Lyme Park

Lyme Park is an estate and park near Disley, in the county of Cheshire, England. [http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-lymepark Details from the National Trust] ] The principal feature of the park is "Lyme Hall", an Elizabethan manor house resembling an Italianate palazzo. It is a Grade I listed building. [http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?pid=1&id=406869 Images of England] , accessed 17 July 2007]

Overview

Lyme was granted to the first Piers Legh and his wife Margaret by Richard II in 1398, as a reward for heroic deeds in battle, [http://www.theheritagetrail.co.uk/stately%20homes/lyme%20park.htm The Heritage Trail] ] and by the 16th century the Leghs had made Lyme their main home. [ [http://www.dicamillocompanion.com/Houses_hgpm.asp?ID=1314 The Database of Houses] ] Over the next two centuries, the estate was developed further with Sir Piers Legh VII instigating an extensive rebuilding programme, and the rebuilding and renovation was continued by successive generations. In the 1720s, the Venetian architect Giacomo Leoni transformed the Tudor hall to resemble an Italianate palazzo, but despite its outer appearance, the inside of the hall was left relatively unaltered. [ [http://www.britainexpress.com/counties/cheshire/houses/lyme-park.htm Britain Express] .] During the 19th century the building was restored and altered extensively by Lewis Wyatt, who renovated every room in some way, and in 1860 the garden that can be seen today was set out. [http://www.cressbrook.co.uk/visits/lymepark.php Cressbrook] ] By the 20th century the upkeep and maintenance of Lyme had become difficult for the family, and so four years after inheriting the estate in 1942, the 3rd Lord Newton gave Lyme and the surrounding convert|1400|acre|km2 of land to the National Trust in order to secure its future.

History

After Lyme had been given to the Leghs in 1398, a house was built in about 1400, but it was little more than a hunting lodge. It was in the 16th century when Sir Piers VII made Lyme the family's main home, and it was then the current hall was built.

Lyme Park also has connections with the Bank Hall Estate in Bretherton, Lancashire. Bank Hall was home to a branch of the Legh Family and the historic connections can be seen in the architecture of the property by where the Legh Coat of Arms figures are featured across the house that was built in 1608.

The house

From what is now the car park, Lyme is reached by climbing a steep hill. The gate and railings replaced an earlier walled enclosure, of which the gates are now at the park entrance.

The courtyard

The courtyard was designed by Giacomo Leoni in about 1726, and the work was completed by 1734. It was designed to resemble a north Italian palazzo; the piano nobile is held up by Doric pilasters, a set of steps leading to the entrance are to the east, and on the near north side, the partly blocked up doors and windows of the Elizabethan mansion which was being disguised can be seen. Since Leoni, it has changed little, with the exception of Lewis Wyatt's tower on the south side, and the pink and white paving introduced in Edwardian times.

The entrance hall

This room was the creation of Leoni, who built it within the confines of the Elizabethan Great Hall. The fireplace and entrance are intentionally off-centre to disguise the assymmetry of the room. Full length portraits of Edward III and the Black Prince were hung at opposite ends of the room, two individuals to whom the Leghs ultimately owed Lyme. The portrait of the Black Prince survives today, and swings out from the wall to reveal a squint from the drawing room.

The Grounds

Lyme Park has a 6.8-hectare (17 acre) Victorian garden that includes a sunken parterre, an Edwardian rose garden, lake and ravine garden. This garden is enclosed by a medieval deer park with herds of red and fallow deer that cover nearly 566 hectares (1400 acres) of parkland, moorland and woodland. It also contains an 18th century hunting tower called 'The Cage' which is open to the public on select dates. The deer park and formal garden are listed at Grade II* in the National Register of Historic Parks and Gardens. [cite web |url=http://www.york.ac.uk/depts/arch/landscapes/ukpg/sites/lymepark.htm |title=U.K. Database of Historic Parks and Gardens: Lyme Park |accessdate=2008-03-11 |publisher=University of York ]

In popular culture

Lyme Hall was used as the location for "Pemberley", the home of Mr. Darcy, in the 1995 BBC adaptation of Jane Austen's novel "Pride and Prejudice". It was also used as a location for Red Dwarf episode "Timeslides".

References

Bibliography

* Rothwell, James "Lyme Park" (1998) (National Trust)

See also

* Peers Legh
* Giacomo Leoni

External links

* [http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-lymepark/ Lyme Park information at the National Trust]
* [http://www.gardenvisit.com/g/lym.htm Lyme Park — a Gardens Guide review]
* [http://www.360spin.co.uk/portfolio/lymepark.htm 360° view of the south front of the hall]