The Hub
Pewsham House
The Lysley Family
In 1832 William John Lysley (MP for Chippenham between 1859 and 1865) bought the Pewsham Estate – land that included Little, Middle and Great Lodge Farms and extended to the A4, where the Pewsham (Lysley Arms) public house stands. William Lysley lived in Great Lodge Farm – just behind the Pewsham Garage – with his wife Caroline. They had four children; Caroline, Sarah, William Gerard and Warine.
William Gerard inherited the Pewsham Estate in 1873, passing it to Frances Lysley (his wife) in 1887. Frances built Pewsham House in 1892. This Lysley Dynasty lie under the East window of Christ Church. The East window, illustrating the Ascension of Our Lord, was erected in 1865 in memory of Caroline by William John Lysley.
William John Lysley and Caroline Lysley
Bust of W.J Lysley and his wife Caroline, 1829 by Luigi Bienaimé.
East Window of Christ Church
Donated in 1865 by W.J Lysley in memory of his wife Caroline
Pewsham House Design 1892
Pewsham House Design 1892
Pewsham House Stables 1892
Pewsham House Stables 1892
Frances Lysley
Built Pewsham House in 1892
William Gerard Lysley
Lawyer and Justice of the Peace
Captain Gerard Lysley
In August 1900 the War Office sent a telegram to Pewsham House that brought the tragic news that Captain Gerard Lysley had been killed in action in the South African War.
Gerard was the eldest son of Frances and William Lysley. If he had lived, Gerard would have inherited Pewsham House in 1918 when his mother Frances passed away.
Captain Gerard was buried very near to where he fell in South Africa and is remembered on the Lysley grave at Christ Church, Derry Hill.
Lysley Vault
The Lysley family lie under the East Window of Christ Church. Pewsham House was sold by the Lysley family in 1945.