Scampston Hall
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Scampston Hall is a mainly Regency country house in North Yorkshire, England, with a serpentine park designed by Charles Bridgeman and Capability Brown. It is located on the north side of the A64 Leeds/Scarborough road, 4 miles (6 km) east of Malton, in Scampston village, whose name was variously written in ancient documents, Scamestun, Skameston, Skameston, and Skampston, and which was probably been derived from a personal name.
Scampston is a handsome mansion, situated in an extensive and well-wooded park, whose beauty is enhanced by a rivulet that flows through it and expands into a broad sheet of water before the house. The ancient and honourable family of St. Quintin take their name from the town of St. Quintin in Normandy. One of them, Sir Herbert St. Quintin, accompanied William the Conqueror to England, and fought at the Battle of Hastings. He received large grants of land in Yorkshire and settled at Harpham, which continued to be the chief residence of the family till their removal to Scampston. In 1641, Sir William St. Quintin, Knt., was created a baronet by Charles I, but the baronetcy expired on the death of another Sir William, without issue in 1795. He was succeeded by his nephew, William Thomas Darby, Esq., who assumed the surname and arms of St. Quintin, and was the grandfather of William Herbert St. Quintin. Scampston Hall has remained in the Ledgard family since it was built towards the end of the 17th century. The Hall was extensively remodelled in 1801 by the architect Thomas Leverton, in the Regency style, and with fine Regency interiors.
The serpentine park of about 1.7 square kilometres was laid out first by Charles Bridgeman and later by Lancelot "Capability" Brown in 1772, when it was executed by Sir William St. Quintin and estate staff. It includes an unusual "Bridge Building," concealing the end of the water, with Ionic columns that overlook the water and a sold wall closing the view.
Wildlife have abounded at Scampston Hall, including a large Deer herd up until World War II. The Deer Keepers Lodge is now known as The Deer park. Arthur F. Moody's Water-Fowl and Game-Birds in Captivity; Some Notes on Habits & Management (H. F. & G. Witherby, 326 High Holborn, London, W. C.) relates in detail the experience of the bird-keeper for Scampston's grounds in the years of William Herbert St. Quintin. The various chapters treat of Herons, Geese, Swans, Ducks, Sand-Grouse, Pheasants, Turkeys, Megapodes, Partridges,Quail, Grouse, Rails, Cranes, Bustards, Plover, Sandpipers, etc.
Scampston's new 4 acre (16,000 m²) Walled Garden opened in May 2004. It is a modern garden, designed by Piet Oudolf, with a long border walk, under an avenue of 200 lime trees, around the perimeter wall with mainly spring flowering shrubs and under planting. The central area is divided into a series of large rooms, each with its clearly defined character, but with the main focus of a perennial flower meadow. Other areas feature structural shapes of clipped box and yew, waves of different grasses in parallel with close mown lawn, herbaceous borders, and a reflective pond surrounded by columns of yew. A grassy pyramid 3m high provides a vantage point from which to view the garden.
