Warwick House Images Supplied I’ve often talked about my passion for old homesteads, so regular readers can imagine how excited I was about a visit to Nelson’s Warwick House. This monstrous three-storied home was built in 1854 and was extended in the 1870s to include three towers, a spiral staircase and a magnificent ballroom overlooking Nelson city. The large wing containing two of the towers and many rooms has since been demolished but the third tower and the ballroom are still intact. One corner of the ballroom in fact, acts as the breakfast room for paying guests each morning. Nick and Jenny Ferrier are the seventh owners. They bought six or seven years ago on their return from Hong Kong, keen to establish a new lifestyle that would keep them in touch with the international community. They’ve spent all the years since renovating the home (which had been turned into flats prior to their arrival), and confess that it’s still a work in progress. They currently have five guest rooms; and their own wing – a huge 8-bedroomed house in its own right – while part of the original house, is completely separate from guest quarters.
Once a venue for glamorous entertaining events for leading merchants and politicians, Warwick House was used as a gentlemen’s boarding house in the early 1890s. It’s been home to seven families and Nick and Jenny have met a number of people who grew up there. They’ve also gathered a lovely photographic timeline of the mansion, which is on display in the second-level of the Tower Room. (The lowest level is a wine cellar; the top level part of one of the guest suites). In the process of renovating they have discovered boarded up rooms, original boarded up ceilings and all manner of other treats. “It’s been a labour of love and lots of hard work; but definitely worth it,” says Nick. “We had spent a lot of time living overseas and it’s great that we now enjoy the quieter lifestyle of Nelson without losing touch with people from all over the world.” www.warwickhouse.co.nz
Once a venue for glamorous entertaining events for leading merchants and politicians, Warwick House was used as a gentlemen’s boarding house in the early 1890s. It’s been home to seven families and Nick and Jenny have met a number of people who grew up there. They’ve also gathered a lovely photographic timeline of the mansion, which is on display in the second-level of the Tower Room. (The lowest level is a wine cellar; the top level part of one of the guest suites). In the process of renovating they have discovered boarded up rooms, original boarded up ceilings and all manner of other treats. “It’s been a labour of love and lots of hard work; but definitely worth it,” says Nick. “We had spent a lot of time living overseas and it’s great that we now enjoy the quieter lifestyle of Nelson without losing touch with people from all over the world.” www.warwickhouse.co.nz
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