English Country Manor Beginnings
By Joseph R. Hughes, Resident
In 1988, Frank Bond, a developer along with his partners bought a 32-acre landsite in Bel Air near Gateway Drive. They envisioned an apartment complex for the elderly. Later, after studying the housing market, they switched to condominiums, and decided against creating a project for the elderly only.
A grand opening for the first 175-unit section of English Country Manor was held October 14, 1990, with a second construction phase beginning the following year.
English Country Manor is almost a self-contained community, surrounded by woods, waterscapes, flower gardens and park benches. The heart of the development is the Manor House. As you enter the front of this expansive clubhouse, a Great Room welcomes you. The first thing that catches your eye is a huge brass chandelier which hangs from a vaulted ceiling. A fireplace and grand piano grace the lounge area encircled with comfortable seating. Beyond the tall glass windows, lies a slate terrace, steps away from a community pool. A fitness center, a kitchen and wet bar for private parties and meeting room also occupy the Manor House.
Designed to resemble English manor homes, that date back to the thirteenth century, no two condominiums are exactly alike. Mr. Bond along with his partner Michael Rodgers not only created a condominium community in the likeness of the old British manor house, but they also developed a “lifestyle rather than just four walls,” Mr. Rodgers said. “You won’t find many projects like this.”
The partners also named the streets conveyed from old London town. With names like Canterbury Road, Chaucer Lane, and Squire Lane, one is reminded of The Canterbury Tales written by Geoffrey Chaucer. The Middle English dialect of the stories was told by travelers from London to Canterbury. Yorkshire Way, Thames Way, and Churchill Road are also tied-in to English history. Historic Yorkshire is in the County of York, the largest in Great Britain.
Our garden community of English Country Manor, close to all that Bel Air offers, is home sweet home to neighbors and friends - young and old - and still after more than thirty years, is a stately place to live.
A grand opening for the first 175-unit section of English Country Manor was held October 14, 1990, with a second construction phase beginning the following year.
English Country Manor is almost a self-contained community, surrounded by woods, waterscapes, flower gardens and park benches. The heart of the development is the Manor House. As you enter the front of this expansive clubhouse, a Great Room welcomes you. The first thing that catches your eye is a huge brass chandelier which hangs from a vaulted ceiling. A fireplace and grand piano grace the lounge area encircled with comfortable seating. Beyond the tall glass windows, lies a slate terrace, steps away from a community pool. A fitness center, a kitchen and wet bar for private parties and meeting room also occupy the Manor House.
Designed to resemble English manor homes, that date back to the thirteenth century, no two condominiums are exactly alike. Mr. Bond along with his partner Michael Rodgers not only created a condominium community in the likeness of the old British manor house, but they also developed a “lifestyle rather than just four walls,” Mr. Rodgers said. “You won’t find many projects like this.”
The partners also named the streets conveyed from old London town. With names like Canterbury Road, Chaucer Lane, and Squire Lane, one is reminded of The Canterbury Tales written by Geoffrey Chaucer. The Middle English dialect of the stories was told by travelers from London to Canterbury. Yorkshire Way, Thames Way, and Churchill Road are also tied-in to English history. Historic Yorkshire is in the County of York, the largest in Great Britain.
Our garden community of English Country Manor, close to all that Bel Air offers, is home sweet home to neighbors and friends - young and old - and still after more than thirty years, is a stately place to live.