The History of the Park in the Tracy Park Estate
The Park is situated in the Tracy Park Estate which is one of the most beautiful country estates in the Bristol and Bath area. The park, mentioned in the Domesday Book, extends to 240 acres and derives its name from John de Tracye, who purchased the estate in 1246 from Thomas of Deinton. The manor remained in Tracye family for 300 years before being sold in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I to Arthur Player. He was a bailiff for Sir William Wintor, Lord of Dyrham, who was a keen contender for commercial advantage during the re-building for the British Fleet who were to set sail and defeat the Spanish Armada in 1586. Many long days and nights were spent in what in now the Manor room negotiating with rich land owners and members of the nobility to raise enough money in order that the British fleet was up to full strength. attractions, boats, restaurants and museums. Old warehouses have been born again as trendy bistros, wine bars and arts centres and imaginative new visitor attractions have brought more life to the waterfront.
The Park adjoins Freezing Hill which in, July 1643, became the sight for the bloodiest Battles on British soil, the Battle of Lansdown. Spilling over the fairways of The Park’s Cromwell Course, Charles I’s Royalists and Oliver Cromwell’s Parliamentarians fought for their respective King and country and God and Parliament. The King dispatched additional troops to his commander, Sir Ralph Hopton, bolstering his forces to 4000 foot, 2000 horse and 300 dragoons.
By comparison Major General Sir William Waller, for the Parliamentarians, was seriously lacking in infantry having more than 1500 foot and 2500 horse. The Battle of Lansdown, although inconclusive, inflicted severe casualties on the Royalists and although they eventually overwhelmed Wallers position the victory came with sadness as Sir Bevill Grenville, was killed in the thick of the fighting.
After the Civil War Tracy Park changed hands a number of times but always remained the property of merchants in Bristol until finally Robert Bush left the house in 1798 to his nephew. The present appearance of the house is largely as created by Robert Bush Junior in 1808, although later extensions exist to the back of the Manor. On October 3rd 1820 Bush sold the house to Sir William Gabriel Davy Knight Commander for the Guelphic order of Hanover. The Manor remained the property of this use family until the early 20th Century when William James Davy, Grandson of Sir William, was killed in action in France. Sir Williams great granddaughter Helen then sold the house in March 1926 to Charles Samuel Clarke. The Clarke family lived in the house until 1973 when it was purchased at auction and then developed into a hotel and golf course which it has remained to this day.
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