Fonthill Gifford, Wiltshire

Description
Fonthill Giffard, a parish in Wiltshire, 1 1/2 mile SE by E of Hindon, and 2 miles NNW of Tisbury station on the L. & S.W.R. Post town, Tisbury. Acreage, 2004 ; population, 427. The manor belonged, about the time of the Conquest, to the Giffards; passed to the Maundevilles, the Manduits, the Molyns, the Hungerfords, the Mervyns, the Cottingtons, and the Beckfords; was sold and divided in 1823, and belongs now in part to the Morrisons and in part to Sir Michael Shaw-Stewart. An ancient mansion of the Mervyns on it was destroyed by fire ; another mansion, built by the Cottingtons, and inherited by Alderman Beckford, also was destroyed by fire; a third, built by the alderman at a cost of £240,000, went rapidly to decay, and was sold by his son for £9,000; and a fourth, built by that son, the author of " Vathek," on a new site, likewise underwent a disastrous fate. This last was founded in 1796, took the name of Fonthill Abbey, was designed by Wyatt, had aggregately a cruciform outline, with central octagonal tower 278 feet i high; measured 312 feet from north to south, and 250 from east to west; was fitted interiorly in a style of great magnificence ; stood in a park about 7 miles in circuit, all enclosed with a wall 12 feet high; had the reputation of being a sort of fairy palace; one of the most splendid edifices in the kingdom, cost directly about £273,000, and indirectly not less than £500,000 ; came to a sudden end, partly by the sale of the manor in 1823, partly by the fall of the central tower and accompanying crash of the whole edifice in 1825 ; and is now represented by little else than interesting features within its grounds. A mansion on another site was erected in 1859 by the Marquis of Westminster, and another mansion on another part of the grounds, an edifice in the Italian style with a lofty tower, was altered by the late Mr Momson. Fonthill Abbey, while it stood, was the scene of some great i fetes, and was visited by Lord Nelson, in company with Sir William and Lady Hamilton. The builder and proprietor of It sustained his reverses in connection with West Indian property ; retired, after these reverses, to a house at Bath, and died in 1844, at the age of 84. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Salisbury ; value, £220 with residence. Patron, the Lord of the Manor. The church was rebuilt in 1865 by the Marquis of Westminster, and is a handsome edifice after designs by Wyatt. There is a Congregational chapel.