Our Story
From its seventeenth century origins to a devastating fire and a restoration still under way.
History
History and Character
The history of Nonsuch can be traced back to the 17th century. An earlier house is said to have been built on the site in 1646 for Lord Digby, but the Grade II* listed house we see today is predominantly early 18th century. The estate evolved over generations rather than being created as one grand country house. After 1705 the house was rebuilt by William Norris, with further additions and alterations taking place over the centuries.
The house was substantially extended and remodelled again in the early 20th century, particularly around the 1920s. Those works created another layer in the architectural history of Nonsuch, much of which remains visible today. Nonsuch was never intended to be grandiose. Its origins as a hunting lodge gave it more intimate and comfortable proportions, and that understated character remains fundamental to what we are creating.
The restoration will celebrate the different chapters of Nonsuch rather than trying to return every room to a single moment in history. Original features and the best details from each period will be repaired, retained and allowed to tell the story of the house. The same principle will guide everything new. Nothing should feel oversized, overstated or imposed upon the landscape.
New buildings, interiors and landscaping will be designed to blend effortlessly into their surroundings, complementing rather than competing with the historic estate. Modern comforts will sit naturally alongside the surviving historic details of the house, which will be repaired and celebrated as part of its story. There will be luxury, but it should never need to announce itself.
The Story Through Time
17th Century
Historic Photos
The history of Nonsuch can be traced back to the 17th century. An earlier house is said to have been built on the site in 1646 for Lord Digby, but the Grade II* listed house we see today is predominantly early 18th century. The estate evolved over generations rather than being created as one grand country house. After 1705 the house was rebuilt by William Norris, with further additions and alterations taking place over the centuries.
Early 20th century, with photography from 2020
Before the Fire
Nonsuch has a layered history. An earlier house is said to have been built on the site in 1646 for Lord Digby. The Grade II* listed house is predominantly early 18th century, rebuilt by William Norris after 1705. Its origins as a hunting lodge gave it intimate rather than grand proportions, and it developed over generations rather than as a single country house. In the early 20th century it was substantially extended and remodelled by its then owners, adding a further layer of architectural history. The estate was owned by a single family for more than a century. Photographs from the 1920s and from 2020 record the house and its setting before the fire.
2022
The fire
In 2022 a fire left the main house as a shell. The estate's account is that much of its history was damaged within a matter of hours. Seventy-three firefighters fought to save the house and the surrounding buildings, and historic structures across the estate remained. The main house is still Grade II* listed. The fire is the starting point for everything that follows: a listed house that had lost its interior and needed protection before any restoration could begin.
Following the fire, then September 2022 to February 2023 and the year after
After the Fire
After the fire the house stood neglected and exposed to the weather for months. The main house was a shell, and the wider estate needed securing.
In September 2022 Niall Leighton-Boyce agreed to purchase the estate. He took steps at once to protect the building with a temporary roof. The sale completed in February 2023. The year that followed was spent researching and analysing the building and compiling reports on its condition and history.
From September 2022
The Restoration
Restoration began with protection, then investigation, then repair. After the temporary roof and the research year, the stated priority has been preservation. Windows have been repaired, floors reinstated and structural works undertaken to secure buildings across the estate. Niall Leighton-Boyce has lived on the estate since buying it and describes being involved in decisions on site, from layouts and materials to details. Plans for the next stage have been submitted to Wiltshire Council. Progress is shared on the estate's Instagram account.
