Swinton Park

Swinton Park is the ancestral home of the Cunliffe-Lister family in Swinton by Masham, North Yorkshire, England, and is set in 200 acres of parkland, lakes and gardens. Currently operating as a 30-bedroom hotel, it is surrounded by the family estate in which guests have access to rivers, reservoirs, moorland, dales, and beautiful countryside bordering the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

History of Swinton Park

The construction at Swinton Park was commenced in 1695 by Sir Abstrupus Danby. His successors built the stable block and gatehouse and, during the 1760s, planted the parkland and created the chain of five lakes.

During the early 1800s the building was substantially altered, and two story west and north wings were added. A few years later the museum, which has since become a family chapel, was built. At the same time a tower, turrets and battlements were added, so that the building took on the appearance of a castle.

The earliest record of the gardens dates from one laid out in 1699 to a design by George London, with fountains added a few years later. This was probably swept away by William Danby during his landscaping programme in the 1760s. In the next years five lakes were dug out, and during the 1880s a stone bridge was built at Coffin Pond. The parkland supports a herd of approximately 100 fallow deer.

The castle was bought by Cunliffe-Lister in 1882, who added a third floor and enlarged the dining room. Samuel's granddaughter Molly and her husband Philip came to live at Swinton in 1924 and took the name of Cunliffe-Lister.

Philip was later created Viscount Swinton in 1935 and the 1st Earl of Swinton in 1955. During World War II Harrogate Ladies College occupied part of the premises. In 1974 Molly died, and the castle was sold in 1980.

From 1976 to 1998, the castle was occupied by the Lindley Educational Trust. Mark Cunliffe-Lister, the great-grandson of Molly, along with his mother, brother and sister, bought back the castle in May 2000. On 17 June 2000 Mark and Felicity (the current Baron and Baroness Masham) married. After their honeymoon they moved to Swinton and set up the family business here. The 30 bedroom luxury castle hotel was opened in 2001, having undergone extensive refurbishment.

Currently Swinton Park is the highest rated hotel in Yorkshire and Cumbria; it has been awarded four Red Stars and three Rosettes by the AA for excellent facilities.

References

* [http://www.swintonpark.com/index.html Swinton Park]
* [http://travel.syl.com/meetrosemaryshrageratalentedandenthusiasticchefatswintonparkcookeryschool.html Swinton Park Culinary School Information]