Harvington Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Harvington Hall |
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| General information | |
| Type | stately home |
| Location | Chaddesley Corbett, Worcestershire |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 52°22′04″N 2°10′51″W / 52.36778°N 2.18083°W |
| Owner | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Birmingham |
Harvington Hall is a fascinating old house in Worcestershire, England. It's a "manor house," which means it was once a large country home. It has a moat, which is a ditch filled with water around it, like a castle! The house was built a long time ago, during the Middle Ages and the Elizabethan era. Today, you can visit Harvington Hall and explore its history.
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History of Harvington Hall
The moat and the artificial island at Harvington Hall are very old. They date back to the 1200s. Most of the house you see today was built in the 1300s. The main part of the Hall was likely the "solar," a private living area in a large timber-framed house.
Early Owners and Changes
A man named Adam de Harvington lived here in the 1300s. He was an important person called the Chancellor of the Exchequer. This job meant he managed the country's money. After he died in 1344, the property changed hands.
In 1529, a rich lawyer named Sir John Pakington bought the Hall. His great-nephew, Humphrey Pakington, inherited the estate in 1578. Humphrey made many changes to the house, giving it the look we see today.
You might be surprised to learn that Harvington Hall is only about half its original size. Two large sections of the house were taken down around the year 1700.
Secret Hiding Places: Priest Holes
Humphrey Pakington was a Catholic during a difficult time in England. Queen Elizabeth I had strict "penal laws" against Catholics. These laws made it illegal to be a Catholic priest in England. Catholics also had to pay fines if they didn't attend the official Church of England services. Humphrey was a "recusant," meaning he refused to follow these rules.
Because of these laws, Humphrey built many secret hiding places in the Hall. These are called "priest holes" or "priest hides." They were used to protect Catholic priests or followers who were hiding from the authorities. These secret spots are still there today! Many of them were cleverly built by a master carpenter named Nicholas Owen. He was a Jesuit lay brother, meaning he was part of a Catholic religious order but not a priest.
Later Years and Restoration
Humphrey Pakington died in 1631. He left the Hall to his wife, Abigail, as a "dower house." This meant she could live there after his death. When Abigail died in 1657, the Hall went to her daughter, Lady Mary Yate. Lady Mary lived a long life, dying at the Hall in 1696 when she was 85.
Later, the Hall was inherited by Lady Mary's granddaughter, also named Mary Yate. She was married to Sir Robert Throckmorton. Sir Robert didn't need Harvington Hall, so he had two of its wings taken down. Over the next two centuries, most of the furniture was removed. This left Harvington Hall looking quite empty and rundown.
In 1923, a kind woman named Mrs. Ellen Ryan Ferris bought Harvington Hall. She then gave it to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Birmingham. This helped save the Hall. Mrs. Ferris's son, Robert Grant Ferris, later became a very important person in the British government. He was the Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons.
In 1958, Harvington Hall and its attached east bridge were given a special "Grade I listed" status. This means they are very important historic buildings. In 2001, a garden was replanted next to the moat. It includes medicinal herbs that were mentioned in old letters from the Elizabethan era.
See also
- Father Wall
