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| It's a hall, not a palace: French baron defies etiquette by renaming his British stately home | It's a hall, not a palace: French baron defies etiquette by renaming his British stately home |
| (about 14 hours later) | |
| They are some of England’s grandest homes. But while Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace are familiar to any tourist, the sudden emergence of a new contender – Apethorpe Palace in Northamptonshire – is ruffling feathers in heritage circles. | They are some of England’s grandest homes. But while Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace are familiar to any tourist, the sudden emergence of a new contender – Apethorpe Palace in Northamptonshire – is ruffling feathers in heritage circles. |
| By tacit agreement, a building is called a palace only if it is the official residence of royalty or bishops. But the decision of a French aristocrat dubbed “the Red Baron” to rename the Northampton stately home he snapped up last year for £2.5m has raised eyebrows. | By tacit agreement, a building is called a palace only if it is the official residence of royalty or bishops. But the decision of a French aristocrat dubbed “the Red Baron” to rename the Northampton stately home he snapped up last year for £2.5m has raised eyebrows. |
| Jean Christophe Iseux, Baron von Pfetten, who was a senior adviser to China’s communist government, has officially renamed Apethorpe Hall Apethorpe Palace, according to Land Registry documents. The French professor and diplomat bought the 48-bedroom Jacobean manor in a deal with English Heritage that saved the magnificent 15th-century Grade I-listed home from ruin. | Jean Christophe Iseux, Baron von Pfetten, who was a senior adviser to China’s communist government, has officially renamed Apethorpe Hall Apethorpe Palace, according to Land Registry documents. The French professor and diplomat bought the 48-bedroom Jacobean manor in a deal with English Heritage that saved the magnificent 15th-century Grade I-listed home from ruin. |
| Baron von Pfetten at his home in France (AFP/Getty) | Baron von Pfetten at his home in France (AFP/Getty) |
| At the time of the sale the property had no running water or electricity. The baron declared it should “regain its deserved place in British history”, but while there is appreciation of his efforts to restore the building, some believe he has overstepped the mark by converting the hall into a palace only weeks after the purchase. | At the time of the sale the property had no running water or electricity. The baron declared it should “regain its deserved place in British history”, but while there is appreciation of his efforts to restore the building, some believe he has overstepped the mark by converting the hall into a palace only weeks after the purchase. |
| Built between 1470 and 1480, Apethorpe was a power base for prominent Tudor and Jacobean families for more than 150 years. Although the house once hosted monarchs including Elizabeth I, James I and Charles I, it never served as a royal residence. | Built between 1470 and 1480, Apethorpe was a power base for prominent Tudor and Jacobean families for more than 150 years. Although the house once hosted monarchs including Elizabeth I, James I and Charles I, it never served as a royal residence. |
| Andrew Triggs, an amateur architectural historian and editor of the BISH (British & Irish Stately Homes) blog, said: “I am not convinced that Apethorpe’s history warrants it being named a palace just because it was visited once by Elizabeth I when she owned it. Osborne House, managed by English Heritage, was owned and built by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, who visited many more times, but is not called a palace, so it seems inconsistent. | Andrew Triggs, an amateur architectural historian and editor of the BISH (British & Irish Stately Homes) blog, said: “I am not convinced that Apethorpe’s history warrants it being named a palace just because it was visited once by Elizabeth I when she owned it. Osborne House, managed by English Heritage, was owned and built by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, who visited many more times, but is not called a palace, so it seems inconsistent. |
| “I would imagine that if English Heritage had not been the seller of the house, more effort may have been made to challenge and discourage the name change. But it does raise an interesting issue over whether English Heritage should limit the free use of certain names, to maintain the integrity of our heritage.” | “I would imagine that if English Heritage had not been the seller of the house, more effort may have been made to challenge and discourage the name change. But it does raise an interesting issue over whether English Heritage should limit the free use of certain names, to maintain the integrity of our heritage.” |
| The Government issued a £3.5m compulsory purchase order for Apethorpe Hall in 2004. Four years later, it went on the market for £4.5m but no one was interested. Baron von Pfetten bought it last November after English Heritage used £8m of taxpayers’ to keep it in a secure state. | The Government issued a £3.5m compulsory purchase order for Apethorpe Hall in 2004. Four years later, it went on the market for £4.5m but no one was interested. Baron von Pfetten bought it last November after English Heritage used £8m of taxpayers’ to keep it in a secure state. |
| English Heritage said it has no statutory or legal authority to challenge or reject any new name. A spokesman said: “The sale was definitely not conditional on changing the name. The renaming of Apethorpe is a matter for its owner, like the naming of any property.” | |
| However, a representative of Baron von Pfetten said that it was not his idea to change the name of the property and that the proposal was already in place before he made the purchase. | |
| Turning Dunromin into Versailles | Turning Dunromin into Versailles |
| Make a written request to the highways or engineers department of your council. You cannot change a number (apart from adding a letter for an extra dwelling) or swap a number for a name, but you can use a name in addition. The highways department will tell Royal Mail of an approved name change. You need to register the change with Land Registry, your council tax department, the electoral roll, phone and utility providers, mortgage lender and everyone who writes to you. | Make a written request to the highways or engineers department of your council. You cannot change a number (apart from adding a letter for an extra dwelling) or swap a number for a name, but you can use a name in addition. The highways department will tell Royal Mail of an approved name change. You need to register the change with Land Registry, your council tax department, the electoral roll, phone and utility providers, mortgage lender and everyone who writes to you. |