A circa 1895 photo of the House
Built / Designed For: Rebuilt for Sir Hugh Smithson, who probably designed the House himself.
House & Family History: In 1921 the 8th Duke of Northumberland took the decision to sell his Yorkshire estates, including Stanwick Park. In 1922 there was a major auction of all the land and farms of the Stanwick Park Estate, as well as the remaining furniture in the House. The House was sold to Tim Place of Northallerton, a timber merchant, who, in 1923, passed what remained of Stanwick onto Tom Willoughby, also of Northallerton, for demolition. In 1921 one of the rooms (and possibly more) from the Georgian section of the House were sold to the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. The MIA opened the Stanwick Room to the public in 1932 and furnished it with contemporary 18th century furniture, possibly from Stanwick itself. The room was called the Blue Bedroom in the 18th century and the Duchess's Bedroom in the 19th century. It's also possible that the MIA room(s) did not come from Stanwick at all, considering the convoluted and sometimes unethical trade in period rooms that took place in the early 20th century. The House's interiors featured some of the first examples in Yorkshire of the Rococo style; the Dining Room ceiling was copied from Chiswick House.
Garden & Outbuildings: In the late 19th century Stanwick was noted for its greenhouses that grew exotic fruits such as peaches, figs, bananas, grapes, and the Stanwick nectarine.
Architect: Thomas Rickman
Date: 1830-31Architect: Daniel Garrett
Date: Circa 1739-40Architect: Decimus Burton
Date: Circa 1839Country Life: Feb 17, 1900.
Title: Biographical Dictionary of British Architects, 1600-1840, A - HARDBACK
Author: Colvin, Howard
Year Published: 2008
Reference: pgs. 202, 411, 868
Publisher: New Haven: Yale University Press
ISBN: 9780300125085
Book Type: Hardback
Title: Walford's County Families of the United Kingdom, 1914
Author: NA
Year Published: 1914
Reference: pg. 900
Publisher: London: Spottiswoode & Co.
ISBN: NA
Book Type: Hardback
Title: England's Lost Houses From the Archives of Country Life
Author: Worsley, Giles
Year Published: 2002
Reference: pg. 9
Publisher: London: Aurum Press
ISBN: 1854108204
Book Type: Hardback
House Listed: Demolished
Park Listed: Not Listed
Past Seat / Home of: Sir Hugh Smithson, later 18th Earl of Northumberland and 1st Duke of Northumberland, 18th century; Lord Prudhoe, later 4th Duke of Northumberland, 19th century; Eleanor Percy, Duchess of Northumberland, until 1911.
Current Ownership Type: Demolished
Primary Current Ownership Use: Demolished
House Open to Public: No
Historic Houses Member: No