Dorothy Vernon's Steps

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Haddon Hall - Dorothy Vernon's Steps.

Haddon Hall

Haddon Hall is a splendid medieval fortified house, dating back to the 12th century when Richard de Vernon began the building. The house lay abandoned and empty for over two hundred years (from around 1700 to the early 1900s). The result was the avoidance of 'improvements' and 'development' during that period.

Haddon Hall

An Original Light English Opera in Three Acts.

written by Sydney Grundy.
music by Sir Arthur Sullivan.

This opera opened at the Savoy Theatre on September 24, 1892 and played for 204 performances.

This opera is based on an actual historical event.

Dorothy Vernon of Haddon Hall elopes with John Manners, son of the Duke of Rutland. Her father has unfortunately arranged a marriage for her with her cousin Rupert, a recent unwilling convert to Puritanism, in order for the family to retain the Haddon estate.

The plot hinges on the elopement in 1563 of Dorothy Vernon with John Manners, son of the Duke of Rutland. In order to add humor, author Sydney Grundy switched the date to 1660. This gave the opera a Puritan background, the hypocritical elements of which were exploited by the author.

In addition, there are two main themes: the eternity of the British home, stated plainly in the opera's prologue, sung by the chorus behind the closed curtain, and recurring throughout the opera; and Shakespeare's "To thine own heart be true."

The cast included many familiar Savoyards, including Rutland Barrington as Rupert Vernon, Courtice Pounds as John Manners, Rosina Brandram as Lady Vernon, and W.H. Denny as the McCrankie. Charles Kenningham, later to be the Savoy's principal tenor, is here allotted the second tenor role of Oswald. He and two other cast members had been performers in Sullivan's Ivanhoe in 1891. Richard Green, who played Prince John (as well as the role of Tommy Merton in the Vicar of Bray revival at the Savoy earlier in 1892), created the part of Sir George Vernon. Soprano Lucille Hill had sung Rowena in Ivanhoe and here took the lead as Dorothy Vernon.

Haddon Print Contemporary Drawing of Haddon Hall

Haddon Print

Haddon Hall
Description

Haddon Hall has been continuously in one family since 1170; and it was owned by one branch of the Vernon's until 1567. In that year Dorothy Vernon married John Manners; their descendant became the Duke of Rutland in 1703, but the Duke preferred his other seat, Belvoir Castle.

Haddon was then virtually uninhabited until the 9th. Duke set about the restoration of the house early in this century. Though the best of the family's chattels are at Belvoir, the attraction of Haddon is the un-spoilt nature of the interior, and the famous medieval terraces in the garden. These lead down in a cascade to the River Wye, and the garden contains a veritable archive of old-fashioned roses, clematis, and other plants including herbs of every kind, many planted when the house was restored this century. Clay pigeon shooting is a feature of the Park.

Dennis ~ Debbi, First Cousins

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Last update on 10/25/03