Elsham Hall facts for kids
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Elsham Hall is a historic country house located in Elsham, North Lincolnshire, England. It was built a long time ago, in the 1600s. Today, the large park and lovely gardens around the house are open for everyone to visit.
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Exploring Elsham Hall
The main house you see today was built around the 1760s. It stands where an even older building once was. The house is made of brick, with some parts covered in special stone or plaster. It has a roof made of Westmoreland slate.
House Features and History
The house was made bigger in the 1800s for its owner, T. G. Corbett. Later, in the 1900s, the Elwes family made more improvements in 1933. Elsham Hall is a special building known as a Grade II* listed building. This means it's very important historically and needs to be protected.
Inside the house, there is a Catholic chapel that was added in 1933. There is also an old stone staircase from the 1700s.
Next to the house, you can find a beautiful building called an orangery. This was built in the 1800s and was used to grow orange trees. It is also a Grade II listed building, meaning it's historically important too.
The Elwes family still owns Elsham Hall. The house itself is not open to visitors. However, the gardens and park have been open to the public since 1970.
Elsham Hall's Past
Elsham Hall has a long and interesting history, going back to the 1600s. Big changes were made to the house around 1760. At that time, it was owned by William Thompson and his wife Elizabeth.
Owners Through the Years
After William Thompson passed away, his son Robert inherited the estate. Robert Thompson likely made the house even bigger. When he died without children, he left Elsham Hall to his niece, Elizabeth Corbett. This is how the Corbett family came to own the property.
From 1800 to 1814, a woman named Jane Gardiner ran a girls' boarding school at Elsham Hall. Imagine going to school in such a grand old house!
When Thomas Corbett passed away, his oldest son, William Thompson Corbett, inherited the estate. He also added "Thompson" to his name. William and his wife, Jane, had many children. Their oldest son, Thomas George Corbett, then inherited the property.
His daughter, Eleanor Blanche Mary Corbett, later married Sir John Dugdale Astley, 3rd Baronet. When she inherited Elsham Hall, it became part of the Astley family. Their son, Sir Francis Edmund George Astley-Corbett, became the next owner.
The Elwes Family Era
In 1925, Sir Francis sold the Elsham estate to King's College, Cambridge. They later sold the house in 1931 to the Elwes family, who still own it today.
After World War II, Captain Jeremy Elwes inherited the property from his uncle. He and his wife, Clare, worked hard to restore the house. It had been used as an Anti-aircraft Headquarters during the war.
Captain Jeremy Elwes's sons, Gervase and Robert Elwes, inherited the property in 1999. They have worked to make Elsham Hall a popular place for visitors and weddings. The Elwes family continues to restore and develop the historic gardens for future generations to enjoy.
Robert Elwes has been involved with many tourism and arts groups. He has won several national awards for his work. Gervase Elwes is a portrait painter, following in the footsteps of his relative, Sir Simon Elwes, who even painted the Queen!
The Elsham Estate is very large, with lots of woodlands and fields. It is famous for its Lambing Sunday, where visitors can see newborn lambs. There is also a barn theatre and restaurant built in 1989. This barn hosts classical music, medieval banquets, and weddings.
The Park and Gardens
The beautiful park and gardens at Elsham Hall are a wonderful place to visit. They include a large medieval carp lake. There is also an old coach house and stables from the 1800s, which is also a Grade II listed building.
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What to See and Do
Captain and Mrs. Elwes opened the park and gardens as a country park in 1970. Their goal was to help people enjoy nature, see wildlife, and learn about arts and crafts.
Elsham Hall is a popular spot for school field trips. It's especially busy during the spring lambing season when baby lambs are born.
Here are some things you can find at Elsham Hall:
- A carp lake with a special platform for feeding the fish.
- Beautiful gardens, including walled gardens, lakeside gardens, and sensory gardens.
- An arboretum (a collection of different trees) and a wild butterfly walkway.
- An adventure playground for kids to explore.
- Aviaries with different birds.
- A display of farm animals where you can often help with feeding.
- Craft centers, including a working blacksmith.
- A shop and a cafe in the old stables courtyard.
- The barn theatre, used for shows, weddings, and special events.
Elsham Hall is also a registered place where civil weddings can take place.
