contents of this page

• rooms and sizes
• listing
• internal systems
• history
• location and transport
• schools

rooms

The house comprises these rooms.
Note: the sizes are approximate; not all rooms are exactly square.

listing

The house and the cider house are Listed Grade II.
See here for the house listing, and here for the cider house.

internal systems

The following systems and utilities are provided.

history

Greenway House was formerly called the Green House (changing its name c.1885).

The earliest reference we have to Green House is in a deed made in 1412 (in the reign of Henry IV) in which a house and a virgate of land was given to Johanne Hankynes by William Helewogh. The Hankins' owned Green House until the mid 19th century.

The earliest reference to the house as such is in the parish registers of the burial on 24 December 1590 of William Hankins of the Green House. The house was much improved by the Hankins: it was extended from being half-timbered to having a brick exterior in the 17th century; the new wing, added in 1776, probably replaced an existing wing.

There is much evidence of the ancient structure of the building to be found in the roof timbers where the extension from half-timbered to brick and an extra yard's width is clear. It is likely that the building was originally built with an H floor plan, with an open hall in the cross-piece of the H. The central chimney stack was probably added in the 16th century. In the sitting room, there is a cast-iron fire back dated 1661 with the initial TH or JH (Hankins) which was most likely cast in Dymock - when Dymock still had an iron industry (based on the local oaks of the Forest of Dean).

The house is partly moated, although the moat is now dry. It is probable that the moat was always a part moat, and was more for purposes of prestige than defence.

During its long occupation by the Hankins, Green House was a prosperous farm, dealing substantially in cider and perry. Much of the surrounding land was orchards until the mid 20th century. The cider house cellar and the house cellar have the capacity for a substantial number of cider barrels.

The East family used the house for boys' and girls' boarding schools by 1867 - the Green House Academy; later it was a day school; the girls' school remained open until 1884-5. The old school bell is still functional.

The house was bought as a country house by the Smyths in 1898; it remained in their hands for about 70 years.

Also, see the history of the outbuildings.

location and transport

Greenway House is in a peaceful rural location on a quiet road in the rolling countryside of the Herefordshire/ Gloucestershire borders.

The area was noted in the past for its cider and perry; and indeed the area still produces cider at nearby Much Marcle (eg: Westons). The apples from the Greenway House orchards have gone to Westons recently.

The area was noted in the early 19th century for the Dymock Poets. The Ledbury Poetry Festival is an annual event.

Greenway House is a about 10 minutes from the market towns of Ledbury and Newent. There is a bus passing the gate hourly. Malvern is about 10 miles away and provides a good selection of private schools.

Junction 2 of the M50 is about 3 miles away. Birmingham airport is about 50 minutes drive. There are trains to Worcester, Birmingham, Paddington, and the wider rail network from Ledbury. In addition, there are trains from Gloucester and Cheltenham.

There are very good local sporting facilities: hunting with the Ledbury Hunt and the North Ledbury Hunt; fishing on the Wye; pheasant shooting; golf at Ross, Dymock, and Newent; racing at Cheltenham, Worcester, and Hereford; cricket at Worcester; rugby at Gloucester; and so on.

schools

There are many state and private schools within reach: