Background Information
Brodsworth Hall was built in the early 1860s in the Italianate style much favoured by Queen Victoria at Osborne House, though furnished on a more comfortable and domestic scale. Much of its original scheme survives today, making it one of England's most unaltered Victorian country houses. The gardens, a collection of 'grand gardens in miniature', have been restored to their Victorian splendour, reflecting the desires and aspirations of Victorian country gentry.
Brodsworth's creator was Charles Sabine Augustus Thellusson, whose family devoted themselves to yachting and horse racing, among other sporting pursuits. Alongside the abandoned tennis racquets and sports equipment of so many past inhabitants are the impressive billiards room and proud displays of sporting success, including the magnificent silver Goodwood Cup, won by a family racehorse in 1835.
The house was occupied in unbroken succession for 130 years by members of the Thellusson family and their accumulated possessions, a factor which lends it special charm. The last resident, the indomitable Mrs Sylvia Grant-Dalton, fought a losing battle against subsidence and leaking roofs for 56 years. Following her death in 1988 and English Heritage's acquisition of the hall in 1990, the bold, but highly successful, decision was made to conserve the interiors 'as found' rather than replacing or restoring them, recounting the tale of how a once opulent Victorian house grew comfortably old and inviting to all.
The gardens, a series of 'grand gardens in miniature', have been substantially restored since English Heritage took over management of the property in 1990. They are now a fine example of 1860s 'gardening book' design.
Restoration work continues to reveal new features, along with vistas last enjoyed before World War I. The original focus of the formal garden, the threetiered Italian marble 'Dolphin Fountain', now flows again for the first time in living memory.
The flower garden displays a fine selection of period bedding plants, and the romantic views from the restored summerhouse take in both the formal gardens and the pleasure grounds. Of special interest are the restored woodland garden, the statue walks and the fern dell, planted with unusual specimens. There is also a new collection of species roses in the newly developed Rose Dell. The gardens at Brodsworth Hall are a delight in any season, but here are our suggested dates for enjoying the best of the collections. Please bear in mind that exact display times are subject to seasonal variation.
Feb/Mar 180,000 snowdrops and 36 varieties of daffodil.
Apr At least 5,000 tulips form the backbone of the Spring bedding design.
May Laburnum Arch in flower.
May/June Over 100 varieties of historic rose and the extensive geranium collection are at their best.
July Summer bedding around the fountain; 250 varieties of ferns at their best.
Sep-Oct Ornamental trees display their Autumn colours.
Oct The magnificently restored gardens are illuminated to become a place of wonder and enchantment.
Nov-Jan Tightly clipped evergreens in all shapes and sizes provide shelter for wildlife and a bracing Winter walk.
Sundays during summer - enjoy the gardens in the company of some of the best of Yorkshire's brass bands.
Mobility around the site Visitors please note that prams and back carriers for babies are not allowed in the fragile interiors of the hall. Small padded pushchairs and slings are available instead. For visitors with mobility needs, a six-seater electric buggy now operates a shuttle service from the car parks. The smooth paths and benches throughout the gardens enable visitors to rest and enjoy the atmosphere, although some steps and steep slopes limit access to parts of the garden. The hall is accessed by ramps and has seats along the route for visitors to use, many handrails and a lift to enable visitors to enjoy the first floor.
For families There are special activities throughout the Hall and Gardens to help keep children interested along the way, as well as a new adventure playground to keep them entertained outdoors.
Enchanted Garden and Summer Concerts On summer Sunday afternoons, enjoy the best of Yorkshire's Brass Bands in the garden. Concerts from 3pm (weather permitting). Please telephone for confirmation.
From 24 October - 2 November, visit The Enchanted Garden: a sublime night-time experience. The magnificent gardens are illuminated each night from 6.30pm-8.30pm to become a place of wonder and enchantment. The shop will be open and refreshments available on these special evening openings. Please note there is no access to the Hall itself. Tickets available via Customer Services in advance (at a discounted price) or on the night.
New for 2008: Four new rooms in the Hall will be opened to the public in 2008, including 'Emily's Kitchen' or the 'Still Room', originally used for making jams, custards and preserves. The scullery can also be viewed, along with two further bedrooms on the first floor. In the gardens, a new Alpine garden will be planted with species fashionable during the Victorian period.
These new additions, coupled with the Work and Play exhibition and garden trail recently introduced, will make your visit to this amazing Victorian country house - effectively frozen in time - even more absorbing. The exhibition features recorded memories and original photographs, capturing glimpses of the private lives of the people who lived on the estate - the family, the servants and the workers.
