Exhibition: The History of Walton Hall

Owners of Walton Hall: The Earles

Walton Hall c.1945-1967

Less is known of the day to day history of Walton Hall during the post war years. Eric and Diana Earle continued to live at the Hall with Brigadier Earle overseeing the farming on the estate. Local resident Nigel Benford remembers his mother Hilary being invited to coffee mornings in the early 1960s hosted by Mrs Earle, referring to the events described on the invitations she sent out as “Mrs Earle at home”. Nigel also recalls that two portraits hung in the dining room on the ground floor which were possibly Dr Vaughan Harley and his wife Mary Harley, Diana Earle's parents.  

 

On 11 March 1953 Brigadier Earle was appointed High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire at Buckingham Palace by the Queen. The role of a county Sheriff originated in Anglo Saxon times and is the oldest secular office under the Crown. The role subsequently became a ceremonial one. As Brigadier Earle's appointment was made in the Queen's Coronation year it is likely that he was kept relatively busy during his tenure. 

 

The first photograph on this page shows Walton Hall possibly in the late 1950s or early 1960s. The man standing behind the cows to the left is Brigadier Earle, the man on the right is the Earle's farm manager, Jasper Francis Brown who worked for the Earles for about six years. The photograph was originally provided for an article in staff magazine 'Open House' by Jasper Brown's daughter, Jenny Blane. Jenny has kindly provided the Archive with more images of the Walton Hall estate in the early 1960s which you can view here.

 

The Browns lived in the old red brick part of Walton Hall and Jenny has fond memories of living on the estate. She recently recalled: "Also living at the Hall at the time we were there was a maid and her husband. They lived in an apartment over the Cold Room. This was used to hang pheasants, rabbits etc., also making butter, cheese from the milk brought in every day. I believe it was a small apartment, only being the two of them and no children. Matilda and Peter Lombardi were Italians. Matilda helped in the house and helped prepare the meals. Peter was the odd job man for Brigadier Earle. One thing I do remember, you never saw any clothes drying outside. There were special rooms in the attic if needed to dry any clothes. Strange to think of that now. I can remember taking bedding up there and watching it drip on the lino." Jenny kindly donated this aerial photo of the Walton Hall estate (photographed in the early 1960s) and recalled that, "Chickens were housed behind the farm buildings. Guinea fowl were used as guard dogs. These roosted in the trees by the chickens". 

 

In 1964 tragedy struck the Earle family again. Diana had wanted Christmas of that year to be a quiet affair and none of the family were due to visit until after Christmas Day. On Christmas Eve she and Eric went out to dinner but later that evening Diana became seriously ill with suspected food poisoning from the oysters she had eaten. She died on Boxing Day 1964 aged only 58 years. Brigadier Earle was grief stricken and remained much affected by his wife’s premature death – he reportedly cleared the Hall of all furnishings and many of her possessions and burned them. Sadly he passed away only ten months later on 19 October 1965 aged 72 years.

 

Eric and Diana Earle were buried at Walton and their grave is located within a family plot which includes Eric’s mother Lizzie Isabella Earle and Diana’s sister Primrose Roper, who died in 1978. The second photograph on this page, taken in 2023, shows the three graves side by side with St Michael's Church behind. In 1985 an article in OU staff magazine 'Open House', revealed that, every November local resident and retired engineer George Hopkins would lay a wreath on Eric and Diana Earle's grave. According to George, his mother was a cook and housekeeper to the Harley family and Diana Earle later gave George and his wife a plot of land on the Walton estate as a wedding present, on which to build their first house. A photograph showing the wreaths on the Earle grave may be viewed here. The year is unknown but is likely to be the 1980s. 

 

A simple slate memorial to Diana and Eric Earle is located inside St Michael’s Church. A similar memorial to Diana's sister Primrose was erected in St Michael's Church following her death in 1978. 

 

After Brigadier Earle’s death, Walton Hall passed to his three surviving sons – David, Robin and Peter. However none of them wished to keep it and the property remained unoccupied for a couple of years. The estate's land was leased to a farmer from Daventry and was overseen by farm manager Jasper Brown who managed the day to day running of the farm.

 

Local resident Nigel Benford remembers attending a school party during the 1960s. The third photograph on this page shows teenagers dancing and sitting on the steps at the side of Walton Hall at the party. Nigel is pictured standing in the centre. On viewing the photograph Jenny Blane recalled: "I do remember Brigadier and Mrs Earle hosting a Ball at the Hall. All the beautiful dresses worn by the ladies. Very posh. The large dining room was converted into the Dance Hall. It was a beautiful house and after Brigadier Earle died we were able to wander around. This must of been the time when the picture was taken, with us all on the steps outside. Maybe it was my birthday party."