Wyresdale Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Wyresdale Park
Wyresdale Hall circa 1900
Location	Scorton, Lancashire, Endland
OS grid reference	SD 509,492
Built	1856–58
Built for	Ormrod family
Architect	E. G. Paley
Architectural style(s)	Gothic Revival
Website	wyresdalepark.co.uk
Listed Building – Grade II
Designated	3 December 2009
Reference no.	1393555
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Wyresdale Park is a beautiful old country house in England. It is also a popular place for weddings! You can find it near Scorton, Lancashire, in a lovely area called the Forest of Bowland.

History of Wyresdale Park

Wyresdale Park was built between 1856 and 1858. It was designed by a famous architect named Edward Graham Paley from Lancaster. He built it for the Ormrod family, who were from Bolton.

• Over the years, more buildings were added to the park.
• The house is built in a style called Gothic Revival architecture. This style looks a bit like old castles or cathedrals.
• A large lake was added to the grounds in 1897.

In the 1920s, the Riddell family bought the main house and the land around it. The Whewell family bought the farms and other land nearby. Later, in 1967, the Whewells also bought the main house.

By the early 2000s, the house was still in good shape. However, some of the smaller buildings were falling apart, and the gardens were very overgrown. The Whewell family decided to fix things up. They worked with a TV show called Country House Rescue on Channel 4. They opened a café and started having "Open Days" for visitors. Today, Wyresdale Park is a special building. It is listed as a Grade II building on the National Heritage List for England. This means it is an important historical place.

The Ormrod Family and Their Legacy

Peter Ormrod (1796–1875) was the person who built Wyresdale Hall in 1856. He bought a huge piece of land, about 6,000 acres, from the Duke of Hamilton to create the estate.

• The house cost a lot of money back then, about £50,000. That would be around £4 million today!
• The architect, Edward Graham Paley, designed many amazing buildings in Lancashire.
• Peter Ormrod was a banker and also owned a cotton factory. His father helped start the Bolton Bank, which is now part of the Royal Bank of Scotland. Peter took over the bank when his father passed away in 1825.
• In 1838, Peter married Eliza Hardcastle. Her father was also a partner in the bank. As a wedding gift, Eliza's father gave them Halliwell Hall. Peter made many changes to this house. He also paid for the rebuilding of the parish church in Bolton.

Peter and Eliza did not have any children. So, when Peter died in 1875, Wyresdale Park went to his nephew, James Cross Ormrod. However, Eliza was allowed to live in the house until she died in 1890. When James Cross Ormrod died in 1895, his son, Captain Peter Ormrod (1869–1923), inherited the estate.

Captain Peter Ormrod (1869–1923)

Captain Peter Ormrod was a very active person. He made many big improvements to Wyresdale Park. His most famous project was creating the Wyresdale Fishery. People said it was the largest fish farm in Europe!

• Two articles about this fishery were written in the "Country Life" magazine in 1899.
• He also added a deer park and another lake to the estate.
• In 1899, many newspapers reported that Peter bought all the fallow deer from Barningham Park.

Around 1912, a famous artist named Dame Laura Knight visited Wyresdale Park. She came with her husband, Harold, because Captain Peter Ormrod invited them. In her autobiography, she wrote that her stay inspired her to paint the "grounds, the byres and the fells." One of her paintings, called "The Morning Ride," shows a fountain that is still at Wyresdale Park today.

In 1922, Peter sold Wyresdale Park. The estate was split up. The main house and the land around it were sold to Dr. Hugh Riddell. A large part of the remaining land was sold to Shepherd Whewell.

The Whewell Family and Modern Changes

The estate was divided in the 1930s. The Riddell family bought the main house and its grounds. Shepherd Whewell bought much of the other land.

• From the 1960s, Shepherd Whewell and his brother started buying back parts of the estate, including the house. They focused on hunting birds like partridge, pheasant, and mallard ducks.
• However, it became very expensive to keep up such a large property with the income from only 800 acres. They needed to find new ways to make money.
• In 2011, Jim Whewell Jr. and his sister Sarah convinced their parents to turn parts of the grounds into a special camping area.

The family got new ideas when they were on Channel 4’s Country House Rescue. This show features presenter Ruth Watson giving advice to owners of large estates who are struggling financially.

• The Whewells' first step was to change the old brick buildings and glasshouse in the walled garden into the Applestore Café. Sally Whewell runs this café.
• Next, they started offering "glamping" (glamorous camping). They created two different experiences: Feather Down Lodges and The Orchard Bell Tents. Both are located by the boating lake.
• In 2018, the estate began a new phase. They restored many old Victorian barn buildings, including stables, haylofts, and a piggery. They turned these into unique spaces, especially for weddings.
• They also created shared office spaces for new businesses. James Whewell guides this project, helping to build a creative community.

Things to See and Do at Wyresdale Park

Wyresdale Park offers several attractions for visitors:

• Applestore Cafe: A lovely place to eat and relax.
• Nicky Nook Fell: A nearby hill perfect for walking and enjoying nature.
• Licensed wedding ceremony barns: Beautiful restored barns used for weddings.

Events and Media Features

Wyresdale Park has been featured in various TV shows and publications:

• In 2017, Wyresdale Park appeared on Drew Pritchard’s Salvage Hunters.
• It was featured on Channel 4's Country House Rescue in September 2011. This was the first episode of Series 3.
• Crafty Vintage held Christmas Makers Markets at the park in 2017 and 2018.
• Nicky Nook Fell hosted a stage of the North West Stages car rally on March 23, 2019.
• The Financial Times newspaper wrote about Wyresdale Park. They highlighted how old country houses are finding new ways to make money.
• The Applestore Cafe was featured on the front page of the I (newspaper) on August 24, 2019. It was suggested as a good alternative stop for drivers using the nearby Lancaster (Forton) Services.

Awards and Recognition

Wyresdale Park and its features have received several awards and nominations:

• 1965: Snowhill Lane Bridge - Civic Trust Award
• 2018: Marketing Lancashire Tourism Superstar - Finalist
• 2019: Great Northern Wedding Awards - Best Wedding Venue - Barn / Farm - Finalist
• 2019: Great Northern Wedding Awards - Best Creative Space - Finalist

Images for kids

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  Releasing small trout into the pond at Wyresdale Fishery in 1900.

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  Advertisement for the sale of trout at Wyresdale Fishery in 1900.

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  Loading fish from the ponds at Wyresdale Fishery in 1900.

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  Advertisement for the sale of Wyresdale Park in the London Times in 1922.