Beechwood House, Dowgate Road, Leverington

Image: © Richard Humphrey Taken: 6 Jun 2013

When this photo was taken in 2013 this historic house was named Beechwood House and had recently been fully restored and extended and although a private residence the living room was available for hire for small gatherings such as reunions, christenings and funerals. The photographer had viewed the property prior to its restoration with a view to purchasing it but decided against it due to the extensive repair work required. It was formerly called Crosse Hall as detailed in the following extract - The house at the south end of Church Lane, sometimes called CROSSE HALL but now BEECHWOOD, was probably built by Thomas Crosse who died there in 1633. In 1624 Crosse was apparently living in Wisbech, which had been the home of his father and grandfather and other members of the family who had played a prominent part in the life of the town. Thomas's second son John (d.1639) succeeded to Crosse Hall and was succeeded in turn by a grandson John II (d. 1666) and a great grandson John III (d. 1704). The next owner was John IV (d. 1743), the eldest son of John III. He was succeeded by a son Edward, who in 1788 was appointed a D.L. for the Isle. In 1762 he inherited a further 200 acres under the will of Adam Hawkins of Leverington, but he appears to have dissipated much of his fortune through horse racing. Several of his race horses are buried in the paddock, including the noted Alonzo whose grave was marked by two pines. Much of Edward's property was sold at his death (1795), but Samuel (1763-1847) his third son, Fellow of Peterhouse and Vicar of Hunstanton (Norf.), retained a part of it including Crosse Hall. His son Samuel Massey Crosse (d. 1861) succeeded to Crosse Hall. In 1853 the remaining property (190 acres) was sold by auction and S. C. Crosse went to live at Barton Lodge, Wisbech, and subsequently in London. Henry Sharpe subsequently lived for many years at Beechwood (or Crosse Hall) where he kept his shrievalty. On his death (c.1930) there the place was sold to E. J. Newborn, upon whose death it devolved upon his daughter Mrs. Tansley, the owner in 1951. The currents owners (2013) are Mr P. Turner and Mrs M. Turner A rough drawing of the house in an earlier state is given in the map of the Leverington Hall estate made in 1782. From this it can be seen that the house consisted of a central block with wings extending forward on each side, something like an H. Sharpe demolished much of it in 1892 and built a completely new front with large rooms behind. The walled garden and some of the farm buildings are probably as old as the original house. The dovecote is at least 300 years old, and is a fine specimen of its kind. See http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1538610 for a photo of the dovecote and see http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3505991 for an external view of the garden wall Partially from: 'Wisbech Hundred: Leverington', A History of the County of Cambridge and the Isle of Ely: Volume 4: City of Ely; Ely, N. and S. Witchford and Wisbech Hundreds (2002), pp. 186-197. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=21916 Date accessed: 11 June 2013. In November 2025 the property had been renamed Beechwood Hall and the owner at the time, Mr Simon Hayden, provided the following revised/additional text: Beechwood Hall, located at the southern end of Church Lane, was historically known as Crosse Hall. The house is believed to have been constructed by Thomas Crosse, who died there in 1633. Records from 1624 indicate that Crosse was then residing in Wisbech, which had long been the home of his family. Several generations of the Crosse family were prominent in local affairs and held positions of influence within the town. Following Thomas Crosse’s death, the property passed to his second son, John Crosse (d.1639), and subsequently through successive generations: John II (d.1666), John III (d.1704), and John IV (d.1743). Upon the death of John IV, his son Edward Crosse inherited the estate. Edward was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant for the Isle in 1788 and, in 1762, inherited an additional 200 acres under the will of Adam Hawkins of Leverington. However, Edward is recorded as having dissipated a considerable portion of his fortune through horse racing. Several of his racehorses, including one named Alonzo, are reputed to be buried within the paddock of the estate, their graves once marked by two pine trees. After Edward’s death in 1795, much of the property was sold. His third son, Reverend Samuel Crosse (1763–1847), Fellow of Peterhouse, Cambridge, and Vicar of Hunstanton (Norfolk), retained a portion of the estate, including Crosse Hall. His son, Samuel Massey Crosse (d.1861), succeeded him and, in 1853, sold the remaining 190 acres by public auction. He later resided at Barton Lodge, Wisbech, and subsequently in London. It was later occupied by Henry Sharpe, who held the office of High Sheriff and maintained his shrievalty at the house for many years. Following his death around 1930, the property was acquired by E. J. Newborn, and upon his death, ownership passed to his daughter, Mrs. Tansley, who is recorded as the proprietor in 1951. More recently, the house has been known as Beechwood Hall, a name derived from the large beech tree situated within the grounds to the right of the property. The current custodians (2023) are Mr. and Mrs. S. Hayden, who own several properties in the surrounding area. A rough drawing of the house in an earlier state is given in the map of the Leverington Hall estate made in 1782. From this it can be seen that the house consisted of a central block with wings extending forward on each side, something like an H. Sharpe demolished much of it in 1892 and built a completely new front with large rooms behind. The walled garden and some of the farm buildings are probably as old as the original house. The dovecote is at least 300 years old, and is a fine specimen of its kind.

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