| Great Escapes: North Yorks 2 |
| Heritgate and horticulture |
Whether they're the ancient properties of landed gentry or the country piles of Victorian industrialists, Yorkshire has an abundance of historic houses and
gardens open to the public. A surprising number
of grand houses have remained in their original state, in the hands of the original family. Deer parks, ornate gardens or the rolling moors provide the backdrop for some of the finest homes in the land. Whichever houses and castles you decide to visit we guarantee that you'll be distracted by many other
country estates en route.
1 HAREWOOD HOUSE
Work on this striking neo-classical country house began in 1759, following the designs of the York architect John Carr. In keeping with the fashion of the time and a house of this stature, the then-owner, Edwin Lascelles, commissioned the renowned
architect Robert Adam to design the sumptuous
interiors. The house and grounds took more than
13 years to complete and as you pass beneath the entrance arch you'll immediately understand why.
Designed to impress, the rooms are works of art in themselves. Although wonderfully grandiose, the most attractive aspect of Harewood is the sense that it is still lived in and is not simply a museum
exhibit. Family photos of the present Lascelles
family and displays of fresh lilies in the Music Room give the house a friendly and relaxed air.
There is a spectacular contemporary art collection, which is introduced in the main hall by the
magnificent Jacob Epstein marble figure of Adam. Also scattered around the house are sketches by John Singer Sargent, paintings by Egon Schiele and Walter Sickert, and prints by Francis Bacon.
You can also explore the magnificent grounds, designed by Lancelot 'Capability' Brown, and the Lakeside Bird Garden and walled garden, or follow
a number of trails through the estate.
2 ALLERTON PARK
Allerton Park, the ancestral home of Lord Mowbray, is one of the most important Gothic revival houses in the country. Restored to Grade I status, it sits on a grassy knoll, near junction 47 of the A1.
The Shrinking Room, as it is known, (because of its Alice in Wonderland quality of dwarfing those who enter it) is lavish in the extreme. The twisted Venetian chandelier in the centre of the room is said to be the best example in Britain. Two enormous Chippendale mirrors flank the vast marble fireplace.
Allerton Park is open only on Sundays and bank holidays. If you like all things elaborate, Gothic and just a little bit spooky, this is the place for you.
3 NEWBY HALL, RIPON
Built in the 1690s, and enlarged and adapted in the 18th century, this red-brick stately home epitomises the Georgian 'age of elegance'. The interiors were designed by the country house architect Robert Adam, and gorgeous artefacts add to his grand designs. Perhaps its best rooms are the Tapestry Room and the Statue Gallery. The latter contains a fine selection of sculptures collected on a mid-18th century Grand Tour by William Weddell.
There are 25 acres of gardens running down to the river Ure, divided into themed areas and plant species. There is a very good brochure documenting them, so horticulturalists will be in garden heaven.
4 RIPLEY CASTLE
The Ingilby family have lived at Ripley Castle for more than 700 years. There are bigger castles and fancier country houses, but few noble residences can compete with Ripley's dramatic past.
On a tour of the house, English Civil War artefacts, coats of arms and haunting portraits give you a sense of the drama the castle has witnessed, while
modern photos and the cosy drawing room remind us that the Ingilby family are still going strong.
There are walled gardens, and palm- and
hot-houses full of exotic flowers including amarylis, clivia and arum lilies. There is also a fascinating
display of historic vegetable and fruit varieties, reared as part of the Heritage Seed Library Scheme. The castle is open for guided tours every day throughout the summer.
5 BRAMHAM PARK, NR WETHERBY
Although the house is not open to the public, you can walk around its expansive grounds. The vast landscaped park is designed in the French style of Louis XIV, and numerous statues and temples are to be found down leafy avenues. It is said that Bramham is 'a place of walks and vistas, architectural features and reflected water' and on our spring visit this was certainly the case.
Legend has it that the ghostly sound of horses, fleeing from the battlefield of Bramham Moor in 1408, can be heard around the park. If you decide to visit in June though, the only horses' hooves you are likely to hear will be those of competitors in Bramham's three-day equestrian event.
6 BENINGBROUGH HALL AND GARDENS
The high point of the journey to Beningbrough Hall and Gardens is the rickety wooden toll bridge, on this site since the 18th century, where it is necessary to pay the fee of 15p in order to pass. But it is well worth the inconvenience.
This National Trust property has a good visitors' centre and a restaurant in the outhouses. The hall was built in 1716 and contains one of the most impressive baroque interiors in England as well as an unusual central corridor running the full length of the house. There is also a magnificent ceramics, glass and porcelain collection, as well as 100 pictures on loan from the National Portrait Gallery.
There is a main walled garden and this leads to the other ornamental areas around the house.
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