Hautbois History

Hautbois was mentioned in the Domesday Book as either Hobuist or Orbouessa, and at one stage after 1066 the son of a freeman who held the land took the name of Alto Bosco, rather grander than Haut Bois. There are several interpretations of the name, ranging from a derivation of Hobby (as in the Hobby Hawk), through to a direct translation from French meaning "High Trees", though the generally accepted "official" version is "tussocky grass" (not quite as grand sounding somehow!).

The original Hautbois Church lies about a mile to the West of the House, very close to the original site of St. Benedict's Abbey, and fell into such a ruinous state that a replacement was built in the 19th Century, and the Holy Trinity Church now located next door to the House was consecrated in 1864. There has traditionally been a close link between the Church and the Guide Movement and most of the kneelers in use in the Church bear the Guide Trefoil, as they have been embroidered by Association members from throughout the Anglia Region.

Great Hautbois House dates partially from the 1850's, and was originally constructed as the rectory, and was the home of the Reverend John Colk Girling, born locally at Paston, near North Walsham. Rev. Girling was appointed Rector of Hautbois in 1859, and soon after his arrival undertook to set up the marl-workings, bringing much-needed employment to the area. Workers dug out the marl (lime-bearing clay) from the pits, which was processed into lime on the meadow, and then shipped out by river down the newly constructed Cut (channel leading to the river Bure). The workings now form a natural ring around the Limepits Campsite, where some activities are run, and the cut provides us with a safe launching point for Canoeing and Kayaking, thus a scheme that was originally devised to provide employment in the 19th Century is still providing good service into the 21st.

Rev. Girling sold the House to Frank Patteson in the early 1900's. However this was done without the permission of the Church authorities, required since it was on Glebe Land, and, as a result, the Diocese insisted that Girling should build a new replacement Rectory at his own expense, despite the fact that he had originally paid for the construction of Great Hautbois House himself.

Alterations were made to the House, including a larger kitchen, with laundry and pantry, additional bedrooms and the photographic darkroom on the first floor. These were completed in 1906 and the family moved in. One of the new rooms was the day nursery, now renamed Buckinghamshire, linked by steps to the night nursery, now Link. The original frieze still exists in Buckinghamshire, probably originating in Belgium or Holland, as did the lovely blue and white Delft-style tiles surrounding the fireplace. This room, with its sunny aspect, is a favourite of many, and you can almost sense the fun and laughter this room must have witnessed over the years.

Mrs. Patteson initiated the connection between Hautbois and Guiding, starting the Coltishall Guide Company, partly as an interest for her daughter Phillippa, and later Beth, so beginning their lifelong love of Guiding. Coltishall Guide Company originally held their meetings in a hall, which now forms part of Gardener's Cottage, and Guide camps have been held at Hautbois for well over half a century. Phillippa became partially blind from the age of 9, but still remained very active in Guiding, and was for many years the County Chairman of the Norfolk Trefoil Guild. Beth joined the Services during the war, and, on her return to Hautbois, also became very active in Guiding, becoming County Camp Adviser, and Norfolk County Commissioner, and helped run the International Camp, held in Windsor Great Park in 1957, to celebrate the centenary of Lord Baden Powell's birth.

This passion for Guiding continued throughout their lives, and, as a lasting testimony to their commitment to the Movement, they generously left Great Hautbois House and the estate to Anglia Guides in 1984, with the earnest wish that the family home should be made into a residential Training and Activity Centre. The Anglia Region in particular, and Girlguiding in general, will forever be extremely grateful for this wonderful gesture, and hope to fulfil the Patteson sisters' wishes by ensuring that generations of future members of Guiding, of all ages, will continue to visit and enjoy this fantastic facility. The main living room has been renamed Patteson Room in their honour, and the family's height chart, located behind the door in the old library (Hertfordshire), has been encased in plastic for posterity. Great Hautbois House opened officially as a TAC in 1988, and has welcomed thousands of Guides from all over the world since then. The Patteson sisters legacy will never be forgotten, and Girlguiding in Anglia will always be proud to have such a venue. The headstone (please click here to see a picture) marking their graves can be seen in the ruins of St Theobald's Church, not far from Hautbois House.

For more detailed historic information please visit Girlguiding Norfolk's Heritage site - please click here