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Romantic
weddings in the Wairarapa
Special wedding anniversaries
Wedding reaffirmations
Milestone birthdays
Family reunions
Leaving functions
Celebratory luncheons
Cocktail parties
Christmas Parties
Private functions
Product launches...
Romantic weekend getaways
"Nobody
does it better"...
Grand,
Original, Unique!
Step back in time with us
A TRUE ROMANCE…
"In
the early 1920’s, Hugh Williams, a solicitor and wealthy land owner
who was also a quiet, kindly, gentle man, fell in love with Helen
Jones, a remarkable woman who had been a Governess to the children
of the Governor of Fiji. She had returned to New Zealand and
not wanting to be beholden to anyone, she had taken a job as a
bar maid in the (now demolished) Midlands Hotel. “I love you Helen”
he said. “Please marry me.” “No”, she said, “I am not of your class
and you would truly be marrying beneath yourself”. An
unconventional man even for those days, Hugh persisted to pursue
Helen and finally she agreed to marry him. But sadly, Helen was
right. The society matrons of the Wairarapa ostracized her and made
it very clear that she was not welcome in their homes. So Hugh spoke
once again to his beloved wife. “I will build you a home, so special
and so grand that all the ‘so called’ elite both here in Masterton
and beyond, will beg for the privilege of an invitation to your
beautiful home”. And thus, at the cost of 8000 pounds,
Lansdowne House was built!"
Constructed on the site of
New Zealand’s first commercial vineyard, Lansdowne House is a three
story ‘tudor’ mansion of some 12000 square feet, built in the style
of a grand English country estate. The building boasts the best of
English and New Zealand building materials. The wood work is hand
selected, native Rimu and Totara with all the mullioned lead light
windows imported from England. The grand staircase is beautifully
proportioned and all the rooms, both reception and bedrooms are on a
larger than life scale with 3.6 metre wood ceilings. Indeed, each of
the floors amasses over 4000 square feet (370 square meters).
The real uniqueness of Lansdowne
House is that 80 years after it was built, it is still largely in
its original state with all the timber panelling, 6 working
fireplaces and superb wooden floors still in excellent order. The
originality of the building was the main attraction for new owners,
Richard and Kadia Merralls who moved from an 1880’s farmhouse north
of Auckland to take on the new challenge of restoring Lansdowne to
its former glory. This restoration has been a 'labour of love' for
the last two years and will be an ongoing project. However, the
major first stage has now been completed and Lansdowne House is
ready to open its doors once again.
The work completed on Lansdowne
has transformed the old mansion. The floors upstairs and down have
been sanded to restore the original colour and gloss. The main
downstairs reception rooms which are used extensively for weddings
and functions have had 12 spectacular chandeliers erected as well as
pelmet mood lighting in a soft yellow or warm red for romantic after
dinner dancing. The bar/drawing room has been painted in soft
buttermilk to complement Kadia’s large blue and white plate
collection. The buffet room with its large, 1850 antique dining
table has been painted a vibrant red and the plate rail going right
around the room has allowed Kadia to display more of her collection
of English plates and bowls. Three huge open fire places add an
ambience unequalled today and the rooms look out on a secluded brick
courtyard bordered by an original brick icehouse, as well as huge
trees, a well established garden and several water features. Guests
often comment that it is very peaceful.
As you move upstairs there is another breathtaking chandelier in the
stairwell. The wide, wood panelled staircase has two landings and a
large leadlight window and has been fitted with a new carpet runner
in a rich traditional style with brass rods and finials. At the top
of the stairs there is a wide hallway extending the length of the
house to the top veranda. All the rooms on this floor also have top
quality light fittings and antique furniture which reflect the
grandeur of the house. One of the great finds during the restoration
process was the 8 matching, antique, French alabaster lights which
now adorn the upstairs hallway giving it a magical night time
ambience. For the lights still to have all the original brass
fittings was a truly amazing discovery.
Moving outside you quickly become aware of the magnitude of this
stately home. The grandeur of the house itself is reflected in the
magnificence of two huge trees, a white chestnut and a massive elm
which stand guard proudly over the driveway leading to the house.
From there the drive curves past three majestic willows and
then leads on to impressive lawns and gardens with roses and several
water features including a babbling waterfall with an arched bridge
and a pond with ever increasing goldfish. This is a calm and restful
area where you can read the morning paper under the willows, enjoy
the solitude of the bricked courtyard or just lean on the bridge and
watch the fish at play.
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