Hendon Hall
Hendon Hall is a fine old diamond of a mansion. Originally known as Hendon Manor, it was mentioned in the Doomsday Book.
Originally, any income generated by the Manor was granted to Westminster Abbey, but was later seized by the Crown for the Church of England, during King Henry VIII’s English Reformation.
King Henry’s son King Edward VI gave the Manor to the Earl of Pembroke in return for good and faithful services and he, in turn, gave it to his son Edward as a wedding present in 1569. The Pembroke family lost the Manor in during the Civil War, having followed their consciences and backed the ‘wrong side’ as Loyalists to the Crown. Needless to say, they regained title to the Manor at the time of the Restoration of King Charles II.
In 1688, the Lord of the Manor was a staunch supporter of the Catholic King James I and fled with him to France, thereby losing both his land and title. Once again Hendon reverted to the Crown, but was soon occupied by the Powis family.
The memorial title, rights and income of Hendon Manor were sold for £13,000 in the late 18th Century to David Garrick, the famous actor and manager of the Drury Lane Theatre. David Garrick achieved such fame that his head was even engraved on the halfpenny coin. He fervently admired Shakespeare and created a memorial to him in the grounds of Hendon Manor. The simple tribute reads:
William Shakespeare
Born A.D. MDLXIV
Died A.D. MDCXVI
Hendon Hall first opened its doors as a hotel in 1911,
The restaurant has live piano music.
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