Hutton in the Forest facts for kids
Hutton in the Forest is a beautiful country house located near the village of Skelton in Cumbria, England. It's a very old and important building, listed as Grade I listed because of its special history and architecture. For over 300 years, from 1605 to 1931, it was owned by the Fletcher-Vane family. After that, it became the home of the Barons Inglewood, who were distant relatives.
Hutton in the Forest started out as a strong medieval fortress, and you can still see parts of its original Pele tower. Over many years, different owners added to and changed the house. This means the building, both inside and out, shows off many different design styles from the 1600s all the way to today.
Contents
Exploring Hutton in the Forest
Inside the Historic House
One special part of the house is the gallery, which was built in the 1630s. Galleries like this are quite rare in the north of England. Inside, you'll find old furniture and portraits (paintings of people).
The hall was built in 1680 and has a very famous feature called the Cupid Staircase. This staircase leads up to a set of rooms from the mid-1700s, including the Cupid Room. The drawing room was designed around 1830, and the library was added in 1870. You can also see Lady Darlington's Room, which is decorated in the artistic Arts and Crafts style.
Discovering the Gardens and Grounds
The Walled Garden was created in the 1730s and is home to a huge collection of flowering plants. The terraces were first designed way back in the 1600s.
If you take a walk through the woodland, you'll find a 17th-century dovecote. This building, where pigeons and doves were kept, is unusual because it still has its "potence," which is a rotating ladder inside. The first Lord Inglewood added many new types of trees to the grounds. Today, there's a special guide that lists seventy different trees in the arboretum (a collection of trees).
St James Church Nearby
Close to the house, in a field, you'll find the small Church of St James. Records show this church existed as far back as 1291, when it was known as the "Church in the Green Field." In Victorian times, a famous architect named Anthony Salvin made many changes and improvements to the church. Inside, you can see a piece of a Norman Cross, which is very old. There are also many memorials that remind us of how important the Fletcher and Vane families were over the centuries.
Visiting Hutton in the Forest
Hutton in the Forest welcomes visitors! You can explore the house and grounds on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays from April to October.
See also
- Grade I listed buildings in Cumbria
- Listed buildings in Skelton, Cumbria
