Himley Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Himley Hall and Park |
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| General information | |
| Status | Open to public |
| Type | English country house |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| Location | Himley, Staffordshire |
| Coordinates | 52°31′19″N 2°09′58″W / 52.5219°N 2.1662°W |
| Completed | early 18th century |
| Renovated | 1824-27 |
| Owner | Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council |
| Renovating team | |
| Architect | William Atkinson |
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Listed Building – Grade II
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| Designated | 16 June 1953 |
| Reference no. | 1230781 |
Himley Hall is a grand country house in Staffordshire, England. It was built in the early 1700s. You can find it in the small village of Himley, close to the town of Dudley and the city of Wolverhampton.
Himley Hall is a very important building. It is listed as a Grade II* listed building. This means it is a special historic place. Its large park and gardens are also important. They were made bigger in the 1770s by a famous landscape designer called Capability Brown. The park is listed as a Grade II historic park.
Contents
Discovering Himley Hall's Past
Early Days of Himley Hall
Long ago, Himley Hall was a manor house. It had a moat around it, like a castle. It stood next to a very old church. For over 400 years, it was a second home for the powerful Lords of Dudley and their knights.
One famous person who lived there was Dud Dudley. In the 1600s, he did experiments nearby. He tried to melt iron ore using coal. This was a new idea at the time. In 1645, King Charles I even stayed in the grounds. This was before a big battle during the English Civil War.
The Ward Family Takes Over
In 1628, the Ward family took over Himley Hall. This happened when Humble Ward married Frances Sutton. She was the heir to the Dudley family's lands. Humble Ward's father was a jeweler for King Charles I.
After Dudley Castle was damaged in the Civil War, Himley Hall became the main home for the family.
Building the Grand Hall
The Himley Hall you see today was built in the 1700s. John Ward knocked down the old medieval manor house. He wanted to build a huge new mansion in the Palladian style.
At this time, the whole village of Himley was moved. The village church was also rebuilt in 1764. Many of the later Earls of Dudley are buried in a private graveyard behind this church.
The Park's Famous Designer
In 1774, John Ward passed away. His son, also named John Ward, took over. He hired Capability Brown to redesign the parkland. The park was about 180 acres (73 hectares) big.
Brown's plans from 1779 added a large lake. This lake was fed by waterfalls from smaller pools higher up.
Moving Away from the Black Country
In the 1830s, the family left Himley. It was getting too close to the busy industrial area known as the Black Country. Instead, they moved to Witley Court in Worcestershire. They lived there in great luxury, thanks to their wealth from mining.
Royal Visits and Changes
In 1934, the Duke and Duchess of Kent spent their honeymoon at Himley. The Prince of Wales, who later became King Edward VIII, also spent his last weekend there before he gave up his throne.
After the Second World War, Himley Hall was sold. The National Coal Board bought it for £45,000 in 1947. They wanted to use it as offices for their staff. A few months later, a fire broke out and badly damaged the south side of the house. Luckily, no one was inside, and all the valuable art had been moved. This part of the house was rebuilt, but it looked different.
As coal mining declined, the Hall was put up for sale again.
Himley Hall Becomes Public
In 1966, the councils of Dudley and Wolverhampton bought Himley Hall together. Even though it was in a different district, they wanted to open the park to the public.
The park became a public leisure area. In 1988, Dudley bought Wolverhampton's share. This gave Dudley full ownership of Himley Hall and Park.
Exploring Himley Park Today
Himley Park was created in the 1970s. Today, over 200,000 people visit it every year. It has a big lake and a hill. You can enjoy many woodland walks and open parkland areas. The park is also known for its many ducks. There is a small cafe where you can buy hot food and drinks.
The park also has a nine-hole public golf course. It was designed in 1980. There is also a family pitch and putt area. You can even go fishing on the lake. The Himley Hall sailing club has sailed on the Great Lake since 1970. They are a training center for sailing.
