Normanby Hall

The house, designed by Sir Robert Smirke is set in 300 acres of beautiful parkland, woodland, deerpark and gardens, so return to the elegance of a more leisurely era in the beautiful Regency Hall and learn about Lincolnshire's rich rural heritage in the fascinating Farm Museum. Step back in time in the award winning Victorian Walled Garden and stroll through the beautiful Pleasure Grounds with their stunning herbaceous borders. Enjoy the extensive woodland with its wealth of wildlife, or walk through the Deer Park with its herds of Red and Fallow Deer.

There are self-guided nature trails which allow visitors to enjoy the park throughout its constantly changing seasons. Younger children will enjoy watching the ducks and peacocks or playing in the adventure playground. On most Sundays, they can ride on the newly extended miniature railway, or take part in a free Crafty Kids workshop in the Farm Museum.

Once the Dukes of Buckingham and owners of Buckingham Palace, the Sheffield family built Normanby Hall as their country seat with entertaining in mind; designed in 1825 the beauty and grandeur of the hall still impresses guests. Easily accessible for all visitors, it is only five miles from Scunthorpe and just 10 minutes from the M180 and the Humber Bridge.

Farming Museum:

Where else can you find a needle in a haystack, man traps and laying out boards for the dead? These are just a few of the unusual, not to mention downright bizarre, items you can see in the Farming Museum at Normanby Hall. The Farming Museum is a fascinating microcosm of North Lincolnshire's rural past. Large scale agricultural machinery like binders and reapers are on display here. But you'll also find smaller items like fiddle drills and carding machines for horse hair.

You can discover how people lived in the re-creation of a farm worker's kitchen, and see amongst many other displays, a wheelwright and coffin maker's workshop, a blacksmiths and a saddlers. Their knowledgeable and friendly staff are always on hand to give additional information and guided tours. The Farming Museum is fully accessible to all visitors.

The Victorian Walled Garden:

The Victorian Walled Garden, first built in 1817, was restored and opened to the public in 1997. It is the only totally period-correct Victorian walled garden in Britain. Everything grown in the garden dates from 1901 or earlier. The gardeners use nineteenth century techniques wherever possible. Glasshouses line the one acre garden on its warmest, south-facing wall. The remainder is divided into four large vegetable plots by broad gravel paths. Victorian varieties of vegetables are grown throughout the season.

Double herbaceous borders line the central pathway. It is also spanned by wrought iron hoops supporting roses, clematis and honeysuckle span the pathway. Trained apples and pears grow on the hoops over the main crossing path, and also on the garden walls.

For more information about visiting Normanby Hall and all its other facilities, do visit their website.