Wainsford House

We do not know exactly when Wainsford House was built, but it was probably at the end of the 19th century. The 1901 census shows that at that time Wainsford House was home to Ernest Powell King and his wife Charlotte. Charlotte was born in 1867 and was the granddaughter of Andrew Peterson, who built Sway Tower. 

Wainsford house is built in the Arts and Crafts style made famous by the architect Sir Edwin Lutyens, who is reputed to have been a friend of Mrs Powell King. Lutyens was actually rather dismissive of the house and its inhabitants, writing about it to his wife Lady Emily: “This is a one horse house, a square villa box artistically altered and added to by a mad would-be architect (an admirer of mine I believe). No unpacking or packing of bags. No dressing for dinner no bath offered! A mysterious old gentleman – her father – who lives in a small room downstairs – an invalid whose disease seems to be an inability to dress himself tidily.”

Little is known about the Powell King’s. They lived at Wainsford at least between 1901 and 1908, and it is thought they had no direct descendants. Ernest died in 1905, leaving money to medical charities both regionally and nationally.

According to the 1911 census there were only five servants living in at Wainsford: the land agent, cook, parlour maid, kitchen maid and housemaid. Clearly many of the estate workers, gardeners and other domestic staff were living out.

In 1951 Wainsford House was put up for sale. It has since been divided into flats.

Below are more images of Wainsford House and the Powell Kings.

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