Doddington Hall, Lincolnshire

For the house with a similar name in Cheshire, see Doddington Hall, Cheshire.

Coordinates: 53°13′08″N 0°39′14″W / 53.219°N 0.654°W / 53.219; -0.654

Doddington Hall
Doddington Hall
Doddington Hall  Doddington Hall shown within Lincolnshire
OS grid reference	SK 89969 70010
Unitary authority	North Kesteven
Ceremonial county	Lincolnshire
Region	East Midlands
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	Lincoln
Postcode district	LN6
Dialling code	01522
Police	Lincolnshire
Fire	Lincolnshire
Ambulance	East Midlands
EU Parliament	East Midlands
UK Parliament	Sleaford and North Hykeham (UK Parliament constituency)
List of places: UK • England • Lincolnshire

Doddington Hall is an Elizabethan mansion complete with walled courtyards and a gabled gatehouse. It is located in the village of Doddington near the city of Lincoln in Lincolnshire, England.

History

Doddington Hall was built between 1593 and 1600 by Robert Smythson for Thomas Tailor, who was the registrar to the Bishop of Lincoln. It is a grade I listed building.^[1] In the 12th century the manor of Doddington was owned by the Pigot family who sold it to Sir Thomas Burgh in 1450, and eventually to John Savile of Howley, Leeds. In 1593, he sold the manor house to Thomas Tailor who commissioned the present house. It was inherited by his son, and then his granddaughter Elizabeth Anton who married Sir Edward Hussey of Honington. Their son Sir Thomas Hussey inherited in 1658. Sir Thomas' three daughters were his co-heiresses when he died in 1706. Mrs Sarah Apreece was the surviving heiress and on her death in 1749, her daughter Rhoda, wife of Captain Francis Blake Deleval of Seaton Deleval, Northumbria, inherited. It then passed to her second son, Sir John Hussey-Deleval and he had improvements made to the Hall in 1761 by Thomas and William Lumby of Lincoln. Johns younger brother Edward inherited in 1808, and his daughter, Mrs Sarah Gunman, who inherited on her father's death in 1814, left the Hall to Lieutenant Colonel George Jarvis in 1829. On his death it passed to his cousin the Rev Robert Eden Cole, and it remains in private ownership today. In the mid 20th century the Hall was restored by Laurence Bond and Francis Johnston.^[2]

Temple of the Winds

The Hall's contents, including textiles, ceramics, porcelain, furniture and pictures, reflect 400 years of unbroken family occupation. It is surrounded by 6 acres (24,000 m²) of walled and wild gardens with flowering from early spring until autumn.

The Hall and Gardens are open to the public, with facilities for private tours and school visits. A temple designed by Anthony Jarvis in 1973 stands in the gardens.^[2] Summer concerts and occasional exhibitions are held in the Long Gallery. Other businesses have been developed on the estate such as the sale of Christmas trees, weddings and a farm shop selling local produce.^{[3][non-primary source needed]}

West Garden

The Doddington tapestries

In 1762, Sir John Hussey Delaval covered every inch of the Holly Room – even the back of the doors – with tapestries showing country scenes. The tapestries were made in Flanders in the early 17th Century. The Doddington tapestries are now considered rare.^{[3][not in citation given]}

Ghosts

Doddington Hall is supposedly haunted by the Brown Lady,^{[says who?]} who appears to new brides staying there. She manifests herself in one of the bedrooms and will smile at the new couple before disappearing.^{[citation needed]}

There is a re-enactment of an incident in the hall's history. A girl threw herself from the roof whilst being pursued by a lustful squire. It is alleged^{[by whom?]} that this scene is replayed every autumn when her ghost screams in terror as it falls from the roof.^[4]

References

1. ^ "Doddington Hall". National Heritage List for England. English Heritage. http://list.english-heritage.org.uk/resultsingle.aspx?uid=1164612. Retrieved 6 August 2011. 
2. ^ ^{a b} "Doddington Hall". National Heritage List for England. English Heritage. http://list.english-heritage.org.uk/resultsingle.aspx?uid=1000975. Retrieved 6 August 2011. 
3. ^ ^{a b} Official website
4. ^ Codd, Daniel. Haunted Lincolnshire. Tempus Publishing Ltd (2006). p.28. ISBN 0 7524 3817 4

External links

• Official site