Nostell Priory |
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The original Nostell Priory was founded more than 800 years ago and was dedicated to St Oswald, who first brought Christianity to Britain. The simple Cistercian Abbey was the home of the Augustinian Brothers until the Dissolution of Monasteries in 1540.
The Winn family acquired the estate in 1650 and eventually replaced the church and buildings with an impressive new hall in the early 18th century.
In 1735, Sir Rowland Winn, the fourth Baronet, made plans for a new Palladian building based on the Villa Mocenigo in Italy. The original Rococo designs by James Moyser and James Paine were later adapted by Robert Adam in 1765. His surviving neo-classical style can best be seen in the Library, the
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The sweeping staircase leads up to the first floor where most of the main rooms are situated, in typical Italian villa style. The elegant Top Hall has a beautiful stone chimneypiece by Theakston and a colza oil chandelier circa 1819.
Many of the furnishings were specially commissioned and supplied by Thomas Chippendale who lived at nearby Otley. The delightful 6-foot high fully furnished doll's house which is on display at Nostell is believed to be the work of Chippendale. He also designed the library steps which are cleverly designed to collapse into an ottoman.
Other notable pieces for visitors to enjoy are the John Harrison long-case clock with its wooden movements and Holbein's painting "The Family of Sir Thomas Moore". Other paintings on display at Nostell are by Brueghel and Kauffmann.
The large State Bedchamber was originally used as a Music Room and has musical motif decorations as well as Indian style wallpaper and decorative chinoiserie furnishings.
The gardens and park at Nostell Priory are equally
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The grounds include pleasant lakeside walks around the parkland and orchard. There is also an adventure playground for children, a National Trust gift shop and tea rooms.
Visitors are fascinated by the pond which was a former pit for cock fighting. The high banks around the pond still retain the seating in the grassy banks which were used by spectators at the cockfights.
In 1980 a disastrous fire badly damaged the Amber and Breakfast Rooms which have since been restored to their original state, based on Paine's original drawings.
The house was transferred by the Winn family to the National Trust in 1953 and the Chippendale furniture and other contents were donated in 1986. The stately home continues to be managed and lived in by Lord St Oswald today.
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Opening Times
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(2011 times)
ParklandOpen all year 9am - 7pm Daily House* 26th February - 30th October: 1.00pm - 5.00pm Wednesday - Sunday 3rd and 4th December: 1.00pmpm - 4.00pm Saturday and Sunday 7th - 11th December: 1.00pm - 4.00pm Wednesday - Sunday 7th and 8th December: 5.00pm - 8.00pm. Gardens, shop and tea-room 26th February - 30th October: 11am - 5.30pm Wednesday - Sunday 31st October - 31st December: 10am - 4.00pm Daily 7th and 8th December: 5.00pm - 8.00pm Wednesday and Thursday. Gardens** 26th February - 30th October: 11.00am 5.30pm Wednesday - Sunday. 5th November - 31st December: 11.00am - 4.00pm Saturday and Sunday. Please Note: *House open 11 to 1 for guided tours at 11:15, 11:45, 12:15, normal opening 1 to 5. **Gardens open Monday to Sunday 11 to 4:30 during local school holidays. Open Bank Holiday Mondays: house, 11 to 5, gardens, shop and tea-room, 11 to 5:30. Parkland closes dusk if earlier. Rose garden may be closed on occasions for private functions. Closed 25 December. Last admission 30 minutes before closing. |
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Admission Charges
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(2011 prices)
Gift Aid Admission (Standard Admission prices in brackets):House and Garden: Adult £9.50 (£8.50); Child £4.50 (£4.00); Family £22 (£20). Garden only: Adult £6.00 (£5.30); Child £3.00 (£2.65); Family £14.75 (£13.20) |
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Directions
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Location: 5 miles south of Wakefield within easy reach of A1, M1 and M62 By Bus: Arriva 496 Wakefield-Doncaster; also Arriva 485, B Line 123, 223, 244 from Wakefield By Bike: NCN67, 3 miles View local cycle routes on the National Cycle Network website By road: On A638 5 miles south east of Wakefield towards Doncaster By train: Fitzwilliam 1½ miles On foot: via pedestrian entrance on the A638 Ordnance survey reference: 111:SE407172 |
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Nostell Priory Postcode for SatNav: WF4 1QE |
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