Appendix V

Borwood Hunting Lodge, Farnish


Looks rather grand in this rendering, but it is actually very small and gloomy

In the midst of Borwood Forest sits the exclusive Hunting Lodge, originally built in the Regency period for Lord Farnisham, but converted to a club in Edwardian times. What is shown here is the main building, which is in the Gothick style. There are additonal outbuildings to provide further accommodation and amenities.

The stone tower house is built in a 'butterfly' shape (which was to become popular in the 1890's), two-story wings flanking a three-story tower. The east wing contains the dining room and kitchen complex; the west, the drawing room and library -- actually, a bar. The octagonal central hall, or trophy room, rises two levels, with a balcony. A projecting oriel window leads out to a stone-flagged terrace, where tables and lounging facilities are set up in good weather.

The second story contains three bedrooms and accommodation for the caretaker and his wife, who reside here permanently, and two or three serving wenches who pose as French maids. The bedrooms are reserved for the club officials (secretary, treasurer, and chirman). Other buildings in the grounds house the other members, of which there are about 12, and the remaining staff. Access to the balcony of the trophy hall is from the chairman's bedroom, as is the small platform on the oriel overlooking the terrace. There is a row of five stained-glass windows depicting various hunting scenes. A turret over the main entrance contains a stair to the top floor, also a linen closet. The large bathroom is shared by all three occupants, which has caused some dissension among those who want to modernize.

On the top floor of the central tower there is only one large suite, originally Lord Farnisham's bedroom, now reserved wholly for the most important (i.e., richest) visitor. There is a small 'watch tower room' reached by a trap door from the caretaker's quarters. This is the lock-up armoury where valuable members' weapons are stored when they are not present.

As mentioned in the Farnish guide, the Borwood Hunting Lodge is a very exclusive club, although the current members are not people a normal person would want to associate with. The caretaker, however, has been known to dispense vintage single malts and wines for lagniappe (when members are not present).

Mention should be made of the nearby (1/4 mile) 'cottage' built by Lord Marshmount after he became reclusive and gave up the Lodge. This is now owned by Seth Pottlebury, and he uses it when he, in turn, is feeling reclusive. It is a simple, though distinguished, two-story stone building constructed on the edge of a ravine at the end of a rocky spur from which it descends (in fact, the rock face is left exposed, although somewhat sculpted, at one end of the living room next to the huge fireplace). There are basically just six rooms, as the house was not intended to be inhabited by more than one or two persons, originally the widower Farnisham and his manservant. Because of the lie of the land, it is shaped like an elongated 'S' and the ground floor is on two levels, with a spiral stair connecting to the upper story.