The Manor Houses of Lackham 1050-1949 2nd Ed

Houses of Lackham 2 nd ed 33
These walls may be some of the “considerable improvements” mentioned
above and they were made very rapidly. It was known that he made changes
from the announcement of the sale of the estate in 1856 (after Captain
Rooke‟s death)
The handsome stone mansion with colonnade and wings, and
on which the late proprietor expended several thousand
pounds in substantial improvements, is delightfully placed
upon a gentle elevation, with all its principal rooms opening
to the South, and is suited in every respect for a family of
rank and fortunes 51
but the scale of these improvements was only realised when, in 2009, an
important watercolour dated 1844 came to light. This picture 52 clearly
shows a three storey house with a colonnade in position.
This is the only known illustration of the house pre-dating the twentieth
century. The large flag on the flag pole to the south of the house is the Red
Ensign, which Capt Rooke was entitled to display being a retired naval
officer.
Several items of interest can be seen in this picture; there has long been a
question as to whether the specimen Beeches [Fagus sylvatica
atropurpureum] in the garden area to the south west of the house are old
enough to have been planted by the Montagus,
51 Devizes Gazette May 20th 1856
52 Signed with the initials WWR 1849. I am very happy to record my thanks to Mr. and
Mrs Johnstone of Exeter for help and hospitality and readily giving permission to copy
and use this image, the original is in their possession and is their copyright. I am also
grateful to their cousin Mr N. Floyer who first made me aware of this picture and kindly
put me in touch with them.