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Greys Court | |
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Greys Court dates in part from the 14th century, when it took its name from Lord de Grey, one of the original Knights of the Garter. Little remains of the original medieval courtyard house except for the crenellated Great Tower.
The present house at Greys Court dates from the 16th century and was built by the Knollys family, with subsequent generations making additions in keeping with the character of the property. The gabled house is of brick and stone, with an oriel window on the south front. Inside Greys Court has some fine plasterwork attributed to Roberts of Oxford.
Greys Court has associations with the mysterious murder of the poet Sir Thomas Overbury, who was poisoned and died in the Tower of London in 1613. Robert Carr, the Earl of Somerset and a favourite of James I, along with his wife Frances Howard, were found guilty of the crime. The King offered them a reprieve providing they were confined to Greys Court, then home of Frances Howard's sister.
The house has beautiful walled gardens with old fashioned roses, wisterias, Japanese cherries, Tower Garden with its lily pond and the Wellhouse, a 200 foot deep well from which water was raised by a large wheel, turned by a donkey, and probably the largest example its kind in England.
Parts of the garden are accessible to the disabled.
Attractions near Greys Court include Reading, Premier Golf Development at Henley-On-Thames, Century Galleries near Henley-On-Thames, Aspect Park Golf Club at Henley-On-Thames, Mapledurham Golf Club near Reading, Well Place Zoo at Wallingford, Mapledurham House near Reading.