This image is a copy photograph of a postcard showing Papillon Hall in 1918. The original house was built in 1622-4 by David Papillon, a French Huguenot and military engineer. The site was chosen for its connections to his forebears, having originally belonged to Leicester Abbey and the family recommended to the Abbot by Edward I. The hall was created by Sir Edwin Lutyens in 1903. He incorporated the original octagonal house into the design and added wings to produce a butterfly shape. "Papillon" is the French word for butterfly.
The Hall was constructed in stone and the roof was in the shape of a cross formed by the gables. The flat spaces at the four corners of the house between the gables were paved with lead for gun emplacements. A pair of shoes kept in the house was said to have been cursed by a mistress of a former owner. It was said that if they ever left the house there would be disaster. Following various incidents a special fireproof cupboard with a metal grille was made to hold the shoes.
American Air Force men in WWII requisitioned the house for use. After the war, the house could not be sold and was finally demolished in 1951. The shoes were removed from the house and were eventually donated to Leicestershire Museums Service.
This image is a photograph taken of a postcard.
