Built / Designed For: Sir Peter Byrne Leicester

House & Family History: John ''Carr of York'' Carr designed Tabley in the 1760s for Sir Peter Byrne Leicester, Bt. (the Leicester family were here for over 700 years). Henry Thompson, James Ward, and J.M.W. Turner were among the many artists who stayed and painted at Tabley.

Collections: The 1st Lord de Tabley (Sir John Fleming Leicester) is considered to have been the first great collector and patron of British paintings; he assembled a great collection at Tabley and his London home during the first decade of the 19th century, with the ultimate goal of establishing a national gallery of British art. Lord de Tabley was the son of Sir Peter, the builder of Tabley. The collection at Tabley today includes works by Lawrence, Dobson, Lely, Reynolds, Fuseli, Cotes, Northcote, Callcott, and Martin.

Comments: Peter de Figueiredo called Tabley "the finest Palladian house in the North West of England."

Chapel & Church: St. Peter's Chapel, originally built on an island in the Tabley Moat in 1678, was moved on its present site, adjacent to the House, in 1927.

Vitruvius Britannicus: C. V, pls. 16-19, 1771.

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: 2.S. Vol. V, 1829.

Country Life: LIV, 84 plan, 114, 1923.

House Listed: Grade I

Park Listed: Grade II

Past Seat / Home of: Sir Peter Byrne Leicester, 18th century; Sir John Fleming Leicester, later Lord de Tabley, 18th century; Leicester-Warren family here for 700 years.

Current Ownership Type: School

Primary Current Ownership Use: Mixed Use

Ownership Details: Owned by the University of Manchester; state rooms are open to the public.

House Open to Public: Yes

Phone: 01565-750-151

Fax: 01565-653-230

Email: [email protected]

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

Historic Houses Member: No