Leadenham House

Leadenham House is a Georgian country house built from limestone with a symmetrical west-facing facade of seven bays across two and a half stories and slate roof. The building sits within grounds extending across about 3,000 acres of farmland and is marked by a gate entrance constructed from the same ashlar stone.

Merchant William Reeve commissioned architect Christopher Staveley to design this house, which was built between 1790 and 1796 on his Lincolnshire estate. Later, architect Lewis Vulliamy expanded the structure from 1826 to 1829 while preserving its Georgian character.

Inside, two reception rooms were designed by architect Detmar Blow in 1903 and decorated with hand-painted oriental wallpapers. These spaces show how the owners blended European and Asian design traditions, reflecting their cosmopolitan tastes.

Access to the property is through an imposing gate entrance made from the same stone as the main building, which marks the boundary of the grounds. The setting is rural and agricultural, so comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing are recommended.

The house is often overlooked despite being one of the few examples where a Georgian original remained completely intact in its original proportions while an expansion from 1826-1829 was seamlessly integrated. This rare preservation makes it particularly valuable for studying architectural development.

Location: Leadenham

GPS coordinates: 53.05520,-0.58500

Latest update: December 12, 2025 14:27