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.
