Duncombe Hall Helmsley North Yorkshire
Duncombe Park is an impressive early-18th century house set in landscaped gardens and surrounded parkland. In 1695 the Helmsley estate with its medieval castle was purchased by Sir Charles Duncombe, a wealthy London banker. After Sir Charles' death, his nephew and co-heir, Thomas Dunscombe, commissioned the amateur architect William Wakefield of Huby Hall to build new house on the estate. The site, some distance from the old castle, was chosen for its scenic potential. To the east of the house a grass terrace was laid out overlooking the River Rye and the countryside beyond, probably by Charles Bridgeman. Circular classical temples, dated 1730, were set at either end of the terrace, the terrace is considered to be one of the finest achievements of English 18th century landscaping. In 1758 Thomas Duncombe's grandson created another terrace with temples overlooking the Rievaulx Abbey, then part of the Helmsley estate. Although the 18th century landscape at Duncombe Park has been well-preserved, the house has seen many changes. In 1826 Charles Duncombe, the great-grandson of the original builder, was became Lord Feversham. His son, the 2nd Lord, commissioned Charles Barry to add detached service blocks to the house. These blocks, built in 1843, flank the entrance forecourt to the west. During this period a conservatory was built in the woodland to the south and Nesfield created a formal parterre to the east of the house. In 1879 a fire caused serious damage to the building but in 1891 - 94 the house was rebuilt by the Scottish architect William Young. The building was later abandoned by the family when it was leased out as a girls school in 1924. At the end of the 20th century the 6th Lord Feversham reoccupied and restored the family home. He reintroduced some of the paintings originally in the house and commissioned new pieces of furniture to add to the few items that remained before the house was turned into a school. The classical features of the house show tha
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Photo credit: © Mike Kipling Photography / Alamy / Afripics
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Keywords: architecture, baroque, calssical, england, feversham, gates, helmsley, home, italianate, mikekiplingcom, ryedale, stately, tourism, travel, vanbrugh, yorkshire
