Brodsworth Hall and Gardens

In Brief.

Brodsworth Hall is a Victorian country house surrounded by gardens that were designed to impress, and do. The house was built in the 1860s, and much of the interior dates from the time of its construction, when money was plentiful. However, the gardens are the star turn, maintained to a very high standard, and providing variety around every turn. The immaculate formal gardens were quite a spectacle during my August visit.

The formal fountain garden.


What's here?

Brodsworth Hall was built to replace an existing residence on the site in the 1860s, at the same time as the gardens were laid out. The hall itself, though substantial, has a somewhat understated exterior, approached by a sweeping drive and surrounded by lawns. The interior is more lavish, with grand spaces for entertaining, which can be contrasted with the more down-to-earth facilities of the servant's wing. The friendly guides were keen to share stories and history.


View from the summer house.

The gardens, however, are particularly grand, and maintained to a standard that seems a cut above the normal (and plenty impressive gardens feature in this blog, such as those at Arley and Lyme). The fountain garden is tastefully planted, and looks good from any angle, but there are lots of meandering paths connecting the summer house to the fern garden to the archery range, etc. Though the quality of the displays could make this rather a serious garden, there were plenty people sitting on lawns having picnics, so the overall vibe was quite relaxed.

Although the house was built after the abolition of slavery, at least some of the money came both directly from investments in slave ships and from plantations that used slave labour. This history is now acknowledged in information boards through the house and grounds and in sculptures by an artist from the Carribbean, though not in the guidebook from 2009!

Practicalities.

Distance from Manchester Town Hall: 50 miles

Drive Time: 90 minutes.

Price: Gardens: $$

Parking: Free.

Food and Drink: There is a cafe, serving both cakes and light lunches, with both indoor and outdoor spaces. I had a satisfactory if difficult-to-control sandwich, which was popular with the wasps.

Retail therapy: There is a compact shop with a diverse collection of offerings - plants, wine, beer, biscuits, household and garden items.

Child Friendly: There is a rustic play park in the gardens.

Toilets: Yes - opposite the cafe.

Do it justice in: 3 hours.

Inside-Outside: 40:60

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