Bramham Park

Built / Designed For: Robert Benson, 1st Lord Bingley

House & Family History: Named after the nearby village of Bramham, Bramham Park was begun in 1698 by Robert Benson, later 1st Baron Bingley, and has remained in the ownership of his descendants since its completion in 1710. The architect of the house is unknown, though many noted architects have been suggested, including James Gibbs, William Talman, Giacomo Leoni, James Paine, and Thomas Archer. The only real possibility is Archer, though Bramham clearly shares design elements with nearby Chatsworth, whose south and east facades were designed by Talman. It's most likely that the house was designed by Robert Benson himself, working with the help of a local draftsman. Benson completed his formal education with the Grand Tour in 1697; it is probable that, while in Italy, the designs for a new house began to take shape in his head. Though certainly influenced by Palladio (the house has the feel of a Palladian Florentine villa), Benson was also clearly inspired by the late 17th century French Baroque style of Mansart's Versailles. An unusual feature of the house is the carriage ramp that delivers visitors directly to the piano nobile. Following a severe fire in 1828, Bramham was derelict for 80 years, until it was restored in the early 20th century by Detmar Blow. The two-story Baroque Great Hall still bears smoke stains from the fire on its stone walls. Bramham Island on the north side of Queen Charlotte Strait in the Central Coast region of British Columbia, Canada, was named for Bramham Park.
Garden & Outbuildings: The house is surrounded by a landscape park of approximately 400 acres that boasts follies and avenues laid out in the formal 18th century landscape tradition. Because of the layout of its French-style palace gardens, there has been speculation that André le Nôtre, Versailles' landscape architect, may have been involved in the design of Bramham's landscaping. The water gardens, cascades, 25 feet of clipped beech avenues, and vistas spanning 100 acres of geometric woodland pleasure grounds remain unaltered from their original design. The park today is the site of the annual Bramham Horse Trials and the Leeds Festival.
Architect: James Paine Sr.

Date of Birth: 1717
Date of Death: 1789
Nationality: British
Notes: Paine's first major work was the building of Nostell Priory, which took seven years and made his name as an architect. Christopher Hussey stated that Paine had such a successful country house practice that "Robert Taylor and Paine divided the country house practice of Egnland between them."

Date: Circa 1750-60
Designed: Remodeled The Biggin for Mr. Allison (circa 1750-56). Temple, now Chapel, for George Fox-Lane, 1st Baron Bingley (circa 1760).

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Architect: John Carr

Date of Birth: 1723
Date of Death: 1807
Nationality: British
Nickname: Carr of York
Notes: Known as "Carr of York," most of his work was in the north of England, primarily in his native Yorkshire. Carr's only major work in the south was Basildon Park in Berkshire. Carr probably designed more stables (over 40) than any other Georgian architect.

Date: Post 1763
Designed: Obelisk for George Fox-Lane, 1st Baron Bingley

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Architect: Robert Benson (Bingley)

Date of Birth: Circa 1676
Date of Death: Apr 9, 1731
Nationality: English
Notes: Benson served as member of Parliament for Thetford in Norfolk from 1702 to 1705, then becoming MP for York. In 1711 he became a member of the Privy Council and chancellor of the Exchequer, a post in which he served until 1713. In 1713 Benson became ennobled as Baron Bingley and became the British ambassador to Spain. Howard Colvin says that, if Benson did indeed design his house, Bramham Park in Yorkshire, "he was an architect of ability."

Date: Circa 1705-10
Designed: House for himself
(Attribution of this work is uncertain)
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Architect: John Wood the Elder

Date of Birth: 1704
Date of Death: 1754
Nationality: English

Date: 1722-24
Designed: Work for Robert Benson, 1st Lord Bingley, probably formal garden layout (Wood published an engraved plan of the garden).
(Attribution of this work is uncertain)
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Architect: Detmar Jellings Blow

Date of Birth: 1867
Date of Death: 1939
Nationality: British

Date: 1906-14
Designed: Restored House for George Fox-Lane, 1st Baron Bingley

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Vitruvius Britannicus: C. II, pls. 81, 82, 1717.

John Preston (J.P.) Neale, published under the title of Views of the Seats of Noblemen and Gentlemen in England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, among other titles: Vol. V, 1822.

Country Life: L, 416, 448, 1921. Feb 20 & 27, 1958. Jun 12 & 19, 1958.
Title: Biographical Dictionary of British Architects, 1600-1840, A - HARDBACK
Author: Colvin, Howard
Year Published: 2008
Reference: pgs. 120, 229, 770, 771, 1142
Publisher: New Haven: Yale University Press
ISBN: 9780300125085
Book Type: Hardback

Title: Life and Works of John Carr of York, The
Author: Wragg, Brian; Worsley, Giles (Editor)
Year Published: 2000
Reference: pg. 197
Publisher: York: Oblong Creative Ltd.
ISBN: 0953657418
Book Type: Softback
House Listed: Grade I

Park Listed: Grade I
"In Loving Memory" (1969-86? - TV series). "The Dick Francis Thriller: The Racing Game" (1979 - TV series, episode 1.4, "Horses for Courses," as David Chetwyn's mansion). "Stay Lucky" (1989 - TV series, episode 1.2, "The Howling," and episode 1.3, "Fool's Gold," as High Dell, Lord and Lady Winderscale's mansion). "Lost in Austen" (2008 - TV mini series, as Netherfield Park, Meryton village, the Darcy pond scene, and as Longbourn, for which Biggin House was used). "1920" (2008 - Indian production). "Wuthering Heights" (2009 - TV mini series). "The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister" (2010 - TV movie). "Victoria" (2016 - TV series). "Gentleman Jack" (2019-21 - TV series, as exterior of Skelfer House).
Current Seat / Home of: Nick and Rachel Lane-Fox; Lane-Fox family here for 300 years.

Past Seat / Home of: Robert Benson, 1st Lord Bingley (first creation), 18th century. George Fox-Lane, 1st Baron Bingley (second creation), until 1773; George Richard Lane-Fox, 1st Baron Bingley (third creation), 20th century.

Current Ownership Type: Individual / Family Trust

Primary Current Ownership Use: Private Home
House Open to Public: By Appointment
Phone: 01937-846-000

Fax: 01937-846-007

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://www.bramhampark.co.uk/

Historic Houses Member: Yes

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