Burley Lodge

For over 600 years (is this documented?) until 1809 this was part of the Bailiwick of Burley and in the possession of the Paulets, Dukes of Bolton, 'who for nearly 130 years exercised a sort of "imperium in imperio" in the Forest difficult to understand or explain'. The Crown then bought the interest of the grant from the Dowager Duchess and subsequently used it as a residence for forestry officials. Some of the land was ploughed up in 'an attempt at high farming' in the 'utilitarian days' of 1851. Later let to tenants on an 'improving lease'. The Rev. the Hon Arthur Charles Baillie-Hamilton (1838-1910, youngest son of the 10th Earl of Haddington) was in residence from 1898 (possibly from 1894 when he retired as inspector of schools in the Diocese of Norwich) until his death. His daughter stayed on but in 1923 Vernon Francis Lees was living there.