THE HISTORY OF NORWOOD HOUSE BEVERLEY

Norwood House Beverley was built in the 1700's for Jonathan Midgley - Attorney, Aldernman and three times Mayor of Beverley. Norwood House passed to the Beverley family through Mary Beverley (nee Midgley) and it remained in this family's possession until 1833. In 1834 Norwood House was sold to Henry Broadley (MP for the east Riding) and remained used by his family until his death in 1851 after which time the property was rented to various tenants as detailed below. In 1907 the then East Riding County Council purchased the property from the Broadleys to be used for a school. The Grade 1 listed House and Gardens are a perfect example of a mini-estate with much of the original layout of the grounds and walks remaining as detailed in Burroughs map of the mid 18th Century.

Residents of Norwood House

1765 - 1778 Jonathan Midgley, Attorney, Alderman and Mayor of Beverley 1752, 1766 and 1774.

1778 - 1791 Mary Midgley (widow of Jonathan)

1791 - 1794 Mr. Jones (tenant)

1795 - 1834 William Beverley (father was related to George Washington, first president of the United States of America, by marriage) J.P., Mayor of Beverley

1806 - 07 and Deputy Lieutenant of the East Riding.

1834 - Sold to Henry Broadley, MP for the East Riding.

1838 - 1851 Sophia Broadley (sister to Henry)

1851 - 1867 Charles Reynard - Second son of the Reynards of Sunderlandwick Hall, Driffield (Landowner and Gentleman)

1867 - 1879 William Young, Corn Merchant of Bedale, North Yorkshire.

1879 - 1889 Captain Edward Hill, Merchant and Shipowner.

1889 - 1904 Charles Newbald, Shipping Manager for Wilson Shipping Co.

1905 - 1906 Countess of Ravensworth (of the Denman Family)

1907 - 2002 Norwood House and its 12 acres of gardens became vacant in 1906 and was purchased from Col. Harrison Broadley for £5,000 on 13th April, 1907 by East Riding County Council. On the 23rd September, 1908 at 8:50am Norwood House was opened as Beverley High School.

English Heritage Listing

BEVERLEY, NORWOOD, (north-west side)
Norwood House, (now Beverley High School for Girls)
9/279
TA 0339
1.3.50
GV I

Circa 1765-70, probably built for the attorney, Jonathan Midgley, twice Mayor of Beverley. Red brick with painted stone dressings. Centre block under a wide pediment and 2 low angle wings terminating in small square pavilions to form forecourt. Centre block of 3 storeys, 5 windows wide. Ground floor faced in rusticated stone. Centre door has vermiculated rustication to architrave and other member, plain consoles, pulvinate frieze, 3 key blocks, cornice with bad mould broken over consoles, 8-panel door and fanlight. 2 elaborate contemporary wrought iron lamp brackets. 1st floor moulded cill string with balusters inset under each window. Centre window has stone architrave broadening out at base and resting on stone plinths to form a composition with the doorway beneath. It is crowned by pulvinate frieze and cornice. Other 1st floor windows have gauged brick arches surmounted by light stone cornices. 2nd floor windows have stone cills and gauged arches. Block bracketed crowning cornice in wood. Full width triangular pediment contains a cartouche framing a bull's eye. From this pediment husks trail down to the cornice. 3 plinths to pediment, possibly originally supporting urns now missing. I side wing has been completely rebuilt, the other to the west of 1 storey has 2 windows facing south and east respectively, set in arched recesses. Stone string and moulded cope to parapet, with balusters inset over the windows, stone base. Terminal pavilion of 2 storeys has Venetian window in stone set in recessed arch facing east into the forecourt. 1 plain window in arched recess faces south. Stone string and base. Roof hipped to centre is slated and has been raised 3 feet with little disfigurement. Garden front is a simpler version of south front with wood cornice, fine stone doorcase and an elaborate glazed door. Library block of c. 1825, built for W Beverley, the fittings being of Grecian style. Interior: possesses a fine staircase with carved tread ends, and some notable stucco work and Chimneypieces. The Drawing Room has an important Rococo ceiling based on Colon Campbell's design for a ceiling for Compton Place, Eastbourne. Palladian' overdoor and marble mantel with stucco overmantel containing a composition of cherubs' heads. The stucco work is in the style of Joseph Page of Hull. The doorcases are derived from a plate in Kent's 'Designs of Inigo Jones'. A remarkable house of modest dimensions.

BEVERLEY, NORWOOD, (north-west side)
TA 0339
9/280
GV 1

Gates, gate piers and railings to Norwood House 2 pairs of stone gate piers of c .1780, rusticated and with square crowning blocks, oval modillions inset, and supporting enriched balls on moulded bases, ball finials to eastern piers missing at time of resurvey. Good wrought iron railings and 2 pairs of gates.