Harewood House was built in the mid-18th century with money made from the West Indian sugar trade, you can delve into this history with our Harewood 1807 exhibit. On a visit to Harewood you can also marvel at the Adam ceilings, Chippendale furniture and Old Master paintings in the House, explore the Gardens and Bird Garden while youngsters can enjoy the challenge and excitement of the Adventure Playground, and for the less adventurous visit the medieval alabaster table tombs in Harewood Church.
Newby Hall, near Ripon, is the Yorkshire home of Mr & Mrs Richard Compton. Featured in BBC television's "Heirs & Graces", this beautiful late 17th century house, with much of the interior later designed by Robert Adam, was built under the guidance of Sir Christopher Wren. Newby Hall was built between 1691-1695 and shortly afterwards the owner, Sir Edward Blackett, commissioned Peter Aram as head gardener to lay out formal gardens and avenues in keeping with the period. Very little of Aram's layout for Newby remains today and the present design is largely attributable to the present owner's grandfather, the late Major Edward Compton, who inherited Newby in 1921.
The sheltered walled garden on the bank of the River Rye with its peacocks, ducks, old varieties of fruit trees and clematis collection, complements this mellow 17th-century manor house. From the magnificent oak-panelled hall, follow three staircases to discover family rooms, the nursery, the haunted room and the attics, with their fascinating Carlisle collection of miniature rooms fully furnished to reflect different periods.
Renishaw Hall has been the home of the Sitwell family for over 350 years. In 1625 George Sitwell built a small H-shaped manor house to which his descendent Sitwell Sitwell, later first baronet, made vast additions in the Georgian period, also the stables and various follies in and around the park. The beautiful Italianate garden, park and lake were the creation of the eccentric Sir George Sitwell, grandfather of the present owner.
The house was built by Sir William St. Quintin 3rd Baronet about 1690 and has remained in the family ever since. It was extensively rebuilt in 1801 and the interiors that you see today date from the Regency period.
The gardens at Scampston are not to be missed and worth a visit in themselves. There is a large walk-in rock and water garden featuring an ever growing collection of alpines and a stall with a variety of conservatory, herbaceous and alpine plants for sale.
Sutton Park was built in the eighteenth century by Philip Harland. It is now the family home of Sir Reginald and Lady Sheffield. When the Sheffields bought the house in 1963 they moved much of their collection from Normanby Park in Lincolnshire. Large parts of this collection were originally from Buckingham House, the family's London home built by John Sheffield, 1st Duke of Buckingham, now known world-wide as the Queen's official residence - Buckingham Palace. There are also award winning gardens and tearooms.
