Continuing to make the most of my National Trust membership, I ventured 'over the border' into Lancashire to visit Gawthorpe Hall, near Burnley.
It started out as a 14th century pele tower (a defence against invading Scots) and was extended into an Elizabethan house in the early 1600s by the Shuttleworth family, who owned it right up until it was given to the NT in 1970.The Hall as you see it now was redesigned in the 1850s by Sir Charles Barry, who designed the Houses of Parliament and Highclere House, known to many as 'Downton Abbey', so it has become known as the 'Downton of the North'.
It's in a relatively urban area, set in a small area of parkland and estate. It is run in partnership with Lancashire County Council, who have some offices in the hall.
As these kinds of places go, it's a modest house in modest grounds, but interesting nevertheless. The small ornamental terrace, overlooking the River Calder, was laid out as part of Barry's design.
I was surprised by a flock of sheep, evidently used as lawn mowers! Even more surprised to find the wifi code engraved in stone on a seat on the terrace... Actually it says: Kynd Kynn Knawne Kepe - 'kind friends know and keep', the motto of Sir James Kay, who married into the Shuttleworth family in 1842 and took the surname Kay-Shuttleworth. It was he who commissioned Sir Charles Barry to restore and improve the house.
I thought it was Downton Abby when i first saw it.
ReplyDeleteI thought Highclere as well. The front steps in a closer look changed my mind. Good photos
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice lovely old home, so glad to see it has been preserved, as well as the saying on the bench...good advice. Now I'll have to dig out whatever is supposed to be my family crest's saying.
ReplyDeleteIt's a beautiful place, the grounds especially.
ReplyDeleteAnother fine National Trust property. You are so lucky to have these in your country!
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