The Place in 1876.

The earliest we have traced Soham Place Mansion is on a map dating from 1656 it appears to be in the same position as the present Pavilion building although the layout is quite different. The house is a long building with a wing coming of at either end and appears to be a substantial structure. At this time it was occupied by a Mr Richard Peachey and his family, and seemed to only contain approximately 2 thirds of the present recreation ground. At the present time we have been unable to find any written documentation about this building as to its construction etc. Further investigations have found that there is a Quaker Burial ground in the vicinity of the Mansion. We have found in the Parish Records evidence that there was a family of Peachey's that were Quakers in Soham but this does not suggest that it was the family in the Mansion , further investigation is needed before we can ascertain who they were. The next record we have found about the building is contained in a sale catalogue dated 1876 the owner at this time being the late John Dobede Esq.,. The sale was to take place under the direction of the Trustees of the will of the late John Dobede Esq.

DETAILS OF THE BUILDING IN 1876
The building was set in 11 acres of pleasantly situated grounds in the centre of Town. It was described as a moderate sized Mansion substantially built in white brick, and designed with every regard to domestic comfort. The main approach was from the Fountain road, the entrance being opposite the present day Fountain public house. This was described as a carriage drive through the grounds, which are sheltered by ornamental plantations. The description of the Mansion itself tells us that it contained :

ON THE GROUND FLOOR
A noble Entrance Hall, 53ft by 10ft, leading into, and commanding a beautiful view of, the extensive range of conservatories. A well proportioned Breakfast Room, 21ft by 19ft, with handsome panelled oak doors and French sash windows opening into the pleasure grounds. An elegant Drawing Room, 23ft 6ins by 18ft, with three French sash windows opening into a Veranda, and overlooking southern part of the flower garden and Park. A Lofty Dining Room, suitably decorated, 25ft 6ins by 18ft ( exclusive of recess for sideboard). A very handsome Oak Staircase and spacious Landing, communicates with the first floor, upon which are the four best Bedrooms and Dressing room, and seven Secondary Bedrooms, and W.C. There is also two commodious Attics.

THE DOMESTIC APARTMENTS
These are most conveniently arranged and include: A large Store room, two spacious Kitchens, Dairy, and Scullery, and at a short distance from the house are the Out Offices and side approach from the Town, ( this entrance is now where the present Fire Station stands ).

STABLING ACCOMMODATION
These are extensive and conveniently planned for the breeding of Race Horses. They comprise of : In one range a large double Coach House, Harness Room, three Stall Stable, and two roomy Loose Boxes, and in the rear, four very large Loose Boxes, with enclosed yard, and large double doors opening into the Fountain Road.

GARDENS AND PLEASURE GROUNDS
These are in good keeping with the property, and adjoining the Mansion, with entrance there from, is a spacious Conservatory, 32ft by 22ft, leading into a range of vineries, 54ft in length.

THE FLOWER GARDEN
These are most tastefully designed, and adorned with choice shrubs of luxuriant growth.

WALLED IN KITCHEN GARDENS
These are proverbial for their productiveness, and are well stocked with choice Pyramid and other fruit trees. There is a Vinery 42ft in length, also a Gardeners Cottage in the Kitchen Garden.

PARK LIKE PASTURE GROUND
This is remarkably rich in quality, and although studded with ornamental timber, grows abundant crops of grass. It is sheltered by plantations, in which are winding walks and choice shrubs, and it is seldom that a residential property of this extent can be found so perfect in all its arrangements. At the time of this sale a Mr George Mainprice ( brewer and retailer ) was the yearly Tenant and was under notice to quit at Michaelmas next. The mansion at this time was purchased for Mr Henry Dobede by Mr Bailey acting on his behalf. The purchase price he paid for the mansion at this time was £3500. Henry was living at Exning Hall when he purchased the Mansion. There seems to be no evidence that Henry lived in the Mansion after he purchased it, but that he seemed to have rented it out. Other than George Mainprice are a Mr William Layton, Justice of the Peace, who was found to be the tenant in 1850. The next owner of the Place was a Mr John Taylor, who purchased it sometime prior to 1889 although the exact date is not known at the present time. In 1889 under the ownership of Mr Taylor the Mansion suffered a devastating fire, which was discovered whilst searching through old copies of the Cambridge Chronicle, who reported it as seen below.
" A serious outbreak of fire occurred on Tuesday morning at The Place, the residence of Mr John Taylor, who was awakened by a sound like that of a hail storm, but soon found to be the crackling of fire. He woke the sleeping inmates, his Wife, his Son, his Daughter, and a Servant and they were obliged to effect their escape without waiting to dress. The Fire Brigade under Dr Cockerton was quickly on the spot but were unable to subdue the flames, the house being old and built with lath and plaster inside the brick front. The whole place was quickly burned and became a complete wreck. P.C. Everitt and PC's Wick and Dyson were early on the spot and gave every help. Water had to be brought to the fire in carts so the supply was limited. The fire originated from an overheated stove pipe. Damage was estimated at £2000 . " Although the damage was extensive the building was insured and was rebuilt the same year. As you will see by the following description of the new house, the layout remained practically the same, so we may assume that the interior walls and roof were probably destroyed but that the outer brick shell survived. 

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW MANSION AFTER THE FIRE

The Place in 1886.

The new Mansion was built from white brick, with stone dressings and tiled roof.

GROUND FLOOR
Entrance Hall, 53ft by 10ft, with Minton tile floor and slow combustion stove. Breakfast Room, 24ft 4ins by 19ft, including Bay, with pitch pine doors.
Drawing Room, 23ft 4ins by 18ft, with French windows, and fitted with Venetian blinds.
Dining Room, 25ft 9ins by 18ft, with marble mantelpiece, tiled hearth and sides, and two French doors leading to veranda. Opening from hall is a stone flagged corridor leading to the Domestic offices.
Domestic Offices, which consist of store room, fitted with cupboards and shelving, Housekeepers Room, fitted with two iron safes, one by Glasscoe and one by Cartwright,
Kitchen, 20ft by 18ft 10ins,
A large Larder fitted with meat safes.
Scullery fitted with sink, plate rack and force pump.

THE FIRST FLOOR
Approached by a handsome pitched pine staircase, with oak hand rail, are :
Bedroom, 23ft 4ins by 18ft.
Dressing Room, opening onto Balcony.
Bedroom, 18ft by 12ft 6ins, fitted with cupboard and marble mantelpiece.
Bedroom, 20ft 3ins by 19ft, fitted with marble mantelpiece.
Bedroom, 24ft 4ins by 19ft fitted with marble mantelpiece and enclosed grate.
Billiard Room, 23ft by 19ft 3ins, with marble mantel and six light billiard table chandelier, hot water tubing, and full size Billiard Table by Thurston.
Lavatory fitted with basin and sink. W.C. Linen cupboard. On the landing between secondary and third staircase are :
Bathroom, fitted with enclosed bath (h and c ), lavatory basin and Housemaids sink. Two smaller Bedrooms,
Three Maids Rooms, Shut of from the main landing with separate staircase from kitchen.

THE SECOND FLOOR
Three good Attic Bedrooms, also roof floor suitable for conversion into Bedrooms. Observatory Tower on Roof.

THE HOUSE
The House is lighted throughout by gas supplied from The Soham Gas Company, and water is supplied by a never failing well on the premises. Leading from the Entrance Hall, through stained glass doors is : Conservatory, fitted with heating apparatus, with staging and French doors to garden, large soft water tank and Vinery with 14 Vines in full bearing, producing very fine grapes. On the South side of the House there is a Veranda running the whole length. Stabling, at the North of the House is a large Stable Yard with Range of Three Stalls, Two Loose Boxes, Harness Room, Large Coach House or Garage with a brick floor. The Out Buildings, consists of Dairy, Wash House, Wood and Coal Houses, W.C., and an Open Shed adjoining Court Yard with Back Entrance to the House.

THE GROUNDS
The Grounds are an attractive feature being laid out with flowering shrubs evergreens and ornamental trees.

TWO PRODUCTIVE WALLED IN GARDENS
They contained Standard and Espalier Fruit Trees, a Forcing House, and Potting Shed and a Fruit Store, with a Drift Way Entrance from Fountain Lane. There was also in the Grounds covering 9 acres, Bordered Flower Beds with Wall Fruit Trees, Orchard Planted with excellent trees in full bearing, and about 7 acres of rich Pasture. Also contained within the Walled Gardens is a Brick and Slated 4 roomed Cottage, with Wash House and Yard at rear. Double Glass House, containing Peach and Nectarine trees There is also mentioned another Brick and Slated Cottage which abutted Gardeners Lane but most definitely on the Grounds of the Mansion. There was an Ice House on the grounds. The description of this Mansion was taken from a 1925 sales catalogue. As you can see there is a striking resemblance to the earlier Mansion before it burnt, which suggests that maybe it was not completely destroyed by the fire as it was rebuilt remarkably quickly within the same year. The Mansion and its grounds were put up for sale in 1925 by Mrs Elizabeth Bland, who lived at The Red House in Tanners Lane Soham, she was the eldest Daughter of John Taylor , and inherited The Place after her Widowed Mothers death in 1923.The Mansion and its Grounds were split up into seven lots. Lot one contained the mansion and the present day Recreation Ground. The Mansion was purchased by a private building contractor and the grounds were purchased by the Town Council to be made into a new public Recreation area moving up from the old recreation area at Julius Martins Lane. The Contractor who bought the Mansion proceeded to demolish it, but after the first story had been pulled down the Town Council intervened and purchased what was left and turned it into the present day Pavilion. Our conclusion is that both these Houses must have been magnificent buildings and it is a great loss that more is not left for us to see today . We hope that by the descriptions given it gives the reader some idea of the splendour and elegance of such magnificent buildings which adorned our Town, The image above was taken in 2001.