Fawley Court

Fawley Court stands as a neoclassical country house on the River Thames west bank, featuring symmetrical architecture with extensive grounds that once included deer parks, multiple buildings, and agricultural estates reflecting its historical importance as a large manorial property.

Originally documented in the Domesday Book of 1065 under Earl Tosti, the estate was later granted to Walter Giffard after the Norman Conquest, rebuilt in the 17th century for plantation owner William Freeman, and subsequently landscaped by Capability Brown around 1764-66.

The estate served as Divine Mercy College from 1953 to 1986, accommodating Polish boys and cultural scholars, while housing an extensive museum collection of Polish militaria, medieval tapestries, and artworks assembled by Fr. Józef Jarzębowski, creating a center of Polish heritage.

After being sold to private investors in 2009 for approximately £13 million, Fawley Court now operates as a country club, marking a significant transition from its previous role as an educational and cultural institution.

The estate may have inspired Kenneth Grahame's depiction of Toad Hall in 'The Wind in the Willows' and features Temple Island with its folly and fishing lodge, while St. Anne's Church built in 1971 showcases modernist Zakopane-style architecture.

Location: Fawley

GPS coordinates: 51.55160,-0.89780

Latest update: July 23, 2025 15:15