Levens Hall facts for kids
Levens Hall is a beautiful old manor house located in the Kent valley. It's near the village of Levens in Cumbria, Northern England. This historic building is about 5.4 miles (8.7 km) south of Kendal. Levens Hall is well-known for its amazing gardens and interesting past.
Contents
Discovering Levens Hall's Past
How Levens Hall Began
The very first building on this spot was a strong tower called a pele tower. It was built by the Redman family around the year 1350. These towers were common in the area. They helped protect people from attacks long ago.
Changes Over Time
Most of the house you see today was built during the Elizabethan era. This was when Queen Elizabeth I ruled England. The Bellingham family made the house much bigger at that time. They added the beautiful wooden panels and fancy plasterwork you can still see in the main rooms.
In 1689, the Bellinghams sold the house. It was bought by Colonel James Grahme. He was a special helper to King James II. Colonel Grahme added more parts to the house in the late 1600s. His son, Henry Graham, later became a knight for the area of Westmorland. More changes were made to the house in the early 1800s.
Levens Hall Today
Today, Levens Hall is owned by the Bagot family. You can visit the house and its gardens to explore its history. The hall also has a small collection of old steam vehicles. These include several large traction engines. You can often see them working on Sundays and special holidays.
In 2021, Levens Hall received special funding from the government. This money helped to protect and preserve this important historic building. Some people have also reported seeing a "Grey Lady" ghost at Levens Hall in the 1960s.
Exploring the Famous Gardens
Levens Hall is famous for its large and amazing topiary garden. Topiary means shaping trees and bushes into artistic forms. This special garden was first designed by a French gardener named Guillaume Beaumont. He was also the gardener for King James II. Beaumont even designed the famous gardens at Hampton Court.
Beaumont also planned the trees in the deer park at Levens Hall. Today, this park is home to black fallow deer. You can also see special Bagot goats living there. The park and gardens that Beaumont created between 1689 and 1712 are still mostly the same today. They look very much like they did on old maps from 1730. In December 2021, the beautiful gardens were even shown on the BBC TV show Gardeners' World.
See also
- Grade I listed buildings in Cumbria
- Listed buildings in Levens, Cumbria
