Arbury Hall facts for kids
Arbury Hall is a magnificent country house located in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, England. It's a very old and important building, known as a Grade I listed site, which means it's considered to be of special historical interest. This grand home has been the family seat of the Newdigate family and their relatives for many centuries.
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History of Arbury Hall
Arbury Hall was built on the very spot where an old priory, called Arbury Priory, once stood. A priory was a type of monastery. The house itself is a mix of two cool architectural styles: Tudor and 18th-century Gothic Revival architecture. The Gothic Revival style was added later by Sir Roger Newdigate, who used designs from a famous architect named Henry Keene.
A very famous writer, George Eliot, was born on one of the farms belonging to the Arbury estate in 1819. Her father worked there as the land agent. Later, in 1911, a monument was put up at Arbury Hall to remember George Eliot and her connection to the estate.
What Arbury Hall Looks Like
Arbury Hall is surrounded by a huge park that is about 300 acres (121 ha) big. Imagine a park the size of 300 football fields! It's a beautiful place with lots of space to explore.
Arbury Hall in Books and Movies
Arbury Hall has inspired many artists!
- The famous author George Eliot, who grew up nearby, used Arbury Hall as the setting for "Cheverel Manor" in her book Scenes of Clerical Life. It's where the story "Mr Gilfil's Love Story" takes place.
- The movie Angels & Insects, made in 1995, was filmed entirely at Arbury Hall and in its lovely grounds.
- Arbury Hall was also used as the fictional "Hoxley Manor" in the BBC TV series Land Girls, which aired in 2009.
Who Has Owned Arbury Hall?
The history of Arbury Hall is closely tied to the families who have lived there. The first person to build a house on the site, after demolishing the old priory, was Edmund Anderson in the 1500s.
Since then, the house has mostly stayed within the same family lines, passing down through the Newdigate family and their relatives for hundreds of years. Today, the current owner is James Edward FitzRoy Newdegate, the 4th Viscount Daventry.
See Also
- Arbury Canals
- Arbury Park, South Australia, named after Arbury Hall
