Property Description

HISTORY GLYNALLYN, a name bestowed by its wealthy owner is a three story, 32,000 square foot, 40 room, ELIZABETHAN TUDOR MANSION on 7.5 acres, located on what was the "Millionaire's Row" of Madison Avenue, in MORRISTOWN, NEW JERSEY. Lovingly called "THE CASTLE" by the locals, the house is modeled after COMPTON WYNYATES, the SIXTEENTH CENTURY ancestral HOME of SIR WILLIAM COMPTON, in WARWICKSHIRE, ENGLAND. Sir William Compton was a close and lifelong FRIEND OF KING HENRY VIII, as PORTRAIT in the FIRST SEASON of the highly POPULAR SHO SERIES "THE TUDORS." GLYNALLYN WAS BUILT BETWEEN 1914-1917 FOR GEORGE MARSHALL ALLEN, an astute entrepreneur, yachtsman and world traveler. He carefully chose the LAND for his dream house, which HAD TO RESEMBLE the old ENGLISH ROLLING COUNTRY SIDE. Allen found the perfect LOCATION on a four mile stretch BETWEEN MORRISTOWN and MADISON in NEW JERSEY. The area was a SOUGHT AFTER COUNTRY RETREAT for New York blue bloods. Their stunning, combined GILDED AGE wealth, led MORRISTOWN to be dubbed THE "INLAND NEWPORT." The neighborhood was the SHOWPLACE of some of the MOST BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY HOMES. GLYNALLYN is the only PRIVATELY OWNED residence from that era. The property was placed ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES in 1987. CHARLES I. BERG, a noted New York ARCHITECT was hired for the monumental undertaking and realization of Allen's TUDOR FANTASY. He spent many months in England to study Compton Wynyates and the refinement of the Tudor architecture in the Warwickshire area. In 1919 GLYNALLYN achieved CELEBRITY STATUS, when a MOTION PICTURE COMPANY received Mr. Allen's permission to USE THE HOUSE and GROUNDS as backdrop IN their SILENT FILM "WITNESS FOR THE DEFENSE" starring ELSIE FERGUSON and WARNER OLAND. The production was later accorded the honor of release under Paramount's Artcraft banner. ARCHITECTURE The mansion is constructed of IRREGULAR BRICK, WHEATHERED TIMBER and PITTED LIME STONE with a THICK SALTE ROOF adorned with TWENTY FIVE TALL CHIMNEY STACKS, each of them designed in a different pattern. Because of its TURRETS, BATTLEMENTS, CRENELATED PARAPET WALLS, GABLES, BALCONIES, TERRACES, GARGOYLES, CARVED PLASTER ORNAMENTS, LEADED STAINED GLASS WINDOWS, massive FRONT PORTAL, two story GOTHIC BAY WINDOW and GOTHIC CLOISTER, the house is often referred to as "Straight out of Tudor England." Glynallyn was called the FINEST EXAMPLE of ELIZABETHAN TUDOR ARCHITECHTURE IN THE COUNTRY for its AUTHENTIC SIXTEEN CENTURY LOOK and the outstanding, unexpected features which were introduced at almost every turn. GROUNDS, GARDEN AND TERRACES The grounds and gardens are EQUALLY IMPRESSIVE. Tall, GARGOYLE TOPPED BRICK PILLARS at the road side mark the front approach to the house. From there, a LONG, TREE LINED DRIVEWAY flanked by LARGE LAWNS, leads to the MASSIVE MAIN PORTAL. To the left of the house lies the ENCHANTED GARDEN, surrounded by a TEN FOOT HIGHT HEWS HEDGE with two ARCHED CUTOUTS that lodge exquisite WROUGHT IRON GATES. A long SPACIOUS FIELDSTONE TERRACE with BRICK BALUSTRADE runs along the entire south side of the main house. Amongst many noteworthy features, the slate covered GOTHIC CLOISTER with its early GOTHIC WINDOW ARCHES and WROUGHT IRON DOOR is by far the most admired one. A TWO STORY GOTHIC BAY WINDOW, a quaint ALCOVE, an old WATER WELL, SCULPTURES and carved ANTIQUE WALL TILES combine the beauty of the architecture with the surrounding nature in a most picturesque way. Immediately behind the South Terrace, the ground slopes sharply into a GRASSY RAVINE intertwined by WALKWAYS, TERRACED GARDEN OUTPOSTS, STAIRWAYS and GOTHIC GATES. The bottom of the RAVINE and the opposite rising boundaries are HEAVILY WOODED with TALL OAK, CHESTNUT and MAPLE TREES. This part of the property is the HABITAT and roaming place OF the LOCAL WILD LIFE, it is a veritable white-tailed deer, squirrel, chipmunk, raccoon, rabbit and fox galore. The MOAT and a PRAYER GARDENS, enclosed by a CLASSIC LIMESTONE BALUSTRADE adjoin the house at the southwest side. From there, a long and SPACIOUS FIELDSTONE STAIRCASE leads to the SUNKEN GARDEN with WATER BASINS and remnants of FOUNTAINS. INTERIOUS - MAIN FLORR and PRINCIPLE ROOMS ENTRANCE FOYER - resembles a MEDIEVAL FORTIFIED CASTLE ENTRANCE sans portcullis. LITTLE HALL - featuring FIVE HUNDRED YEAR OLD, CARVED OAK PANELING, nine differently shaped HAND PAINTED STAINED GLASS WINDOWS, a HOODED TUDOR-STYLE COAL FIRE PLACE, slate floor and PLASTER CEILING with carved motives. GREAT HALL - this thirteen hundred square foot, LOFTY TIMBERED room WITH WHITEWASHED CEILINGS RISES TWO AND A HALF STORIES in the center portion of the house. The brick front wall displays a GROUPING OF FIVE HAND PAINTED, STAINED GLASS WINDOWS with a MAJESTIC, FIFTEEN FOOT tall ARCHED CENTER WINDOW, depicting KING LEAR and four ARCHANGELS in vibrant colors. THE MINSTREL GALLERY that once housed an organ is built into the oriel bay that carries the front tower. A noteworthy, opposing-pie-shaped stairway ascends to its second floor balcony. CONCEALED in a nearby beam is a PEEPHOLE that allows the activities of the Great Hall to be observed from the master bedroom. PLASTER SCULPTURES ABOVE the hearth of the large, typical SIXTEEN CENTURY FIREPLACE in the center of the Great Hall, COMMEMORATED the "WAR OF THE ROSES." A CONCEALED TELEPHONE BOOTH housed the first telephone of the mansion. Nearby, a HIDDEN FIREWOOD ELEVATOR is used to transport logs up from the basement. A strategically placed FIRE HOSE, one of seven in the house, is CONCEALED in a wall pocket BEHIND a CARVED, four hundred year old BEER CASK HEAD. A SECRET STAIRWAY obscured by a full length wall panel in the Great Hall, LEADS TO THE DUNGEON below. By pushing a floor board, the panel swings open revealing an old door from which a STEEP, CIRCULAR, WORN-OUT STONE STAIRWAY continues to descend. ORNATE ANTIQUE LANTERNS and unique, WALL MOUNTED CANDLE HOLDERS have been electrically wired for the illumination of the main rooms. Throughout the main floor, ANY HINT OF MODERN CONVENIENCE WAS HIDDEN, thus not to detract from the appearance of antiquity. Careful consideration was given to the layout of the PRINCIPLE ROOMS and TERRACES, they all FLOW and INTERTWINE in the most GRACEFUL MANNER. DRAWING ROOM / LIBRARY - a magnificent one thousand square foot room with CEILING-HIGH OAK PANEL enhanced with HAND CARVED TRIM and MOLDINGS. In addition, the Library features HEAVY POCKET DOORS, a large ornately carved TUDOR-STYLE FIREPLACE, HIDDEN BOOK SHELVES, a host of hand painted stained glass windows and doors that lead to the South Terrace and the Cloister. The most intriguing feature of this room is the SCULPTURED PLASTER CEILING, PATTERNED AFTER one at OXFORD UNIVERSITY. A scaled down, three dimensional model of Glynallyn from 1913 portrays the first layout of the mansion, deviating just slightly from the completed version. WINTER PORCH - the enclosed winter porch is the last room at the west end of the house. It offers an especially good look at the solid brick construction with its TWO FOOT THICK WALLS, TYPICAL of those THROUGHOUT THE HOUSE. The room is outfitted with a PROTRUDING BRICK FIREPLACE and REMOVABLE FLOOR-LENGTH WINDOW PANES. CHAPEL - between the Great Hall and Library lies the Family Chapel. TIGER OAK WALL COVERING, carved moldings and trim and a MOSAIC TILE FLOOR enhance the atmosphere of the sanctuary. Built into its wall panels are four, intricately CARVED ANTIQUE "MISERICORDIA" CHAIRS that are believed to have come from an English Cathedral. MORNING ROOM / CALLING ROOM - an exquisitely ARCHED DOORWAY with a HIDDEN POCKET DOOR leads into this sunny, south exposed room with a TALL GOTHIC BAY WINDOW. One of the highlights is the intricately CARVED PLASTER CEILING with Tudor roses, French lilies and pomegranates arranged in arabesque style. DINING ROOM - the EDWARDIAN dining room is the only room on the main floor where the Tudor styles was not maintained. A seventeen foot LONG BAY WINDOW grants a beautiful view of the tall, majestic trees that grow from the bottom of the ravine. The dinning room has two SECRECT WALL PANELS, one leads to a veritable VAULT complete with a HEAVY Herrington-Hall-Marvin SAFE DOOR that PROTECTED the FAMILY SILVER. The second panel conceals a doorway to the South Terrace. The formal dining room is spacious and airy, it also features a STUNING FIREPLACE, detailed wood moldings and EXQUISITE CARVINGS AROUND the DOORWAYS. ANTI-KITCHENS - the main kitchen was removed in the early 1950s. The two anti-kitchens, once used for serving preparations, have now replaced the original kitchen. The nearby DUMBWAITER moved meals to the basement and all three floors. MAIN STAIRWAY - tucked away in its own spacious offset, the staircase has an exclusive atmosphere. Delicate FIVE HUNDRED YEAR OLD English "LINEN FOLD" PANELS are seamlessly incorporated into the oak clad landing wall. At the head of this landing rises a ROW OF SIX, TALL STAINED GLASS WINDOWS with colorful replicas of ROYAL TUDOR BADGES. CARVED OAK RAILINGS with REMOVABLE NEWL POST TOPS lead to the second and third floors. SECOND FLOOR On reaching this floor, it is immediately noted that the principle guest rooms and the family suites are exclusively situation in this portion of the house. GALLERY the L-SHAPED OAK PANELED GALLERY with its CARVED WOOD BALUSTRADE, greeting window and outlook bay extends over the entire southeast side of the Great Hall's upper level. A stained glass door/window combination on the far east side of the gallery, grants access to a SPACIOUS EXTERIOR BALCONY that overlooks the enchanted garden. JACOBEAN BEDROOM - named for the canopy-topped Jacobean double bed that was once situated there. A curved railing with carved newel post leads from a SMALL LANDING into the SUNKEN ROOM. The UNIQUELY SHAPED Jacobean BEDROOM has a TIMBERED CATHEDRAL CEILING, a LARGE FIREPLACE with CARVED MANTLE, carved moldings and SIX STAINED GLASS WINDOWS. THIRD FLOOR The attic floor of the main house contains a six room apartment. Especially noteworthy on this level is the: PRIEST ROOM - a large studio room featuring a TIMBERED CATHEDRAL CEILING, CARVED WAINSCOTING, a FIREPLACE, LARGE SKYLIGHT and four ESCAPE DOORS. Except for the 16x8 foot skylight, this ROOMS IS AN EXACT COPY OF the ONE IN COMPTON WYNYATES. BASEMENT The ten thousand square foot basement, is not entirely used for utilitarian purposes. A large area was given over to the creation of a refectory, generally referred to as the DUNGEON - this VAULTED ROOM with early GOTHIC ARCHES and THICK STONE WALLS is a veritable crypt designed to resemble a mysterious dungeon. The FIREPLACE is broad enough to hold many logs over six-feet long. Hidden lectric lights behind obscured Gothic windows give the illusion of scant daylight infiltration. HEAVY IRON STUDDED DOORS from the DANNEMORA PRISON in upstate New York open up to a SINGLE CONFINEMENT CELL and other basement rooms. The SHAKESPEAREAN STAGE pays testimony to the dungeon's multifunction purpose, where professional and amateur actors engaged in THEATRICAL PERFORMANCES to entertain Mr. Allen's guests. WINE CELLAR - the TWELVE HUNDRED BOTTLE underground wine cellar was placed outside the foundation walls and extends under the enchanted garden. It can be reached through the basement's summer kitchen. NARROW TRACK RAILWAY - the HEATING system of the house CONSUMED 125 TONS OF COAL ANNUALY. Narrow railroad cars transported the coal from a shoot in the servant's wing basement to the three boilers in the main basement. A turntable at each furnace facilitated the unloading of the heavy coal cars. Today, the only trace of the railroad set up are the steel rails and turn tables imbedded in the basement floor. THE SERVANTS WING Slightly set back at the far east side of the mansion, the servants tract SPANS OVER all THREE FLOORS as well as the entire BASEMENT. It once contained the following facilities: First Floor - Main Kitchen - Staff Dining Room - Food Storage Rooms - Housekeeper's Office. Second Floor - Servant's Sleeping Quarters - Laundry-and Sewing Rooms. Third Floor - CARETAKER's APARTMENT - OAK LINED WALK-IN-CLOSETS for trunk / clothes storage. Basement - the BUTLER'S PANTRY is still EQUIPPED with grand, BUILT-IN CHINA and glassware STORAGE CABINETS. The only remaining SERVANTS-CALL-BOARD is mounted ON the BASEMENT WALL, where miniature bulbs would light up and indicate which of the many rooms required service. A HAND PULLED 1915 Sedgewick FREIGHT ELEVATOR still RUNS SAFELY from the basement to the third floor. Every HALLOWEEN the local children are invited into the Little Hall of the mansion, which they considered the HIGHLIGHT of their trick-or-treat stops. Many of the four to five hundred visitors call Glynallyn lovingly the "Harry Potter House," because of its faint resemblance to Hogwart. A recent ARTICLE written by the DAILY RECORD, a Morris County NEWSPAPER, quotes: The lavishly decorated Little Hall of GLYNALLYN bursts with CANDY and baskets containing a SMORGASBORD that WILLY WONKA WOULD ENVY. The place resembles a venue where VINCENT PRICE WOULD LIKE TO THROW A PARTY.