The history of the House at Croome

The Long Gallery in the House served as the school’s refectory with food brought up from a kitchen in the basement by means of a ‘dumb-waiter’. When the nuns weren't looking, some of the boys used the dumb waiter as a lift to the ground floor with contraband biscuits. The boys used the field on the north side of the court as their sports ground, storing their outdoor shoes in purpose-built wooden racks in the basement.

The school continued at Croome until July 1979, when operations were combined with nearby Besford Court, where older boys were taught. A small exhibition telling the story of the school is on display on the first floor.

The Hare Krishna movement at Croome

By 1979 many more people were joining the Hare Khrishna movement. As a result, their existing premises at Bhaktiveclanta Manor near Watford, bought for them by Beatles’ guitarist George Harrison, became too crowded.

The House, including a chapel, a stable and two walled gardens, was found, bought and quickly became the British headquarters of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) and was renamed Chaitanya College after the 16th century Hindu saint.

ISKCON member Sri Pati Das had looked at several stately homes as possible locations. When he came to Croome he watched a group of swans, seen as a bird of good omen, fly down and land on the river and he knew that Croome was the right house.

The chapel was soon turned into a temple room, a printing press was moved to the site and a novice training programme, and a school were established. In the Red Wing, the devotees installed a television editing studio, with sand bags in the ceiling to provide soundproofing. There was a primary school for the children of the devotees and Croome became a worldwide centre for the training of students in Krishna consciousness.

About 150 devotees lived on the premises at Croome including monks, nuns and some married couples.

From 1982, a split in the movement and consequent lack of manpower meant that the college was becoming too expensive to maintain and, in June 1984, the movement withdrew from the property.

Other buildings at Croome

Dunstall Castle

Grade II* listed Dunstall Castle was designed by Robert Adam in 1766. Adam deliberately designed it as a whimsical folly with elements of both a castle and a church. Inside the central tower, a steep spiral staircase leads to a platform with views to the 'Capability' Brown designed landscape, Croome Court and the surrounding countryside.

Panorama Tower

The Grade I listed Panorama Tower was designed by James Wyatt in 1801 and was based on an earlier design by Robert Adam for a similar building in 1760s. The building is made of Bath stone and was modelled on Tempietto Romano in Rome, which was designed by Donato Bramante.

Pirton Castle

Designed by James Wyatt in 1801, Pirton Castle is located on a ridge called Rabbit Bank. It was designed to be viewed from the park at Croome and was deliberately built as a ruin to make the 6th Earl of Coventry’s estate seem much older than it actually was.

Park Seat

Designed by Robert Adam in 1766 and has been known locally as The Owl's Nest, as it used to be a home to a barn owl. This Grade II listed building, which overlooks the parkland and has fantastic views to the court along the river, was restored in 2007.

Rotunda

Lancelot 'Capability' Brown designed the Rotunda, which was built between 1754 and 1757 as a comfortable relaxing 'garden room'. The interior plasterwork was created by Francesco Vassali, who also did a lot of the work inside the house.