The Gayhurst Collection is a series of thirty-five photographs, commissioned by  James W Carlile, the then owner of The Gayhurst Estate.

The Collection was produced in 1885 by a professional photographer, whose identity is unknown.

Following the death of Lady Carlile, the photographs – together with assorted family papers – were passed to The Stoke Goldington Association for safe keeping, by permission of The Executors of Lady Carlile’s estate.

The photographs show not only the interior and exterior of the house, but the 1885 Regatta, the Rowing Club and boathouse, as listed below:-

 

Gayhurst House 

East Front

 

 

 

 

Interior 

  • Main Entrance Hall (East of porch)
  • Drawing room (with pictures of Kenelm and Venetia Digby on wall)
  • The Oak staircase
  • The Stone staircase  (with Bachelor’s Gallery)
  • Archway in front hall

Exterior

  • South Front  (with flag on East wing)
  • North Front
  • East Elevation (with church)
  • The Back door (Tradesmen)
  • Service wing courtyard
  • Service wing on West side
  • Male servant ‘s lavatory (by Wm Burgess)
  • Dovecote/service wing/stables
  • Stable block & Laundry
  • Stable Yard (now Mews Cottages)

Landscape /Locality

  • Gayhurst House – North Avenue  (towards Bunsty from the roof )
  • Gayhurst House – Dutch Garden & Church (from roof)
  • Gayhurst House – East elevation (from Parkland)
  • Gayhurst House – Back Garden  (later Rose Garden)
  • Gayhurst House – The Water Garden
  • Gayhurst House & St Peter’s Church (viewed from South) x2
  • Gayhurst House &  St Peter’s Church (viewed from across the Water Garden)
  • Gayhurst House  & St Peter’s Church from the south (Haversham Road)
  • Gayhurst Church of St Peter (close-up)
  • The Yew walk (“Digby’s Walk”)
  • Entrance Lodge (later the Francis Drake P H)
  • Archway/passage under A50 (now B526) road
  • Gayhurst Village (viewed from River Ouse )

People

  • Walter Carlile and wife,  with sister et al on Coach & Four carriage outside House
  • Gayhurst Rowing Club – James William and William Walter Carlile
  • Gayhurst Rowing Club – Walter Carlile and friends
  • Regatta on River Ouse near Bath House
  • Regatta on River Ouse with boat house
  • The Boat House (now fallen down)

The photographs are kept in the SGA archive in the Reading Room