Elton Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Elton Hall |
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| Near Elton, Cambridgeshire in England | |
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Elton Hall
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 Elton Hall
Shown within Cambridgeshire
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| Coordinates | 52°31′25″N 0°23′51″W / 52.52361°N 0.39750°W |
| Type | Baronial hall |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Proby Family |
| Open to the public |
end of May through September (see website for schedule) |
| Site history | |
| In use | 15th century-Present |
Elton Hall is a beautiful historic house located in Elton, Cambridgeshire, England. It's like a grand old mansion that has been the family home of the Proby family since 1660. Imagine living in a house that's been in your family for over 360 years!
The hall sits on a huge estate of about 3,800 acres, with the River Nene flowing through it. The building itself is a mix of different time periods, with parts from the 15th, 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. It's so important historically that it's a Grade I listed building, which means it's one of the most protected historic buildings in England. The gardens around the hall are also very special. They were updated in the 20th and 21st centuries and include a fancy knot garden, a lovely rose garden, and a cool Gothic greenhouse called an orangery, built to celebrate the year 2000.
Contents
Who Owned Elton Hall?
Elton Hall has a long history with different families living there over the centuries.
The Sapcote Family
Elton Hall was first built by Sir Richard Sapcote, who passed away in 1477. His family's symbols can still be seen in Elton Church today. Later, Sir John Sapcote (who died in 1501) added a large chapel to the hall. This chapel was famous for its beautiful stained glass windows.
One important marriage connected to the Sapcote family was when Anne Sapcote married John Russell, 1st Earl of Bedford in 1526. The Russell family became very important in English history. Robert Sapcote, who died in 1600 or 1601, was likely the last Sapcote to live at Elton Hall.
The Proby Family Takes Over
Around 1617, the Proby family bought Elton Hall from the Sapcote family. The first Proby owner was Sir Peter Proby, who used to be the Lord Mayor of London.
His grandson, Sir Thomas Proby, 1st Baronet, rebuilt much of the house between 1662 and 1689. He kept some parts of the old 15th-century building, like the chapel and gatehouse, and added a new wing. Later, other members of the Proby family continued to change and expand the hall. For example, John Joshua Proby, 1st Earl of Carysfort, made many changes in the Gothic style between 1780 and 1815.
In the mid-1800s, Granville Leveson Proby, 3rd Earl of Carysfort, hired an architect named Henry Ashton to redesign parts of the house. Ashton rebuilt some wings and updated others with stone. Later, other Earls of Carysfort added towers, a billiards room, and kitchens.
After the 5th Earl passed away in 1909, the estate went to Colonel Douglas Hamilton. He took the Proby name and started creating new gardens, which have been further developed since 1980. Elton Hall is still owned by the Proby family today.
Exploring Inside Elton Hall
The south side of the house, which faces the garden, still has parts of the 15th-century tower and chapel from the time of King Henry VII.
The Marble Hall and Main Staircase
The Marble Hall and the main staircase were designed by Henry Ashton in the mid-1800s. They were made to look like the fancy styles from the 1700s.
The Drawing Room
The Drawing Room is the biggest room in the house. It used to be the medieval chapel! It was changed into a drawing room in the mid-1700s. The ceiling is from the 18th century, but the decorations you see now were added by Henry Ashton.
The Dining Room
The Dining Room was also designed by Ashton. The cool Gothic windows in this room are copies of the ones that were once in the old medieval chapel.
The Libraries
Elton Hall has a huge collection of books! There are three libraries in total, including the Inner Library located in the old Sapcote Tower.
The Current Chapel
The chapel you see today was created from the lower level (called an undercroft) of the original Sapcote chapel. It still has its amazing original arched ceilings, called vaulting.
See also
- Historic houses in England
