Sewerby Hall facts for kids
Sewerby Hall, sometimes called Sewerby House, is a beautiful old country house in England. It's a special building from the Georgian period, built around 1714. It sits in 50 acres (about 20 hectares) of lovely gardens in the village of Sewerby, close to the seaside town of Bridlington in East Riding of Yorkshire.
The main part of the house was built around 1714. It had three floors and was made of brick. Later, in 1808, two-story sections were added, and the whole building was painted to look like stone. These sections were later made into three stories too.
History of Sewerby Hall
The Greame family was the first to live at Sewerby Hall. John Greame bought the estate in 1708. He then built the current Sewerby Hall between 1714 and 1720. It replaced an older manor house that had been there for many years.
His son, John Greame II, lived a very long life but had no children. After he died in 1798, his wife, Alicia Maria, stayed at the hall until 1812. Then, the hall went to a nephew, also named John Greame. He made some changes, like adding a grand entrance (a portico) in 1808.
When John Greame III died in 1841, his eldest son, Yarburgh Greame, took over. Yarburgh made many improvements to the house and gardens. He added a large conservatory (a glass building for plants) called the Orangery in the mid-1800s. He also built a clock tower in 1847 and a gatehouse in 1848. He even helped build a church and a school nearby.
After Yarburgh died in 1856, the estate passed through his family. Eventually, in 1934, Colonel Yarburgh Lloyd-Greame sold the house and some land to Bridlington Corporation (the local council).
Sewerby Hall opened to the public in 1936. A famous pilot, Amy Johnson, was there for the opening ceremony on June 1st! During the Second World War, the Royal Air Force used the house as a hospital for soldiers.
In May 2012, a big restoration project began. It cost £2.6 million to make the hall and grounds even better. A large grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund helped pay for the work. The first part of the project, which included new offices, classrooms, and a shop, finished in August 2013. The second part, which restored the inside of the hall, was completed by August 2014.
What to See at Sewerby Hall
Today, Sewerby Hall is a very popular place to visit in the East Riding of Yorkshire. More than 150,000 people visit every year!
The hall now has the Museum of East Yorkshire. This museum includes a special room dedicated to the famous pilot, Amy Johnson. There is also a Coastguard Museum inside.
Outside, the grounds of the hall are home to a small zoo and an aviary (a large cage for birds). You can also find an 18-hole putting green, a 9-hole pitch and putt course, and many beautiful gardens to explore. Sewerby Hall also hosts many local community events. The home ground of Sewerby Cricket Club is located within the grounds, near the cliff top.
