Explore Gunby Hall

The Oak Staircase

The staircase, with its triple twisted slender balusters, is dated by Nikolaus Pevsner the architectural historian to c. 1730. Together with the Venetian window, plaster panelling and cornice, he attributes this space to William Meux-Massingberd (1703–1781).

The suit of armour is mentioned in Hugh Montgomery-Massingberd’s book ‘Daydream Believer’, recording a prank designed to ridicule a local news story of the haunted nature of Gunby. He and a group of friends in fancy dress, including the armour, went down to the gate and paraded round the roundabout on the main road, ‘gurning and grimacing’ until ‘the traffic was brought to a complete standstill’. His father was quite amused, but Rogers, the caretaker at the time was not, barring the door and calling the police.

The Dining Room

The shape of this room has altered too. When Charles Langton-Massingberd added the north wing containing a dining room, this space was created out of the old dining room and butler’s pantry to act as a drawing room. A homely note is struck by the use of a couple of old bed posts to mark the former division. A few years later with the creation of the music room, this space reverted to its former use.

Further round the room ‘Naughty’ Algernon, who brought the family finances to the brink of disaster, smirks on a rocky shore resplendent in his naval uniform. His be-whiskered Uncle Charles hangs nearby.

The two sets of dining chairs are both good examples of the refined forms of early Regency taste, with sabre legs and caned seats. One set is painted with lions’ masks whilst the other exhibits the Eye of Horus carved on its cresting rails and is an example of Egyptian taste. The marquetry longcase clock is by Matthew Bunce, who probably died very shortly after making this clock in about 1700.

The Backstairs

This staircase rises from the basement to the top floor and connects the 1873 north wing to the old house. It is decorated for much of its height in the ‘Daisy’ pattern wallpaper designed by William Morris and printed for the first time in 1864 by Jeffrey and Co.

The charcoal sketches of the three Lushington sisters are preparatory drawings for the painting The Home Quartet that their father, Vernon Lushington, commissioned from Arthur Hughes. A modern print of the painting hangs above.

The drawing of the head of Margaret Lushington, wife of Stephen Massingberd, is by William Holman Hunt. Both Hunt and Hughes are considered amongst the most talented painters of the pre-Raphaelite brotherhood.

The Ante Room

Entering the old house into what was formerly the housekeeper’s room, this room became an ante room to the new dining room as part of the alterations of 1873.

A watercolour of the house in Kensington Square where the young Massingberds lived in the 1890s hangs on the left and a study of a moss rose by the celebrated garden designer Alfred Parsons hangs on the right.

The Music Room

The next room you'll visit is the oak panelled music room. Running the full length of the west front of the 1873 wing, this room only came into existence in its current form in 1898.

It was in this room that Diana Massingberd (1872–1963) coached her string ensembles and here that singers sang and choirs rehearsed. The Bluthner grand piano, specially strengthened against the rigours of intercontinental travel, went out to India with Diana and Archie on his postings there.

If you are a competent piano player and would like to have a go at playing the grand piano, please speak to a member of the team during your visit.

The Basement

The basement runs under the entire house, mimicking the plan of the main apartments above. The addition of the north wing in 1873 greatly expanded the service areas below stairs and enabled the re-distribution of tasks to different areas; the larder was established under the stairs on the south front of the house with the still room, complete with its own range, to the east.

In the still room tea was made for the household whilst the main kitchen was taken up with the preparation of dinner. It was also where the preserves, jams and chutneys were made in season from fruit and vegetables from the garden. The 'boot room' offered cellarage for beer, with wines housed under slightly greater security further along the corridor.

Tour of the upstairs

There is currently extensive conservation work being undertaken upstairs in the house, which means rooms are inaccessible. However, the first floor is partially open for you to enjoy the Pioneer Rooms and see inside The Pink Bedroom.