History of Gunby Estate, Hall and Gardens

18th century: Female Succession & Tenants 

After Sir William (1677–1723), third Baronet, a family tradition of female succession began with his sister Elizabeth (d. 1738) inheriting and joining her maiden name to that of her husband Thomas Meux.

Their son, William Meux-Massingberd (1703–1781), held Gunby for a lengthy period (1738-1781) and built the stable yard in 1735 with its handsome coach houses.

His grandson Henry (d. 1784) succeeded him but lived elsewhere, initiating a series of tenancies at Gunby. On Henry’s death, his infant daughter Elizabeth Mary Anne (1783–1835) inherited but was raised by relatives elsewhere in Lincolnshire.

Early 19th century: Planting and Cultivating

In 1802 Elizabeth Mary Anne married Peregrine Langton (1783–1835). A notebook of Elizabeth’s contains designs for a rose garden and an ornamental cottage built as a gate lodge (replaced by the current lodge in 1908). 

‘The Gunby Tree book’ records planting, planning, and Peregrine’s thoughts on the previous tenants: ‘When Lord Gwydir and Lady Willoughby rent’d this place (1785 to 1800) they destroy’d the gardens especially this Flower Garden …’.

The marriage was strained. Elizabeth moved abroad, leaving some of the children with Peregrine. Unable to afford to live at the Hall, he eventually settled in the Lodge.

Mid-19th Century: Tenanted Again

Reverend Algernon Langton-Massingberd (1804–44) inherited in 1835. His only child, also named Algernon (1828-55), acquired the moniker ‘Naughty’ for his escapades which risked the family fortunes. Raised mostly untutored and ‘untamed’, his parents bought him a commission in the Royal Navy. On his father’s death he quit to travel (with his mother) before resuming a military career, later disappearing in Peru. During this time Gunby was tenanted by the Hollway family.  

Late 19th century: Consolidation & Extension

To confirm his right to inherit Gunby, Algernon’s Uncle Charles (1815–87) needed to convince the High Court Algernon was dead. This process took until 1862. In the meantime, large sections of the estate were sold to satisfy Algernon’s creditors. 

Family portraits and furniture were ‘saved’ by tenant John Hollway, who bought and later sold them back to Charles. 

Charles invested well, including in the South American railway network, and managed to make the first major alterations to the Hall since it was built. A two-storey, three-bay extension was added in 1873 to provide better service accommodation, secondary bedrooms and a new dining room. He also introduced running water and plumbed toilets.

Emily Langton-Massingberd, the campaigner

Widowed in 1875, Charles’ elder daughter, Emily (1847–97), succeeded her father in 1887. A keen amateur actor, musician and political activist, she campaigned for women’s rights and was one of the first women in the country to stand for public office. 

Her dislike of alcohol impacted the estate. She converted The Massingberd Arms pub into a temperance house. It rapidly went bankrupt, later becoming a farmhouse. 

She enjoyed life at Gunby but found the isolation of Lincolnshire trying and let the Hall again, preferring to be in Bournemouth and London.

Into the 20th century: Massingberds and the Lushingtons

Stephen (1869–1925) and his wife Margaret Lushington (d. 1906) moved to Gunby in 1898 shortly after his mother’s death.

They met whilst living in Kensington Square, London, and both were actively engaged in artistic social networks. Stephen supported the work of Pre-Raphaelites including Arthur Hughes. Albums reflect how their London and Lincolnshire lives merged, featuring figures including William Morris, Virginia Woolf and Vanessa Bell.

This era of artistic enthusiasm still infuses Gunby, with Arts and Crafts wallpaper, Aesthetic furniture and a drawing of Margaret by William Holman Hunt.

Early 20th century: A Celebrated Return

The timber clock tower was constructed in 1917 to house a clock bought by Margaret’s sister Susan Lushington (1870–1953) to celebrate Stephen’s safe return from the First World War. 

Early-Mid 20th century: Diana & Archie

Gunby passed to Stephen’s youngest sister Diana (1872–1963). Her husband, Archibald Montgomery (1871–1947), known as Archie, followed tradition and took his wife’s name. A successful career soldier, he had served in the Boer War, making friends with Rudyard Kipling, and became Field Marshal in 1935. 

Diana was a fine musician and another tee-totaller. In 1926 she removed the wall between the Entrance Hall and the Library to create a ‘sitting-hall’ in which guests (and Archie) could consume alcohol whilst preserving the ‘purity’ of her Withdrawing Room. The wall was reinstated in 1998.

Wartime Rescue

In 1943 the Air Ministry ordered demolition of Gunby Hall to facilitate movement of bombers on the neighbouring airfield.  Archie lobbied to prevent this ‘act of vandalism’ arguing that Hitler was destroying enough beautiful buildings already.  

James Lees-Milne (secretary of the Country Houses Committee of the National Trust) had been a regular visitor and supporter in saving the Hall. Archie and Diana decided to offer the entire estate to the National Trust in thanks.

Mid-Late 20th Century: End of Tenure & Caring Tenants

Archie and Diana remained at Gunby until their deaths, when it went to their nephew John Montgomery-Massingberd (1913–2004). He found the financial burden too great, so sub-let it to farmer Jack Wrisdale and his wife Betty in 1967. 

They restored and redecorated much of the interior, buying contents when the family was forced to sell, later transferring them to the National Trust. Betty’s gardening skills were vital to reviving the gardens. The house and garden opened weekly to the public and certain weekends for charity benefit.

Today

The National Trust took on full management in 2012. Today the public can visit the Hall, gardens and the wider estate. 1,500 acres supports three farm tenants, and the patchwork of woodland, ponds and agricultural fields is a haven for important wildlife including the endangered Great Crested Newt and various species of invertebrate.

Recent projects have included refurbishment of the clock tower and work on the south elevation to alleviate structural movement resulting from 18th century alterations to the staircase and chimney.

Further reading

• Barber, Andrew, Gunby Estate, Hall and Gardens, National Trust, 2015.

• Hussey, Christopher, Gunby Hall, Country Life, 1943, pp.816−19. 

• Lees-Milne, James, People and places: country house donors and the National Trust, London:  John Murray, 1993, pp.122−33. 

• Massingberd, Hugh, Daydream believer, London: Macmillan, 2001. 

• Montgomery-Massingberd, Hugh, Archie: a biographical sketch of Field Marshal Sir Archibald Montgomery-Massingberd GCB KCMG VL JP (1871−1947), National Trust, 1997.