A Fabulous Day Out At Lyme Hall Park & Gardens!
Situated on the edge of the Peak District close to the town of Disley in Cheshire, youāll find the magnificent Lyme Hall Park & Gardens. The National Trust now manages this wonderful grade-I listed building and estate and makes a wonderful day out!
Read on to find out the history of Lyme Hall Park, how to get there, entrance fees and facilities, and all the wonderful things to do whilst there!
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History Of Lyme Hall Park:
The Legh family owned Lyme Hall Estate for over 600 years. They first came into possession in the 14th century when the land was given to Margaret Legh by her father, Sir Thomas Danyers.
Sir Thomas Danyers was given Lyme estate by the Black Prince (King Edwards IIIās son) for his help in rescuing the Princeās standard during the Battle of CrĆ©cy in 1346.
Margaret Legh married the first Piers Legh in 1388. Sir Piers was favoured by King Richard II, who granted his family a coat of arms in 1397. However, this loyalty resulted in his execution two years later by the king’s rival, Henry Bolingbroke (King Henry IV). His head was thought to have been put on a spike, displayed on the Chester city walls and remained there until the Carmelites of Chester (monks) took it down and interned it with his body in their church.
During the early years, there were another four knights within the Legh dynasty. Sir Peter II died from wounds sustained in the Battle of Agincourt. Sir Peter III was knighted in 1460 by the Duke of York following the Battle of Wakefield (War of the Roses). Sir Piers V was another warrior who later became a priest. Then, finally, Sir Piers VI was wounded at the battle of Flodden Field in 1513.
The first record of a house on the estate dates back to a manuscript from 1465. However, this was demolished to make way for the house you see today. Sir Piers VII was the first to make Lyme a home; he was knighted for his efforts in England’s last attempt to conquer Scotland and later became the High Sheriff of Lancashire.
The Elizabethan house that Sir Piers VII built during the 1570s was L-shaped by design and built using Lymeās pinkish-grey stone from quarries on the estate. This impressive home was undoubtedly viewed with sheer amazement by its many illustrious and distinguished guests of the time.
The house was then extended and refurbished in the 1720s by Peter XII and Venetian architect Giacomo Leoni, who remodelled the Elizabethan house in an Italian Renaissance style. They added the impressive south front with its giant pilasters set between 15 bays. The building felt more dramatic than similar buildings of the time. However, it did resemble the nearby Chatsworth House, from which Peter may have drawn influence.
During the early 1800s, Thomas Legh and architect Lewis Watt made further additions to the house. They extended the dining room, added the library and further developed the entrance hall. One of their more interesting additions was the addition of the āsquintā. A massive portrait of the Black Prince could be swung out from the dining room, allowing people to peer down into the entrance hall below.
Although further decoration and alterations were added in the early 1900s by the Newtons and the Jouberts, only some were happy with the result, and much of it has since been reversed. Therefore, the house you see today is very much the way it would have been seen back in the 1800s.
In 1946 the estate was given to the National Trust by the 3rd Lord Newton to ensure the future of Lyme Park and the estate. However, it was managed by Stockport Council until 1994 when the National Trust took back full control.
Read more: 30 Fabulous things to see & do in Cheshire!
How To Get To Lyme Hall Park:
Address: Disley, Stockport, Cheshire, SK12 2NR
What 3 words: Entrance gate āĀ awaiting.amps.fatter
By Car:
The entrance to Lyme Hall can be found directly off the A6 from Disley. As you enter the estate, you will find the admissions hut; it’s here that you can buy tickets or show your pre-paid tickets or National Trust membership.
The car park can be found 1 mile further down the road, close to the hall’s main entrance.
By public transport:
Bus: The 199 bus service stops on the A6 and runs from Manchester Airport to Buxton. If travelling by bus, please check the TFGM website for up-to-date bus times.
Train: Disley Train Station Ā½ mile from the entrance. Please check the Trainline for up-to-date train times.
By foot or bicycle: Entrance by foot or bicycle can also be made at the main entrance on the A6. A minibus operates seven days a week and can collect pedestrians from the admissions hut and bring them to the house and gardens.
Lyme Hall Park Entrance Costs:
The site is free for those with a National Trust membership, which I definitely recommend buying. Membership gives members free access to over 500 sites throughout England and only costs individuals Ā£6 and couples Ā£10 a month. You can even buy a family pass with either 1 or 2 adults for an extra 50p, with each adult free to include up to five children.
If you donāt have a National Trust membership, then the entrance to Lyme Hall House, Park & Gardens will cost adults Ā£14.30, children Ā£7.15.
Facilities At Lyme Hall Park:
Cafe and picnic spots:
- Youāll find the Timber Yard cafe by the lake near the car park serving a variety of hot and cold drinks, lunches and delicious cakes.
- The Servants Hall call cafe in the courtyard also sells various snacks, delicious cakes and lunches.
- A kiosk at the car park also serves hot drinks and snacks.
- Throughout the grounds, youāll also find picnic benches and lots of grassy places to lay a blanket and enjoy a picnic.
Shops:
Hall Shop: Filled with gifts, souvenirs and other items, including beautiful scarves and bags, books, Pride and Prejudice trinkets and everything for the kitchen. There are many edible treats, from jams and biscuits to fruit wines and local beers.
Timber Yard shop: The place to go for all your outdoor needs. They stock many kidsā toys and adventure kits to inspire young visitors to explore Lyme and beyond, including bug boxes, fishing nets and binoculars. Youāll also find a range of plants, outdoor decorations and gardening tools to peruse.
Pre-loved book shop: Find a hidden gem in this quaint, second-hand book shop.
Toilets:
There are toilet facilities, including accessible toilets, available at Timber Yard or Lyme House
Things To Do At Lyme Hall Park:
Explore The House:
You enter the house via the main entrance in the courtyard. As you enter the grand entrance hall, you will be asked to listen to a short video about the history of the house and estate. Once finished, you are free to wander around the house at your own pace.
Inside the house, you find many beautiful rooms, all decorated as they would have been in the 1800s. Some of my favourites include the dining room, with its stunning views across the formal gardens, and the drawing room, which dates back to around 1580.
Donāt forget to look up as well. Some of the ceilings are stunning!
The Caxton Missal:
The Caxton Missal is the earliest known printed book that bears the stamp of William Caxton, the father of British printing. It was printed in Paris in 1487 and is unique in having belonged to one family for over five centuries. It represents the changing religious views of the country during that period.
Although you can not touch the Missal, you can turn its pages thanks to a digital touch screen version and listen to the pages as they would have been sung 500 years ago!
You will find the Caxton Missal in the newly restored Library.
Take A Walk Through The Formal Gardens:
This 17-acre garden holds a beautiful lake, woodland and a variety of smaller gardens, including The Stables and The Orangery. You will find many formal flower beds, herbaceous borders, rose gardens and rolling lawns.
Originally, these gardens started life as an Elizabethan Knot garden and then gradually grew into the beautiful pleasure grounds you see today.
Over 25,000 bulbs flower every spring, and gorgeous summer blooms may still be seen in October on the east terrace and Italian garden.
Autumn is also a beautiful time to visit Lyme Hall and Gardens; the blooms may have gone, but the beautiful autumn colours showcase the gardens in a completely different light!
Take A Walk To The Cage:
The Cage is usually the first landmark people see when approaching Lyme Hall and Gardens. This unique building sits on top of Cage Hill and was originally built by the warrior priest Sir Piers V in 1524.
The Cage was thought to be used as a hunting lodge or watch tower. However, it was reported that it was also used as a holding prison for poachers awaiting trial in the 17th Century.
The Cage was rebuilt in the 1700s, making it more hospitable and later becoming the home to estate workers.
The walk out to the cage can be a challenge, especially on windy days. However, the views from the top are spectacular! You can see across Manchester and The Peak District on a clear day.
The Cage is usually shut to visitors, but occasionally, it is open to the public. Dates can be found on the website.
Check Out The Deer Park:
Lyme Hall and Gardens has a long hunting history and the red deer you see in the park today are part of the ancient heard.
The deer roam freely around the park. However, they usually stay within the deer sanctuary, where visitors are prohibited. Occasionally, you will find them roaming around other parts of the grounds. If you come across them, give them space and take care not to spook them out. Hinds have been known to lose their calves when stressed, so please treat them respectfully.
You will also find Highland Cattle within the park from April to late autumn. The best places to spot them are Park Moor, Close Hay, Turfhouse Meadow and around Paddock Cottage.
Other Places To Visit Nearby:
- Dunham Massey ā Another beautiful country house where the deer are as friendly as the staff!
- Tatton Park ā Tatton Park is one of my favourite country houses in Cheshire. Explore this beautiful house, its 50 acres of gardens, deer park and animal farm.
- Quarry Bank Mill ā Learn about the history of one of the best-preserved textile factories of the Industrial Revolution.
Final Thoughts
Lyme Hall Park is worth a visit! With beautiful scenery, fascinating historical features and many things to do, it’s the perfect place to spend a day (or afternoon) exploring. So, what are you waiting for? Pack your picnic basket and head on over to Lyme Hall Park!
Thanks so much for stopping by; I appreciate everyone who takes the time to read and make it to the end! I have lots of exciting new content in the next few weeks, so make sure you pop back to catch up!
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Happy travels!
