Levens Hall facts for kids
Levens Hall is a beautiful old country house located in the Kent valley. It's close to the village of Levens and about 8.7 kilometers (5.4 miles) south of Kendal in Cumbria, which is in Northern England. This historic house is famous for its amazing gardens.
Contents
History of Levens Hall
Early Beginnings of the Hall
The very first building on this spot was a strong tower called a pele tower. The Redman family built it around the year 1350. These towers were common in the past to protect against attacks.
Expanding the House in Elizabethan Times
Most of the house you see today was built during the Elizabethan era. This was a time when Queen Elizabeth I ruled England. The Bellingham family owned Levens Hall then. They made the house much bigger. They also added beautiful wooden panels and fancy plaster designs to the main rooms.
New Owners and Changes
In 1689, the Bellingham family sold Levens Hall. The new owner was Colonel James Grahme. He was a very important person, serving as the Keeper of the Privy Purse for King James II. This meant he managed the King's personal money. Colonel Grahme added more parts to the house in the late 1600s. His son, Henry Graham, later represented Westmorland in Parliament.
Modern Day Levens Hall
More changes were made to the house in the early 1800s. Today, the Bagot family owns Levens Hall. They open it to the public so everyone can visit. The estate has a small collection of old steam vehicles. These include several traction engines, which are like old steam-powered tractors. You can often see them working on Sundays and public holidays.
In October 2021, Levens Hall received special funding. It was one of 142 places in England to get money from the government's Culture Recovery Fund. This fund helps historic sites and arts places. People have also reported seeing a "Grey Lady" ghost at Levens Hall in the 1960s.
The Amazing Gardens of Levens Hall
Creating the Famous Topiary Garden
Levens Hall is most famous for its large and amazing topiary garden. Topiary is the art of shaping living trees and shrubs into decorative forms. This garden was first designed by a French gardener named Guillaume Beaumont. He was also the gardener for King James II. Beaumont also designed the famous gardens at Hampton Court.
The Deer Park and Its Animals
Guillaume Beaumont also planned the trees in the deer park at Levens Hall. This park is now home to black fallow deer. You can also see special Bagot goats living there.
A Garden That Lasted Through Time
The park and gardens that Beaumont designed between 1689 and 1712 are still mostly the same today. They have been kept in amazing condition. Experts say they still have "almost all of the essential elements" from the original design. This means they look very much like they did hundreds of years ago. In December 2021, the beautiful gardens were shown on the BBC TV show Gardeners' World.
See also
- Grade I listed buildings in Cumbria
- Listed buildings in Levens, Cumbria
