Warmley House

Built by William Champion in the mid 18th century this paladian house is now a residential and nursing home. William entertained many famous contemporaries here including Joseph Banks, the botanist and John Wesley.

The house was occupied in the early 20th century by the Haskins family the most famous of whom is Minnie Haskins. She wrote the verse quoted by HM King George VI in his Christmas broadcast of 1939 which started, "I said to the man at the gate of the year. . . " During the Festival of Britain in 1951 Minnie was invited back to Warmley House - by then being used by Warmley Rural District Council - to unveil a plaque by the door commemorating her much loved poem. This verse was also used at the funeral of HM Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother.