Wollaton Hall

Wollaton Hall is a country house standing on a small but prominent hill in Wollaton, Nottingham, England. Wollaton Park is the area of parkland that the stately house stands in. The house itself is a natural history museum, with other museums in the out-buildings. The surrounding land is regularly used for large scale outdoor events such as rock concerts and festivals.

History

Wollaton was built between 1580 and 1588 for Sir Francis Willoughby and is believed to be designed by the Elizabethan architect, Robert Smythson, who was the architect of Hardwick Hall. The building is of Ancaster stone from Lincolnshire, and is said to have been paid for with coal from the Wollaton pits owned by Willoughby. Cassandra Willoughby, Duchess of Chandos recorded in 1702 that the master masons, and some of the statuary, were brought from Italy. The decorative but ludicrous gondola mooring rings carved in stone on the exterior walls offer some evidence of this, as do other architectural features. There are also obvious French and Dutch influences.

The building consists of a high central hall, surrounded by four towers. Unfortunately, a fire caused damage to Smythson's interior decoration of some of the ground floor rooms, but little structural damage occurred. Remodelling was carried out by Wyattville in 1801 and continued intermittently until the 1830s.

The gallery of the main hall contains Nottinghamshire's oldest pipe organ, thought to date from the end of the seventeenth century, possibly by the builder Gerard Smith. It is still blown by hand. Paintings on the ceilings and one wall are attributed to Verrio or his assistant Laguerre. Directly over the main hall is a 'prospect room', from which there are extensive views of the Park. Beneath the hall are many cellars and passages, and a well and associated reservoir tank, in which some accounts report that an admiral of the Willoughby family took a daily bath.

The Willoughbys were noted for the number of explorers they produced, most famously Sir Hugh Willoughby who died in the Arctic in 1554 attempting a North East passage to Cathay. Willoughby's Land is named after him.

In 1881, the house was still owned by the head of the Willoughby family, Digby Willoughby, 9th Baron Middleton, but by then it was "too near the smoke and busy activity of a large manufacturing town... now only removed from the borough by a narrow slip of country", so that the previous head of the family, Henry Willoughby, 8th Baron Middleton, had begun to let the house to tenants and in 1881 it was vacant.[1]

Now owned by the Nottingham City Council, the Hall houses Nottingham City Museum & Galleries Natural History Collections whilst the stable block contains the Industrial Collections.

The hall reopened in April 2007 after being closed for refurbishment. The prospect room at the top of the house, and the kitchens in the basement, were opened up for the public to visit, though this must be done on one of the escorted tours. The latter can be booked on the day, last about an hour, and a small charge is made.

Wartime role

In this park, during World War II members of the U.S. 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment were billeted waiting to be parachuted into Europe. A small plaque commemorates this event. Subsequently German prisoners of war were billeted here for employment in the locality between 1945 and 1947.[2][3][4]

The park

The grounds, Wollaton Park, are the home to the Intercounties Cross Country trials in March of each year, as well as many other events.

The enclosure of Wollaton Park required the destruction of the village of Sutton Passeys. It was enclosed by Henry Willoughby, 6th Baron Middleton with a 7 mile red brick wall,[5] at the start of the nineteenth century. Originally 790 acres, land sales have reduced the park to 500 acres.

In 2006-8 the grade II* listed Lenton Lodge, the former eastern gatehouse on Derby Road (corner of Wollaton Hall Drive), now detached from the Hall and Park by urban housing, was restored by Chek Whyte Industries and sold as a 3,324 sq ft office in 2009[6]. The Lenton and Beeston gateways to the Park were designed by Sir Jeffrey Wyatville for Henry Willoughby in 1823-25[7].

The park is home to a herd of Red Deer and Fallow Deer.[8]

Other wildlife of note at the park include a large corvid roost made up of Rook Jackdaw and Carrion crow. Other notable species present at the site are populations of Jay, Nuthatch and Sparrowhawk. Migrating wildfowl grace the lake in the winter and species of note include Gadwall, Northern Shoveler, Eurasian Wigeon and Tufted duck. There is a good diversity of Fungi present, especially in the winter months, mainly found near the wooded areas and the lake.

Owners of Wollaton Hall

  • 1580 - 1596 Sir Francis Willoughby (1547-1596)
  • 1596 - 1643 Sir Percival Willoughby
  • 1643 - 1672 Francis Willoughby
  • 1672 - 1729 Thomas Willoughby, 1st Baron Middleton
  • 1729 - 1758 Francis Willoughby, 2nd Baron Middleton
  • 1758 - 1774 Francis Willoughby, 3rd Baron Middleton
  • 1774 - 1781 Thomas Willoughby, 4th Baron Middleton
  • 1781 - 1800 Henry Willoughby, 5th Baron Middleton
  • 1800 - 1835 Henry Willoughby, 6th Baron Middleton
  • 1835 - 1856 Digby Willoughby, 7th Baron Middleton
  • 1856 - 1877 Henry Willoughby, 8th Baron Middleton
  • 1877 - 1922 Digby Wentworth Bayard Willoughby, 9th Baron Middleton
  • 1922 - 1924 Godfrey Ernest Percival Willoughby, 10th Baron Middleton
  • 1924 - 1925 Michael Guy Percival Willoughby, 11th Baron Middleton
  • 1925 - present day - Nottingham Corporation now Nottingham City Council.

Industrial Museum

The Courtyard range contains the City's Industrial Museum, with a display of Textile, Transport and Technology from Nottingham's past, including the Basford Beam Engine, a fully operational analogue telephone network, a display of cycles, motor cycles and motor cars linked to the city and examples of significant lace making machinery - which put Nottingham on the textile map.

The Steam Engine House has a fully operational Steaming Day run by the Nottingham Arkwright Society on the last Sunday of every month.[9]

The Industrial Museum is accessed through the Courtyard Stables shop and via the Wollaton Visitor Centre.

Vintage Tractor Collection

The Museum has a collection of vintage tractors.

  • Field Marshall Series II Tractor built in the 1940s. Operational and used regularly for Steam Up events, painted green.
  • Standard Fordson Tractor. Operational and used regularly for Steam Up events, painted green.
  • 'Little Grey Fergi' Tractor MWK 832 TE20D. Operational and used regularly for Steam up events, painted Ferguson grey.
  • Fordson Major Tractor built in 1950's. Operational and used regularly for Steam Up events.
  • Little Grey Fergi Tractor SAL 67. Undergoing restoration in the workshop.
Fowler Ploughing Engines

The museum has two 1929 John Fowler & Co. Ploughing Engines which were the last two to be built by Fowler, and they also have a canopy on them, which is very unusual for a ploughing engine. One (VO 8987) is operational and is used regularly on steaming days, the other (VO 8988) is not operational and is awaiting a major overhaul, which will include the fitting of a new boiler.

Portable Engines

The museum has two Portable Engines on site. One was built in 1886 by Marshall and is in working order, the other has built by Crosskill and is disguised as Trevor the Traction Engine

Other items

As well as the tractors and traction engines the museum has a Living van, a Saw Bench, a Marshall Threshing Drum No. 29505 that operates in the summer months either by the Field Marshall Tractor, Standard Fordson Tractor or VO 8987. The museum is also home to 2 ploughs originally used with ploughing engines like the two that the museums got and a collection of barn engine which are used during steam up events.

Similar buildings

In 1855 Joseph Paxton designed a near replica of Wollaton Hall in Buckinghamshire, now known as Mentmore Towers.

References

  • Marshall, P (1999), Wollaton Hall and the Willoughby Family, Nottingham Civic Society.

External links

  • Leonard Jacks, Wollaton (1881), online at nottshistory.org.uk
  • Nottingham Evening Post, Wednesday September 3, 2003
  • [http://www.changing-lives.org.uk/wartime_christmas/news/evening_post_wednesday_september.htm
  • [http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/68/a6635568.shtml
  • http://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/sitemap/services/business/international/cd_european_work/cd_reg_int-european_projects/cd_reg_int-wollaton_hall.htm
  • Nottingham Evening Post, 23 January 2009
  • Listed Buildings Online - LBS Number 457103
  • http://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/sitemap/leisure_and_culture/museumsandgalleries/wollatonhall.htm
  • Arkwright society web site
  • Listed in the following categories:
    Post a comment
    Tips & Hints
    Arrange By:
    Andrea
    16 February 2014
    What a brilliant place. Gorgeous hall, although the many rooms of taxidermy weren't to one of my small daughters taste. Fascinating for the rest of us! Lovely grounds, great for a picnic. Has cafe.
    Lawrence Short
    25 November 2013
    The last couple of years, normally the first May Bank Holiday weekend, there is a big Napoleonic Association living history event with drills and skirmish complete with canons & cavalry :-)
    Chris Dafforne
    7 August 2014
    Wayne Manor has a lot to offer in terms of scenery and views. Many a Sunday Roast walked off there! Just don't try to find the bat cave like I did...????
    Dee D'
    29 June 2019
    If you are lucky enough to get good weather and a good close up of the deers, then that makes your day!
    Phat Buoy
    9 October 2014
    In 2011, key scenes from the Batman movie The Dark Knight Rises were filmed outside Wollaton Hall.The Hall was featured as the latest Wayne Manor. Great place for a walk - beautiful
    Carla Mendonça
    22 September 2016
    Incrível experiência, onde os visitantes desfrutam de uma construção de mais de 500 anos, com a possibilitar de vestir-se como os moradores da época.
    Load more comments
    foursquare.com
    8.9/10
    66,359 people have been here
    Map
    2 Wollaton Hall, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire NG8 2AE, UK Get directions
    Wed 11:00 AM–4:00 PM
    Thu-Fri 11:00 AM–5:00 PM
    Sat 10:00 AM–8:00 PM
    Sun 9:00 AM–7:00 PM
    Mon Noon–4:00 PM

    Wollaton Hall & Deer Park on Foursquare

    Wollaton Hall on Facebook

    Hotels nearby

    See all hotels See all
    The Walton Hotel

    starting $111

    Clarendon House

    starting $104

    Park Hotel

    starting $331

    Park Inn by Radisson Nottingham

    starting $0

    The Stage Hotel

    starting $36

    Trivelles Regency Nottingham

    starting $65

    Recommended sights nearby

    See all See all
    Add to wishlist
    I've been here
    Visited
    Nottingham Castle

    Nottingham Castle is a castle in Nottingham, England. It is located in

    Add to wishlist
    I've been here
    Visited
    Elvaston Castle

    Elvaston Castle (full name Elvaston Castle Country Park) is a country

    Add to wishlist
    I've been here
    Visited
    Codnor Castle

    Codnor Castle is a now-ruined thirteenth century castle in Derbyshire,

    Add to wishlist
    I've been here
    Visited
    Newstead Abbey

    Newstead Abbey, in Nottinghamshire, England, originally an Augustinian

    Add to wishlist
    I've been here
    Visited
    Breadsall Priory

    Breadsall Priory is a former priory in Derbyshire. A house of the

    Add to wishlist
    I've been here
    Visited
    Horston Castle

    Horston Castle (sometimes spelt Horeston) is situated about 1 mile to

    Add to wishlist
    I've been here
    Visited
    Donington Park

    Donington Park is a motorsport circuit near Castle Donington in

    Add to wishlist
    I've been here
    Visited
    Darley Abbey

    Darley Abbey is a historic mill village, now a suburb of the city of

    Similar tourist attractions

    See all See all
    Add to wishlist
    I've been here
    Visited
    Old Royal Naval College

    The Old Royal Naval College is the architectural centrepiece of

    Add to wishlist
    I've been here
    Visited
    Somerset House

    Somerset House is a large building situated on the south side of the

    Add to wishlist
    I've been here
    Visited
    Завод шампанского Голицина

    Завод шампанского Голицина is a tourist attraction, one of the

    Add to wishlist
    I've been here
    Visited
    Bodleian Library

    The Bodleian Library (Шаблон:IPA-en), the main research library of th

    Add to wishlist
    I've been here
    Visited
    Canadian War Museum

    The Canadian War Museum (CWM) (Musée canadien de la guerre (MCG)) is

    See all similar places