Burton Agnes Hall
Encyclopedia
Burton Agnes Hall is an Elizabethan manor house in the village of Burton Agnes
, near Driffield
in Yorkshire
. It was built by Sir Henry Griffith in 1601–10 to designs attributed to Robert Smythson
. There is an older Norman
Manor House
, originally built in 1173 on an adjacent site; both buildings are now Grade I listed buildings.
The Hall contains a number of fine 17th century plaster ceilings and chimneypieces
. The ceiling of the Long Gallery was restored in two stages by Francis Johnson
between 1951 and 1974.
Frances Griffith, heiress of the estate, married Sir Matthew Boynton
the first Boynton Baronet
and on her death in 1634 the estate was bequeathed to her son Francis, later the second Baronet. On the death of the eleventh Baronet in 1899 the house passed to his daughter, and on her death to her son Sir Marcus Wickham Boynton. He operated a successful stud farm on the estate for many years. He died in 1989 and left the property to a distant cousin, Simon Cunliffe-Lister, then aged twelve, grandson of Viscount Whitelaw and son of the 3rd Earl of Swinton
. Today, the estate is owned by the Burton Agnes Preservation Trust and is managed by Cunliffe-Lister and his mother, Hon Susan Whitelaw.
The gardens include the National Collection
of Campanula
s.
The walled flower garden
has a games motif with a central chess board played on black and white paving stones. Other games include draughts, snakes and ladders and hoop toss. Each of these games is in a separate garden surrounded by plants selected by flower colours. There is also a market garden area with attractively planted seasonal vegetables.
Whimsical statues abound throughout the grounds. Various artists work rotates through the grounds and galleries regularly. A woodland walk is well known locally for abundant snowdrop blooms in February.
A Hall Class railway engine was named Burton Agnes Hall, and is preserved.
Burton Agnes
Burton Agnes is a village and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is situated on the A614 mid way between Driffield and Bridlington. Places of interest include an Elizabethan Manor House, Burton Agnes Hall and a Norman Manor House, Burton Agnes Manor House...
, near Driffield
Driffield
Driffield, also known as Great Driffield, is a market town and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. The civil parish is formed by the town of Driffield and the village of Little Driffield....
in Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
. It was built by Sir Henry Griffith in 1601–10 to designs attributed to Robert Smythson
Robert Smythson
Robert Smythson was an English architect. Smythson designed a number of notable houses during the Elizabethan era. Little is known about his birth and upbringing—his first mention in historical records comes in 1556, when he was stonemason for the house at Longleat, built by Sir John Thynne...
. There is an older Norman
Norman architecture
About|Romanesque architecture, primarily English|other buildings in Normandy|Architecture of Normandy.File:Durham Cathedral. Nave by James Valentine c.1890.jpg|thumb|200px|The nave of Durham Cathedral demonstrates the characteristic round arched style, though use of shallow pointed arches above the...
Manor House
Burton Agnes Manor House
Burton Agnes Manor House is an English Heritage property, located in the village of Burton Agnes, East Riding of Yorkshire, England. Built by Roger de Stuteville, it is a surviving example of a Norman manor house, although encased in 18th century brickwork. It is now a Grade I listed...
, originally built in 1173 on an adjacent site; both buildings are now Grade I listed buildings.
The Hall contains a number of fine 17th century plaster ceilings and chimneypieces
Fireplace mantel
Fireplace mantel or mantelpiece, also known as a chimneypiece, originated in medieval times as a hood that projected over a grate to catch the smoke. The term has evolved to include the decorative framework around the fireplace, and can include elaborate designs extending to the ceiling...
. The ceiling of the Long Gallery was restored in two stages by Francis Johnson
Francis Johnson (architect)
See Francis Johnston for Irish architect of similar name.Francis Frederick Johnson CBE, , was an English architect, born in Bridlington in the East Riding of Yorkshire.-Education and Early career:...
between 1951 and 1974.
Frances Griffith, heiress of the estate, married Sir Matthew Boynton
Sir Matthew Boynton, 1st Baronet
Sir Matthew Boynton, 1st Baronet , of Barmston and Bainton in the East Riding of Yorkshire, was an English Member of Parliament....
the first Boynton Baronet
Boynton Baronets
The Baronetcy of Boynton of Barmston was created in the Baronetage of England on 15 May 1618 for Matthew Boynton, son of Sir Francis Boynton of Barmston Hall, in the East Riding of Yorkshire....
and on her death in 1634 the estate was bequeathed to her son Francis, later the second Baronet. On the death of the eleventh Baronet in 1899 the house passed to his daughter, and on her death to her son Sir Marcus Wickham Boynton. He operated a successful stud farm on the estate for many years. He died in 1989 and left the property to a distant cousin, Simon Cunliffe-Lister, then aged twelve, grandson of Viscount Whitelaw and son of the 3rd Earl of Swinton
Earl of Swinton
Earl of Swinton is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1955 for the prominent Conservative politician Philip Cunliffe-Lister, 1st Viscount Swinton. He had already been created Viscount Swinton, of Masham in the County of York, in 1935, and was made Baron Masham, of...
. Today, the estate is owned by the Burton Agnes Preservation Trust and is managed by Cunliffe-Lister and his mother, Hon Susan Whitelaw.
The gardens include the National Collection
NCCPG National Plant Collection
The NCCPG National Plant Collection scheme is the main conservation vehicle whereby the National Council for the Conservation of Plants and Gardens can accomplish its mission: to conserve, grow, propagate, document and make available the resource of garden plants that exists in the United...
of Campanula
Campanula
Campanula is one of several genera in the family Campanulaceae with the common name bellflower. It takes its name from their bell-shaped flowers—campanula is Latin for "little bell"....
s.
The walled flower garden
Flower garden
A flower garden is any garden where flowers are grown for decorative purposes. Because flowers bloom at varying times of the year, and some plants are annual, dying each winter, the design of flower gardens can take into consideration to maintain a sequence of bloom and even of consistent color...
has a games motif with a central chess board played on black and white paving stones. Other games include draughts, snakes and ladders and hoop toss. Each of these games is in a separate garden surrounded by plants selected by flower colours. There is also a market garden area with attractively planted seasonal vegetables.
Whimsical statues abound throughout the grounds. Various artists work rotates through the grounds and galleries regularly. A woodland walk is well known locally for abundant snowdrop blooms in February.
A Hall Class railway engine was named Burton Agnes Hall, and is preserved.