Warmley House

Built in around 1750 by William Champion, in the elegant and impressive Palladian style.

It was unusual for an industrialist to live so close to his works, but Champion may have felt the need to do so in order to safeguard the secrets of his process.

Champion no doubt entertained guests here who would have enjoyed the delights of the gardens and grottoes. Later owners continued this by holding garden parties for local residents.

One of the most famous residents was Minnie Haskins, who wrote poetry for her friends. In the early years of the second world war, King George VI quoted part of one poem in his Christmas radio message, to give comfort and hope to his subjects. Although the complete poem "God Knows" is less well known, the quotation has become familiar to many as "The Man who stood 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. Warmley House is now in private hands and used as a nursing home for the elderly.