Rydal Hall facts for kids
Rydal Hall is a large, old house located near the village of Rydal in the beautiful Lake District, Cumbria, England. It looks like it's from the early 1800s, but parts of it are even older!
This special house is a very important historical building, protected by the National Heritage List for England. Its amazing gardens are also protected. Many other parts of the estate, like the terraces, barns, stables, and even a summerhouse, game larder, and ice house, are also listed as important historical structures. Even the bridge over Rydal Beck is a protected historical site!
History of Rydal Hall
Rydal Hall was once the grand home of the Le Fleming family, a noble family. In 1970, the house and its gardens were sold to the Diocese of Carlisle, which is a part of the Church of England. Even though the house was sold, the Le Fleming family still owned the wider estate in 1997.
Today, Rydal Hall is a place where people can stay for holidays, attend special courses, or go on peaceful retreats. There's also a lovely tea shop called the Old School Room Tea Shop. It's located right on a famous walking path known as the "Coffin Route", which leads to the village of Grasmere.
Exploring the Beautiful Gardens
The wonderful gardens at Rydal Hall are open for everyone to visit. Back in the mid-1600s, a man named Sir Daniel Fleming started to design the landscape. He created what's called an "early Picturesque garden". This means he made the garden look like a beautiful painting, using the natural waterfalls and streams of Rydal Beck.
One of the most famous spots in the garden is "The Grot". This is a small summerhouse built especially for viewing a stunning waterfall. Many famous artists and writers visited "The Grot" in the 1700s and 1800s because it was such an inspiring place.
The more formal gardens right in front of the house were designed in 1909 by a famous garden designer named Thomas Hayton Mawson. His Italian-style terraces are also historically protected. These formal gardens were carefully restored between 2005 and 2007. At the same time, a community vegetable garden was also created, where local people can grow their own food.
Wordsworth's Connection to the Gardens
The famous poet William Wordsworth wrote about "The Grot" at Rydal Falls in one of his early poems called "An Evening Walk," published in 1793.
Wordsworth moved to a house called Rydal Mount, which is very close to Rydal Hall, in 1813. He lived there until he passed away in 1850. Towards the end of his life, his nephew Christopher Wordsworth walked with him to "The Grot." Here's how his nephew described their walk from Rydal Mount:
"He accompanied me to the gate and then said if I had a few minutes longer to spare he would like to show me the waterfall which was close by – the lower fall of Rydal. I gladly assented and he led the way across the grounds of Lady Fleming (Rydal Hall) which were opposite to his own to a small summer-house. The moment we opened the door the waterfall was before us. The summer house being so placed as to occupy the exact spot from which it was to be seen. The rocks and shrubbery around closing it in on every side. The effect was magical. The view from the rustic house, the rocky basin into which the water fell and the deep shade in which the whole was enveloped, made it a lovely scene. Wordsworth seemed to have much pleasure in exhibiting this beautiful retreat."
Rydal Hall takes part every year in a special event called "Wordsworth's Daffodil Legacy." This event is part of the National Gardens Scheme, and the nearby National Trust property Dora's Field also participates. It's a special time when visitors are invited to donate money to help keep the beautiful gardens looking their best.
