In 1842 Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton, prolific author of
'The Last Days Of Pompeii' and creator of the phrase, 'The Pen Is
Mightier Than The Sword' wrote the first acknowledged science
fiction novel, 'The Coming Race'. In this seminal work, he
presented for the first time a mystical electrical power which he
called 'Vril'.
Three years later Bovril was launched to a bemused world.
Named after 'bo' for bovine and 'vril' for the power and surge or
spark of energy in Lytton's novel.
In the mid 1800s using funds from the success of his
literary sensations he extended the 17th century woodman's cottage
on the edge of the lake in the middle of Knebworth Park, the estate
he had inherited from his mother. He did this to create an ideal
tranquil environment where he could retire to write.
This cottage is the home of Ecovril - where a unique team has
been formed with a passion for traditional methods mixed with new
to give the best of both worlds in planning &
design.
Built from Knebworth oak, extended by Bulwer Lytton, rescued
and restored by Andy Singleton, again using timber from the same
woods, it represents a perfect example of our ethos.
So… Eco for ecology and Vril for a spark of
energy.
