DiCamillo Companion
England

Hovingham Hall

Hovingham, Ryedale

York

England

Historic County: North Yorkshire

Start Date: 1750

Completion Date: 1774

Pronunciation: HAHN-ING-UM

Status: Fully Extant

House Open to Public: Yes

Country House: Yes

The Garden Facade of the House from an early 20th century postcard

The Garden Facade

The Entrance Facade

The Garden

The Entrance Hall

The Entrance Hall

  • Earlier Houses: There was probably an earlier house on the site of the current house.

    Built / Designed For: Thomas Worsley VI

    House & Family History: The Worsleys are an ancient Yorkshire family who purchased the manor of Hovingham in 1563 and have remained here ever since. The current Hovingham Hall is a Palladian style L-shaped country house built of limestone ashlar; unusually, it was developed around an existing stableblock, which today forms the main entrance. The House was built between 1750 and 1770 by Thomas Worsley VI (1710–78) to his own designs. Worsley was surveyor general to the Board of Works and an amateur gentleman architect who was obsessed with horses, which is why Hovingham has extraordinary stables and a large riding school (where Thomas taught King George III to ride). In 1828 the Worsleys were elevated to a baronetcy by King George IV. The 5th Baronet's younger sister, Katharine Lucy Mary Worsley, became the Duchess of Kent on June 8, 1961, when she married Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, a member of the royal family. The couple got married at York Minster, the first royal marriage there in 633 years. Hovingham was also the childhood home of the noted architectural historian and author Giles Arthington Worsley (1961-2006), whose funeral took place at Hovingham on January 26, 2006.

    Comments: The private cricket ground is believed to be the oldest in England.

  • Garden & Outbuildings: The private cricket pitch in front of the House is believed to be the oldest cricket ground in England. There is a Tuscan temple and ornamental bridge over a waterfall that are both listed Grade II.

  • Architect: Thomas Worsley

    Date: 1750-70
    Designed: House for himself

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  • J.B. Burke: 2.S. Vol. I, p. 133, 1854.

    Country Life: LXII, 884, 920, 1927. CXXIX, 1410, 1961.

  • House Listed: Grade I

    Park Listed: Not Listed

  • Seat of: Sir William Ralph Worsley, 6th Bt.; Worsley family here since 1563.

    Current Ownership Type: Individual / Family Trust

    Primary Current Ownership Use: Private Home

  • House Open to Public: Yes

    Phone: 01653-628-771

    Fax: 01653-628-668

    Email: office@hovingham.co.uk

    Website: http://www.hovingham.co.uk

    Historic Houses Member: Yes

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