Craven Court - Melton Mowbray

Introduction

Approached by a sweeping driveway, historic Craven Lodge is set in superb mature grounds extending to approximately two acres at the foot of Burton Hill, conveniently located in the attractive market town of Melton Mowbray. This fine Grade II Listed house, formerly a hunting lodge, is being sympathetically renovated as Craven Court to create nine unique individual houses. Materials and fittings of the highest quality are being used, with original features restored and preserved, transforming this outstanding property into one of the most desirable developments in the area.

Each property will have its own private garden in addition to the use of the mature parkland grounds that contain many fine trees including cedar, beech, lime and horse chestnut. The communal areas will be owned and administered by a Management Company run by the residents, who will retain a final say in their appearance and upkeep.

A hunting heritage with royal connections

Craven Lodge has both a rich architectural and fascinating social heritage. Originally constructed as Burton House in the 1820’s, it was remodelled into a hunting lodge for the Honourable William Craven between 1856 and 1860. Craven’s London home, Craven Cottage, is today home to Fulham Football Club.

Several successive owners further redeveloped and improved the lodge, which ultimately became a prominent place in local hunting society under the ownership of Captain Michael Wardell in 1922. Wardell converted Craven Lodge into a number of luxurious private apartments serviced by impressive stabling.

Situated conveniently for four local hunts – the Quorn, Belvoir, Cottesmore and Fernie – the apartments became ‘Craven Lodge Club’ and were very soon the destination of choice for many titled guests from home and abroad.

Most famous of those to take a private apartment at the Club was Edward, the Prince of Wales, who it is said entertained Mrs Wallis Warfield Simpson there for many years, before the eventual abdication crisis of late 1936. Other noble guests included Henry Duke of Gloucester, Albert Duke of York (later King George VI), Prince George the Duke of Kent and the Rajah of Kashmir.

The Club maintained its popularity until the Second World War, at which time Craven Lodge was taken over by the Army. Efforts to resurrect the ‘Club’ after the war were unsuccessful, and the Lodge was finally purchased in 1952 by Leicestershire County Council Education Committee who ran it as a residential school for many years.

A memorable market town

Melton Mowbray is a traditional market town with a long association with hunting. Today renowned for its delicious pork pies and stilton cheeses, it has a popular and vibrant weekly market which dates back to the Domesday Book. Home to the imposing 12th Century St Mary’s Church with its 100 foot tower, the town and surrounding Borough of Melton are peppered with interesting landmarks including ancient monuments and buildings of historical or architectural significance.

According to local folklore, the phrase ‘painting the town red’ originated in Melton Mowbray, when the 3rd Marquess of Waterford and friends ran riot in the town while celebrating a successful fox hunt, and painted several buildings on the High Street with red paint.

Modern day Melton is well served by transport links, with convenient road access to Leicester, Nottingham, Peterborough and beyond, and a railway station with direct services to Peterborough, Leicester and Birmingham. East Midlands Airport is also within easy reach.

Melton boasts a wide array of shopping, dining and leisure facilities, and a superb range of schools. Numerous primary schools can be found in the town and surrounding villages, with a choice of secondary education locally including specialist business and enterprise and training and technology colleges. Slightly further afield, Leicestershire and Rutland have a strong educational offering. Catering from nursery to sixth form and in addition to day and boarding there are private schools in the county including Oakham and Uppingham schools among others, both within 20 miles of Craven Lodge.

Its prime location also puts Melton just a short distance from the diverse amenities on offer in the vibrant city of Leicester including the prestigious Highcross Shopping Centre, cosmopolitan restaurants, fascinating museums and family attractions such as the National Space Centre. And, in addition to miles of peaceful countryside ripe for exploring, the counties of Leicestershire and Rutland offer plentiful opportunities to participate in sports and leisure activities, from water sports and cycling at Rutland Water, swimming and fitness at the many leisure centres and private gyms to challenging golf courses and relaxing health spas.