Chigwell's lost mansion where Queen Elizabeth I once stayed

The name Luxborough can be traced back to the 14th century and there was certainly a grand house here in 1591 as Queen Elizabeth I stayed at Luxborough for two nights.

By the start of the 18th century the ancient house was falling into disrepair and in 1716 it was purchased for £10,000 by Robert Knight (1675–1744), an up-and-coming city gent who was looking for a country seat. Knight was the son of a wealthy sugar baker who in 1710 had been Master of the Grocers’ Company. He was clever, good at figures and made his name in the financial world. He became acquainted with the partners at the Sword Blade Company and they invited him to become involved with a new venture.

The recycling centre. Picture: Georgina Green

The South Sea Company was set up, with Robert Knight as the chief cashier, as a bank in all but name. Investors were led to believe the company would make huge profits from the mineral wealth of South America and the shares became sought after, raising the price. Henry St John (later Lord Bolingbroke) was a director of the company with whom Knight was on good terms. He arranged for bribes to ease the progress of the South Sea Company and when he was forced to live abroad Knight became his agent in London.

The company prospered under the guidance of a select few of the directors who manipulated the finances and Knight kept a ‘green book’ of their more secret dealings. He took as his assistant his nephew Robert Surman who at that time lived at Wanstead, but eventually purchased Valentines in Ilford. It was Surman who found the Luxborough site might be a good financial investment for his uncle.

Knight wasted no time in demolishing the near-derelict Tudor house and built a mansion in the latest Palladian style. This was at the same time as Wanstead House was being rebuilt and Knight could have employed the same architect. The building was sited diagonally opposite the present EFDC site and the estate included 180 acres of farmland which was tenanted.

A view of Luxborough looking west

Demand for the shares in the South Sea Company rose so rapidly that in 1720 the ‘bubble’ burst and many people lost a fortune. By this time the governor was the King and it was necessary to hold a major enquiry into the affairs of the company. Few of the directors had been aware of the underhand dealings but all were scrutinised and had their assets confiscated. Robert Knight was forced to flee abroad with his ‘green book’.

Luxborough was Knight’s pride and joy but it was sold for the benefit of the South Sea Company creditors. He hoped he would be able to buy it back and pass it on to his son Robert who had joined his father in France. He was able to travel back and forth between London and Paris to assist his father’s business. Knight had resumed his friendship with Lord Bolingbroke and in 1727 Robert Knight junior married Bolingbroke’s half-sister, Henrietta St John.

An old map of the area. Luxborough is located to the south-west of Chigwell

In 1742 Knight was able to return to England where he rented Luxborough before he finally managed to negotiate buying it back. He died before the sale was completed, leaving Luxborough to his son, entailed to his grandson. Robert Knight junior had no great affection for Luxborough and it was sold out of the family, though he became Lord Luxborough.

The beautiful Palladian mansion passed through several hands but the site was prone to flooding. It was demolished around 1800 by James Hatch of Claybury who owned extensive property in the area.

Georgina Green has been involved with local history in Redbridge, Waltham Forest and the Epping Forest area for 40 years and served as the honorary secretary of the Woodford Historical Society from 1987 to 2000. She is the author of several local history books and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society in 2021.