Beningbrough Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Beningbrough Hall |
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Front facade of Beningbrough Hall
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| Type | Country house |
| Location | Beningbrough, North Yorkshire |
| Built | 1716 |
| Built for | John Bourchier III |
| Original use | Private home |
| Current use | Museum |
| Architect | William Thornton |
| Architectural style(s) | Baroque |
| Owner | National Trust |
| Website | nationaltrust.org.uk/beningbrough-hall-gallery-and-gardens |
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Listed Building – Grade I
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| Official name: Beningbrough Hall | |
| Designated | 28 Feb 1952 |
| Reference no. | 1150998 |
| Official name: Beningbrough Hall | |
| Designated | 10 May 1984 |
| Reference no. | 1001057 |
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Beningbrough Hall is a huge country house near the village of Beningbrough, in North Yorkshire, England. It sits right next to the River Ouse.
This amazing building was built in the Baroque style. It has fancy rooms inside, with special stairs that seem to float. You can also see beautiful wood carvings. Long hallways run through the middle of the house. From the outside, it looks like a grand red-brick mansion. A long driveway leads up to the front door. There is also a lovely walled garden.
Today, Beningbrough Hall is a fun place to visit! The first floor has art galleries with changing exhibitions. On the ground floor, you can learn all about the history of the estate. There's also a restaurant, a shop, and a garden shop. In 2010, it was even nominated for a special award for being a family-friendly museum.
The Hall is surrounded by huge grounds. A clever sunken wall, called a ha-ha, keeps sheep and cows out of the main gardens. This means the animals can graze nearby without getting into the pretty flower beds! The gardens are currently being updated by a famous garden designer named Andy Sturgeon.
Contents
History of Beningbrough Hall
Beningbrough Hall is about 10 kilometers (6 miles) north-west of York. It was built in 1716 by a local landowner named John Bourchier III. He wanted a bigger, grander home than his family's older house, which was built in 1556.
A builder named William Thornton helped construct the house. However, no one is completely sure who designed Beningbrough Hall. Some people think it might have been Thomas Archer. John Bourchier III was an important person in Yorkshire. He passed away in 1736 when he was 52 years old.
His son, John Bourchier (1710–1759), took over Beningbrough Hall after his father. After him, the house went to Dr. Ralph Bourchier, who was a doctor. Then, his daughter Margaret lived there for 70 years! To this day, you can see a special design called a Bourchier knot cut into one of the lawns. It's a symbol of the Bourchier family.
New Owners and Restoration
After more than 100 years, the Bourchier family no longer owned Beningbrough Hall. In 1827, it went to a distant relative, the Rev. William Henry Dawnay. He died in 1846, and his second son, Payan, inherited the house. Sadly, the house was not looked after very well during this time. People worried it might even have to be pulled down!
But then, in 1916, a very rich lady named Enid Scudamore-Stanhope, Countess of Chesterfield bought it. She immediately started to fix it up. She brought in furniture and paintings from her family's other home, Holme Lacy. This helped bring Beningbrough Hall back to life!
During the Wars and Today
During the Second World War, the house was used by the Royal Air Force. Later, the Royal Canadian Air Force took it over. They used it while operating from nearby air bases like RAF Linton-on-Ouse.
Lady Chesterfield passed away in 1957. In 1958, the National Trust took over the estate. The National Trust is a charity that looks after historic places. They received the house from the government.
Today, Beningbrough Hall works with the National Portrait Gallery. You can see over a hundred portraits from the 1700s inside. There are also seven new galleries called 'Making Faces: 18th-century Style'.
Outside the main house, you can explore a Victorian laundry room. There's also a walled garden where fruits and vegetables are grown. The food from this garden is used in the restaurant!
What to See and Do
Beningbrough Hall has lots of fun things for visitors.
- There's a wilderness play area where you can explore.
- You can see a community orchard, which is a garden with fruit trees.
- There's an Italianate border, which is a type of garden design.
- You can visit the garden shop.
The Hall often hosts special events, activity days, and art workshops for families. They also have an annual food and craft festival. In 2010, this festival was called the Big Green Festival.
See also
- Grade I listed buildings in North Yorkshire
- Listed buildings in Beningbrough
- Bourchier knot, a special knot used in the family symbol of the Bourchier family.
