Allerton Castle

Allerton Castle, formerly "Allerton Park" is a Grade I listed nineteenth century Gothic or Victorian Gothic house in North Yorkshire, England. It was rebuilt by George Martin in 1843-1853.

It is located ten miles (16 km) east of Harrogate and just east of the A1, at its junction with the A59 York-Knaresborough road. [http://homepage.ntlworld.com/follies/allerton_park.html] [http://www.allertoncastle.co.uk]

Outside is the pleasant St Martin's Church.

History

pre-1786

The Allerton estate belonged to the Mauleverer family from the time of the Norman Conquest. The nearby church of St Martin contains several tomb-monuments to them. When Richard Mauleverer died heirless in 1692, Allerton passed to his wife, who left the estate to Richard Arundell, her son by her second marriage.

Arundell rebuilt the house in the 1740s and in 1745 remodelled the church in a 'Norman Revival' style. The mid-18th century interior of the church remains unaltered to this day.

The "Grand Old Duke of York"

Following Arundell's death in 1758, Allerton passed to Viscount Galway, whose son sold it in 1786 to Prince Frederick, Duke of York, second son of George III and brother of George IV.

Prince Frederick rebuilt the house to designs by Henry Holland, but sold the estate shortly afterwards in 1789.

He also constructed the Temple of Victory which is today visible from the A1 on a convert|200|ft|m|sing=on high hill. According to local legend, the ant-like activity of workers constantly ascending and descending to build this gigantic mound, inspired the famous nursery rhyme concerning the Grand Old Duke of York and his 10,000 men.

1805-1983

The estate changed hands again in 1805 when purchased by the 17th Baron Stourton, the premier baron in England. The Hon Edward Stourton's family owned the house 1805-1983 (the Lords Mowbray). The contents were sold in 1965.

It then became "Stourton House"", and the Catholic peer added a chapel in Gothic style. However, in 1843 his son demolished the Georgian house and engaged George Martin, to build the present house in a Tudor-Gothic style. In 1856 work came to a halt as there was not enough money to complete all the interiors.

The house was used by the Canadian Royal Air Force during World War II and in 1965, after the death of the 22nd Baron Stourton, the family ceased to live at Allerton.

1983-present

In 1983 the house was bought by Dr Gerald Rolph, an American businessman. He purchased the house and part of the park and set about renovating the building to the highest standards, filling the house with furniture and pictures of appropriate scale and splendour.

The estate is now run by the Gerald Arthur Rolph Foundation for Historic Preservation and Education [http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/registeredcharities/showcharity.asp?chyno=517743] and rooms are available to hire for corporate events and weddings.

A severe fire in January 2005 caused substantial damage to the Gothic Wing and the Servants living at the Grade 1 listed Allerton Castle. Restoration work to the Gothic Wing which included the main dining room, library, rear entrance hall, one of the bedrooms and adjoining dressing room and bathroom commenced in the spring of 2006. The restoration work by specialist contractors consisted of substantial repairs to the ornate stonework and windows, the installation of new floors at, first second and attic levels, significant steelwork and a new roof structure to match existing. Electrical, plumbing and heating installations as well as plasterwork were also renewed.

Castle layout

Allerton Castle has 7 principal reception rooms, 45 principal bedrooms, 18 bathrooms, and a chapel. The great hall is 80 feet (24 m) high. It now stands in 6 acres (24,000 m²) grounds, and has a 40,000 square foot (3,700 m²) ground area.

The Great Hall provides a stunning entrance. One of the highest Baronial Halls in England, almost convert|80|ft|m high, adorned by intricately carved oak panelling lit by stained glass windows and with galleried landings whose walls are hung with portraits. The Hall is central and gives access to the elegant Drawing Room, blue and white Ballroom, the Library with original Rosewood bookcases, the Grounds and terraces and the Billiard Room.

A short drive leads past a late-18th century stable-block before the visitor is confronted with the Tudor-Gothic Victorian building. The main block is built of dark coloured stone, with a high tower rising above the entrance porch. The lower brick range to the right houses the Chapel of 1805 and behind are the lower buildings of the service courtyard, dating from the 18th century.

The interior of Allerton was designed on a vast scale, with late-Gothic decoration in the style of Pugin's work on the Palace of Westminster. The early-Victorian craftsmanship and the recent restoration work are of the highest quality.

The galleried Great Hall is almost convert|80|ft|m|abbr=on high and one of the highest baronial halls in England. This room is lit from a huge lantern which rises from the centre of the main block. On the walls are full-length portraits including works by Michael Dahl and William Dobson. The principal staircase opens off the Great Hall, under another vaulted ceiling hung with portraits of the Mowbray and Stourton families.

The Drawing Room has a magnificent plaster ceiling. On the walls are portraits by Michael Dahl and Charles Jervas and vast Rococo mirrors, made for Meton Constable in Norfolk.

The Ballroom, in the west of the house, was left with bare masonry by Lord Mowbray and Stourton, but Dr Rolph has decorated it with a plaster vaulted ceiling.

The Library and Dining Room occupy the north side of the Hall. The Library has its original rosewood book cases, The wallpaper was based on one of Pugin's designs for the Houses of Parliament and the ceiling has recently been repainted in the original colours. The Dining Room is panelled and has stained glass windows with the arms of the Mowbray and Stourton families. On the huge table, original to the house, are candelabra dating from 1848.

On the entrance-side of the house are the Billiard Room, the Music Room ( houses a collection of late-19th and early-20th century automatic musical instruments) and the Morning Room.

A large garage in the service courtyard houses a collection of luxury veteran and vintage cars.

The huge Kitchen Garden is set to one side, surrounded by tall red brick walls. On a knoll to the west of the house is the 'Temple of Victory', a fine octagonal building of Palladian design

External links

* [http://www.allertoncastle.co.uk/ Allerton Castle Official site]

Co-ords 440860 458410 / SE 4085