Wynyard Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wynyard Hall |
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Wynyard Hall, circa 1880
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | Neo-Palladian |
| Location | Wynyard, Stockton-on-Tees, England, UK |
| Coordinates | 54°37′31″N 1°21′01″W / 54.6252°N 1.3503°W |
| OS grid | NZ425255 |
| Client | Charles Vane, 3rd Marquess of Londonderry |
| Owner | Sir John Hall and family |
Wynyard Hall is a huge country house located near Stockton-on-Tees in County Durham, England. For many years, it was the main home of the Vane-Tempest-Stewart family, who were known as the Marquesses of Londonderry. This important family lived there until 1987, when Sir John Hall bought it. Today, Wynyard Hall is a popular place for special events like weddings.
A modern village called Wynyard Park has been built on the land that once belonged to the hall.
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Exploring Wynyard Hall's Design
The main building of Wynyard Hall was first designed by Benjamin Dean Wyatt. His brother, Philip Wyatt, finished the work between 1822 and 1830. The front of the house, where you enter, has 13 sections and a grand porch with six large columns. This style is called Corinthian, known for its fancy tops.
Inside the Grand House
The entrance hall inside Wynyard Hall looks a lot like the one at Mount Stewart. This was another important home for the family in Northern Ireland. The hall has a special ceiling that curves like a tunnel, with rounded areas at each end and in the middle. A huge, sparkling crystal chandelier once hung from the ceiling.
The main hall in the center of the house is shaped like an octagon. It goes all the way up through the building. This hall has a dome at the top with statues of women, called caryatids, holding it up. There's also a skylight that lets in natural light.
Wynyard Hall also features a drawing room with mirrors and a ceiling decorated with gold and paintings. There's also a very large ballroom, similar to the one in the family's London home, Londonderry House.
The Duke's Wing
One part of the mansion was known as the "Duke's Wing." It got this name because the famous Duke of Wellington visited in 1827. This section of the house also had the "Duke's Gallery." Here, the family kept their amazing art collection when it wasn't displayed in London.
The Beautiful Gardens of Wynyard
Outside the house, many statues decorate the large entrance area. A wide path leads to a tall stone monument called an obelisk. This obelisk is 127 feet (39 m) high. It was built to remember the visit of the 1st Duke of Wellington in 1827. He was a national hero and also served as Prime Minister.
In the 1800s, the Wynyard Estate was very large, covering about 7,000 acres (2,800 ha) (28 km²) in the Teesside area. Today, the grounds still include a 15-acre (61,000 m2) decorative lake. There is also a walled garden, two entrance lodges, three small houses, and old racing stables. Much of the land is still used for farming.
A Quick Look at Wynyard Hall's Past
The building of Wynyard Hall was started by Benjamin Dean Wyatt and finished by Philip Wyatt. It was built for Charles Vane, 3rd Marquess of Londonderry. He was a very important coal businessman and started Seaham Harbour. The Marquess spent a lot of money, about £130,000 in 1840, to build and furnish his new home.
In 1841, just as the house was almost finished, a fire broke out. It badly damaged the inside of the building. However, it was later repaired and redesigned by Ignatius Bonomi.
There has been a house on this site since the Middle Ages. The 3rd Marquess of Londonderry actually used parts of an older house from the 1700s when he built his new home.
Important Owners of Wynyard Hall
In the 1800s, George Vane-Tempest, 5th Marquess of Londonderry owned huge amounts of land. He had about 27,000 acres (11,000 ha) in Ireland and 23,000 acres (9,300 ha) in England and Wales. He was also a Member of Parliament in the British House of Commons for 26 years.
When the 5th Marquess passed away in 1884, his oldest son, Charles Vane-Tempest-Stewart, 6th Marquess of Londonderry, became the 6th Marquess. His wife, Lady Theresa, was a very well-known figure. She was the inspiration for a character in a famous book called The Edwardians.
The Londonderry family owned the estate until 1987. However, from 1945 to 1960, the house was rented out as a training school for teachers. During this time, many of its original items were sold or broken.
Wynyard Hall Today
In 1987, Sir John Hall bought the estate, including about 5,000 acres (2,000 ha) of land. He spent £4,000,000 to fix up the house. He hired Rupert Lord to manage the restoration work. Sir John Hall later moved his company's main office and his own home into the mansion.
In 2002, the house and 780 acres (320 ha) of parkland were put up for sale for £8,000,000, but it was never sold. Today, the Hall family still owns Wynyard Hall, and it is used as a special event venue. While some of the estate's land has been used for homes and small businesses, the parkland around the house has been kept safe. The old walled garden has also been restored and is now a popular place for visitors and events.
Royal Visits to Wynyard Hall
King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra visited Wynyard Hall many times before Edward became King in 1901.
When Edward became King, he held an important meeting of the Privy Council at Wynyard Hall in 1903. This was a very rare event. It was the first time since 1625 that the Council had met in a private home belonging to a regular citizen.
King George V also visited Wynyard Hall when he was the Prince of Wales, including a visit in November 1902.
