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Mid-18th Century Harewood House Stately Home & Gardens

Kids Adventure Playground, Harewood House nr Leeds

Harewood House Stately Home Temple Newsam Estate Leeds UK

Two of Yorkshire's finest stately homes are within easy reach of Leeds. The mid-18th century Harewood House sits 7 miles to the north of Leeds whilst the Temple Newsam Estate sits just 4 miles south east of Leeds city centre. Both of these spectacular Yorkshire Stately Homes demand full day trips at least.

Harewood House Stately Home

Harewood House is one of Britain's finest stately homes and it's particularly special as it works hard to tell its story from a number of perspectives, both from above and below and indeed recently in the 1807 exhibition Harewood has dug deep into its links with the slave trade. Harewood's architecture and interior decor was designed by the finest of its day. Scottish architect Robert Adam and John Carr of York were commissioned by Edwin Lascelles in 1753 to build this ornate neo-classical home. Building work started in 1759 and construction took 12 years, with the completion of the gallery following a year later. Adam is widely considered the finest of the late 18th century architects and Newby Hall near Ripon in North Yorkshire is another stately home in Yorkshire designed by Adam.

Lascelles commissioned the finest for the interior too, so during your guided tour through the many state rooms including Old Library, Dressing Rooms, State Dining Room, China Room and Yellow Drawing Room you'll discover plenty of Chippendale furniture (Harewood was Chipendale's largest commission!), Antonio Zucchi wall paintings and Joseph Rose and William Collins plaster work. Later in the 19th century further alterations were commissioned with Sir Charles Barry adding the third storey and Terrace Garden. Further remodelling took place between 1929-39 under the sixth Earl and HRH Princess Mary.

Harewood's extensive and spectacular landscaped gardens are as much a part of the house as the interior rooms. Gardens and house were constructed at the same time, with the garden design undertaken by Lancelot 'Capability' Brown. The Terrace however is the later work of Barry. Moving into the modern, which Harewood does particularly well, The Adventure Playground within the grounds is a magnet for kids. Other popular features within the house and grounds include Harewood's detailed 'Below Stairs exhibition. Wander through the scullery, old kitchen and servants' hall to discover the history of life at Harewood from the perspective of those who worked here. The Maids and Mistresses Trail digs deep into the roles of women here at Harewood, with some rather interesting facts emerging on the 'outrageous' (in her day) behaviour of Lady Worsley and others. Harewood is also a veritable feast for art lovers, with numerous portraits on display including a selection by Joshua Reynolds (note the Reynolds portrait of Lady Worsley in the Cinnamon Drawing Room). You'll find work here by Turner and others, alongside an eclectic collection of Chinese Art. Exhibitions pulling from the huge Harewood Collection have recently included topics such as Harewood 1807 - a commemoration and celebration of the abolition of the slave trade. In exhibitions like this Harewood digs deep into its roots, and indeed where the money came from to build this elaborate stately home. By 1787 the Lascelles family had interests in 47 plantations (sugar) and owned thousands of slaves in Barbados and across the West Indies. The Lascelles weren't unique - most merchants of the period were involved in the slave trade. Find out more via the detailed downloadable leaflet on the 1807 exhibition (the year of the Abolition Act, Slavery was completely abolished in the British Empire in 1838). It's a sobering thought that the opulence of Harewood was funded off the back of the slave trade.

In 1988 around 20 rolls of Chinese wallpaper were found in one of Harewood's outbuildings. These rolls, considered by many as one of the finest existing examples of Chinese handpainted wallpaper in existance, have recently been painstakingly hung in the East Bedroom at Harewood for all to see. Find out more via Harewood House's webguide and listings for exhibitions and events celebrating 'China and Harewood' during the 2008 opening season. Harewood House Trust Ltd, Harewood House, Harewood, Leeds LS17 9LG. Tel. (0044) (0)113 218 1010. Concerts and events run through the calendar year at Harewood which attracts big music concert names. For forthcoming events, opening times, directions and entrance fee details checkout Harewood House's comprehensive webguide link right. The Yorkshire Planetarium, the Bird Garden and Courtyard shops and cafes are also on-site.

Temple Newsam Historic Estate nr Leeds

There's a strong link between Harewood House and Temple Newsam - both of these historic homes have garden and parkland areas landscaped by Capability Brown. More Chippendale furniture is at Temple Newsam too within this striking Tudor-Jacobean mansion with its 40 carefully restored rooms. The huge parkland grounds cover 1500 acres and the house is particularly renowned as the birthplace of Lord Darnley, second husband of Mary Queen of Scots - a rather unpleasant character by all accounts.

Home to the Ingrams family from 1622 for 300 years, Temple Newsam houses a spectacular selection of portraits some of which are by Joshua Reynolds. (the complete portraits list is on the website). Of the 400 paintings held in the Temple Newsam collection around half are indigenous to the house.

Changing exhibitions draw on Temple Newsam's extensive collection of paintings, ceramics, furniture, textiles, silver and gold and wallpaper. A choice of tours are available, one of which takes you into the hidden parts of the house including cellars, underground passages and servant quarters.

Kids will love the rare breeds farm on-site, plus other features within the grounds include a Georgian walled garden, tea room, two 18 hole golf courses, a gift shop in the Stable courtyard and lots of activities (especially for children) run throughout the year including easter egg hunts, arts and crafts demonstrations and workshops. The estate frequently plays host to craft fairs, concerts and flower shows. Temple Newsam, Temple Newsam Road, off Selby Road, Leeds LS15 0AE. Tel. 0113 264 5535. Find Temple Newsam just 4 miles outside of Leeds off the A63. Two miles from the M1, off at Junction 46. Wymetro offer a regular bus service from Leeds city centre or hop on a rail connection to Crossgates station near Temple Newsam.

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