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Unit 2 - Homes and households

The mansion of the landowner dominated the life of the estate village that stood at its gate. The village was ruled from the house which with its gardens, parkland, woodland and shoots provided employment for a high proportion of the population. In the late 19th century such country houses reached a peak in size and lavish living.

The village was an extension of the great house and park for it was the intention of most landowners to provide a picturesque setting for his or her home that would demonstrate to the visitor good taste and a concern for the well-being of the estate workers. The village houses were probably architect-designed with a uniformity of style and a range of decorative details. They would be larger than the usual labourers' cottages and almost certainly set back in a sizeable garden.

A. Warter Priory - The big house at Baggaby Bottom

Air view of the house, garden and parkland shortly before the house was demolished in 1972

The Muncasters and the Wilsons lived in a grand style at Warter Priory, the 'big house' that stood in a 400 acre (162 hectare) park almost a mile (1.5 km.) from the village to the south of the road to Pocklington. (see map 2) The land to the north of the house was called Baggaby Bottom.

Warter Priory and pleasure gardens in 1910 25" OS Plan (reduced). Move your cursor over the image to see more details about the property.

 

Originally a modest late 17th- century country house Warter Priory was enlarged many times. The major Victorian extensions were in 1872, when it was re-fronted and corner towers added, and in 1885 when a tall entrance tower and a great hall were added.