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Harewood House Stately Home nr Leeds

Castle Howard nr York, site for the filming of Brideshead Revisited

Shibden Hall Entrance Gate, Halifax

Palladian Wing of Wentworth Castle nr Barnsley

Yorkshire Stately Homes Harewood House Castle Howard Newby Hall Temple Newsam

Yorkshire has a huge number of fine historic stately homes particularly around Leeds and York. Two of the largest and most well known are Harewood House near Leeds and Castle Howard near York. More than just stunning architecture and gardens are on the menu here - both are popular family attractions with on-site kids adventure playgrounds, frequent concerts and a full programme of events.

Other popular Yorkshire stately homes include Newby Hall and Gardens near Ripon, Wentworth Castle Gardens near Barnsley and Shibden Hall near Halifax, identified with the fascinating character of Anne Lister. For a full listing of all Yorkshire's fine stately homes checkout the webguide link right for Yorkshire Great Houses, Castles & Gardens.

Harewood House Stately Home near Leeds

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, and you'll discover plenty of Chippendale furniture at Harewood which wass Chipendale's largest commission! Harewood's extensive and spectacular landscaped gardens are as much a part of the house as the interior rooms.

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.

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.

Castle Howard Stately Home nr York

Stately homes have evolved these days into modern, in many cases family oriented, attractions. Castle Howard near York stands as one of the UK's finest stately homes built in 1699. Its colossal size - the overwhelming magnificence of the house and the extensive grounds containing temples, lake, stables, courtyard, fountains and rose garden and Ray Wood which offers a seasonal display of Rhododendrons won't fail to impress.

The Castle Howard estate, as well as stately home and gardens, is a modern family attraction with numerous shops around the Stable Courtyard including on-site farm shop, plant centre, book shop, chocolate shop, gift shop and Courtyard Cafe. Visitors can gain free access to the Stable Courtyard shopping area with no obligation to enter the house and gardens.

Increasingly Castle Howard is playing host to some prestigious events and concerts. Event listings include Farmers Markets and Craft Markets, Children's Weekends and Jazz in the Afternoon. For kids there's a wide selection of attractions including adventure playground, serpentine pathways within the enchanted woodland, lawn space for ball games, boat trips on the Great Lake and quizzes.

Castle Howard has been used as a location for many films and TV productions. The Castle Howard film credits include: Lady L (1965), The Spy With a Cold Nose (1966), Barry Lyndon (1975), Twelfth Night (1978), probably the most famous Brideshead Revisited (1981) and The Buccaneers (1994). More details on this and all aspects of the house can be found on their website:
www.castlehoward.co.ukCastle Howard Estate office, York, North Yorkshire YO60 7DA. Tel. 01653 648 444.

Newby Hall & Gardens nr Ripon

Newby Hall was designed under the watchful eye of Sir Christopher Wren. Georgian elegance abounds here, including an unusual collection of chamber pots.

One of the best outdoor kids adventure playgrounds in Yorkshire is here at Newby Hall. Award winning gardens await too with seasonal highlights including blooming rhododendrons in April and May and the rose garden at its best in late June. The contemporary sculpture park is particularly impressive and woodland walks, a gift shop and restaurant are all on-site.

Move out into the grounds and you'll find plenty of fun for the kids including a Children's Adventure Garden with paddling pool, sand pit and swings. Or why not take a walk through the extensive gardens and woodland. Another great Yorkshire Dales day out for all the family. www.newbyhall.com

Newby Hall & Gardens, Estate Office, Newby Hall, Ripon, North Yorkshire, HG4 5AE. Tel. 0845 4504068

Shibden Hall & Anne Lister, Halifax

Just outside Halifax town centre sits the spectacular Shibden Hall and Park dating from 1420. Closely associated with the Lister family for around 300 years, particularly Anne Lister (1791-1840) and her famous covert diary, Shibden recently has been seeing some extensive repair work. It's not the first time the house has seen changes. Shibden has been added to and redesigned through the centuries, most famously when Anne Lister opened the house up to the roof and installed the ornate staircase and panelling more befitting of the Georgian Jacobethan style. Read more via the Shibden tour on Calderdale's Tourist webguide (link right).

The house itself is full of oak panelled walls and some fine pieces of Yorkshire furniture most of which originates from Shibden. A highlight is the beautifully carved four poster dark wooden bed which dates from 1630 when the Listers first arrived here. Various events, including the Easter Eggstravaganza and May Day celebrations take place within the stunning park surrounding Shibden Hall. Feature facilities within the park include a boating lake, a pitch and putt and a miniature railway - all great for kids. There is also a cafe and lots of picnic space.

Shibden Hall, Lister's Road, Halifax, HX3 6XG. Tel. 01422 352246

Wentworth Castle Gardens, Stainborough near Barnsley

Wentworth Castle Gardens provides a wonderful day out for all the family. A secret Yorkshire treasure awaits you, hidden away in green rolling hills near Barnsley, less than an hour from Leeds and Sheffield. The estate was home to the former Earls of Strafford, and captured the imagination of the nation on the BBC series 'Restoration' in 2003.

The estate extends to some 600 acres and is the only Grade 1 Listed Landscape in South Yorkshire. It offers unrivalled opportunities to view the National Plant Collections of Magnolias, Rhododendrons and Camellias, while wandering through the 40-acre Pleasure Gardens, admiring fascinating monuments and wildlife.

The Gardens will be a hive of activity until 2008 as Wentworth Castle Trust works on an ambitious 15 million pound restoration project, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, which will restore the estate to its former glory. The Gardens will be open to the public during this time, and visitors will be able to witness the fascinating transformation of the Wentworth Castle Gardens and Parkland.

Wentworth Castle and Stainborough Park Heritage Trust, Wentworth Castle, Lowe Lane, Stainborough, Barnsley S75 3ET. Tel. 01226 776042.

Cannon Hall nr Barnsley

This stately home and grounds dates back to 1760. The house was designed by John Carr of York and was once the home of the Spencer-Stanhope family and is now a museum with specialised military exhibitions, furniture and art work. Around the house is 70 acres of parkland, which includes a walled garden also dating back to 1760, with pear trees first grown in the early 1800s. There's a Victorian Tea room as well!

Cannon Hall Museum
Bark House Lane, Cawthorne, Barnsley S75 4AT
Telephone: (01226) 790270

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