OPENING TIMES

It is known that a “Sysonby House” existed over 200 years. Its owner a Robert Bligh, advertised the house for let in 1789 and again some eight years later, and from the advertisements we know that at that time it consisted of a large dining room, parlour and kitchen, plus dressing room and study, with six ‘lodging rooms’ built over these. There was also stabling for 16 horses. Other early references speak of a ‘two up and two down’ building although it is not clear whether these relate to Bligh’s property or to an even earlier structure.

However, the remains of this period still exist in the form of the upper and lower rooms at the right-hand corner of the present building (as viewed from the front).

During the second decade of the 19th century the house was purchased by the 6th Earl of Plymouth. He demolished most of the old building in 1823 and replaced it with the present structure in the form of a residential mansion with some 40 rooms. He also changed the name to Plymouth Lodge under which title it remained for the next 60 years.

Lord Plymouth kept the largest stud in Melton, usually consisting of at least 25 hunters, so there must also have been extensive stabling with accommodation for grooms.

In April 1885, Plymouth Lodge was purchased by a Major Stirling and renamed ‘Sysonby Lodge’. The Major was a “fine old English gentleman• who played an important part in the life of the town whilst his wife was equally respected for her welfare activities on behalf of the inhabitants. The lodge remained in the hands of the Stirling family until 194 7.

As far as is known there is no great change to the property during this period, although it is safe to assume that the stabling provisions would have been reduced, certainly after the First World War if not before. However, probably because one of the four sons, W.G.Stirling, (the youngest) had served in the Far East and married a Chinese bride, part of the grounds was set out as a Japanese garden with an Oriental Temple and aviary of rare birds. Regrettably, little trace of this now remains and the many classical statues which graced the grounds during the Stirling era also vanished during the subsequent period of commercial ownership. Perhaps a not unfitting memorial to the Stirling family is the presence of the six graves of the children’s pets, including a pony, which are sited nearly opposite the front entrance.

The Lodge was bought in 1947 by the Stanton Iron Company, which later became part of Stewart and Lloyds, and later again The British Steel Corporation. During the ownership the property was subject to considerable alteration and extension. Two completely self-contained flats were built into the rear of the first floor and the remainder of the house converted into some 1 2 office rooms with supporting cloakroom facilities etc. Outbuildings that were added or adapted included two other flats and two cottages, plus various workshop and store facilities.

Cessation of iron at Stanton plus general or re-organisational considerations caused British Steel to place the property on the market in 1973. It was withdrawn from auction when it failed to meet the reserve price and remained unoccupied for the following three years other than for some of the flats and cottages for part of the time. In 1976 the Lodge was bought by the Finance and Personnel Group of British Leyland which had been formed as a result of the Ryder Report. British Leyland made further changes, notably conversion of the two flats in the main building into additional office space, the inclusion of one of the external cottages into the extended office block to the right of the house, and the construction of a fully air conditioned computer room in what had been the library in the Stirling time.

The house remained in British Leylands hands until purchased by The Institute of Packaging in the summer of 1983.