History
Heythrop Hall passed through various generations of the Talbot family until it was rendered uninhabitable by the fire of 1831. Rebuilt by new owners, the Brassey family in 1871; the house remained in their possession until 1926 (Buchan's novel The Three Hostages (1924) contains a reference to "the Heythrop Ball"). From then until 1969, Heythrop Hall was a college for the philosophical and theological studies of Jesuit novices. During this period the house was altered and enlarged, not always in a style sympathetic to the original architectural concept. In 1952, the indoor tennis court was converted to a chapel and in 1965, a library was added. In 1960, the architectural firm of Howell, Killick and Amis created two halls of residence in the grounds in a contemporary style.
When in 1969 the Jesuit college moved to London as part of the University there, the National Westminster Bank group bought Heythrop Park and turned the house and its precincts into a training and conference centre. In 1999 NatWest sold the house to Firoz Kassam's company Firoka Ltd, which has turned the house and grounds to a hotel and country club.
Read more about this topic: Heythrop Park
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