

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Ref: rs_dic_0001_2