The construction of Merevale Hall was compete around 1840, replacing a former manor house. The building was designed by architect Edward Blore.
The Hall was placed on the end of the a thin peninsular high above Atherstone and loomed over the town. In modern times Merevale Hall is still clearly viewable from throughout the surrounding area, despite the growth of the surrounding forest.
Merevale Hall is Gothic in style and features embattled towers and walls.
The building makes for an imposing and impressive sight when viewed from below and afair. Simply it has a spooky, even scary look about it.
The books and diaries of Sir William Dugale (Garter King of Arms) are still believed to be housed there.
Merevale Hall remains the property of the Dugdale family and has proportedly been a continuous family home since its opening.
Merevale Hall is not open to the public.
Comment on 'Merevale Hall' and share your thoughts with the thousands of monthly visitors to this website. Opinions, discussions, suggestions, additions, questions, corrections, obmissions, are all welcome in fact we positively encourage it! Leave your contribution to the 'Merevale Hall' page by filling in the form below.
We have just returned from a holiday in Hartshill and went on the Atherstone Country Walk along the towpath but could not see the hall.
It is a fascinating little town and we will return but I wanted a view of the building so I used the website.
I saw this impressive building from the train today. It can be seen from the windows of trains on the West Coast Main Line ( London Euston to Crewe )
I had the privilage to live at the hall in the early 80′s as my parents were caretakers. I remember my first Christmas, 100 feet up on the roof snowballing.
My great uncle was chauffeur to the Dugdales and in the late 40′s and 50′s I would go and stay during school holidays. I remember that on my first visit I was fascinated by the number of peafowl that strutted around the grounds of the Hall including 2 albino peacocks. The numbers diminished year on year until there were only two or three birds left by the mid fifties.
We would toboggan down the hill at the rear of the Hall in the winter snows and fish in one of the two lakes whenever we wanted. Cycling down to the gatehouse at the Atherstone end of the drive was a piece of cake as about 200 metres away from the hall gates the level of the road dropped and it was very much downhill most of the way.
When I first went to Merevale there was a detachment of US troops in the camp at the bottom of the drive and I also remember DP’s being there too.
Around 1950 much of the estate around the Hall was given over to mixed farming, which obviously curtailed our meanderings around the estate on glorious summer afternoons, lying in the long grass watching Tiger Moths stunt flying in the cloudless sky.
Beehive Cottage: The cottage is supposed to be the game keepers cottage, and even though I have emailed Merevale Hall, and probably due to fact that its a private estate, I have not had a reply.My Great-Grandfather lived there in the 1900′s and my, grandfather (Arthur Ward) was born there, along with his sisters.
As anyone got any other info
Many Thx
Mark
I have a very old picture postcard of a family at the Beehive cottage. The father stands at the gate and there are numerous children, at least eight. Would be happy to email copy if there is any way to do so.
Carol…It would be interesting to cross checkwith a pic I have…….My addy is devonred@hotmail.co.uk……..
If you like, I can send you the picture of what I have got
Thx
Mark