Brodsworth Hall
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Brodsworth Hall, situated 5 miles to the North West of Doncaster, in South Yorkshire in the United Kingdom, is one of the most complete surviving examples of a Victorian Country House in England, and remains virtually unchanged since the 1860's. It was designed by an Italian architect Chevalier Casentini.
There are over 30 rooms, ranging from grand reception rooms with their original furnishings, right through to the servants quarters. The house sits within Victorian period gardens which are used for special events throughout the summer.
Brodsworth was originally a grand residence for its owner Charles Sabine Augustus Thellusson, who inherited the estate in 1859.
After the First World War spiralling costs meant that parts of the House were gradually closed down, and started to fall into decay, until English Heritage took over the Hall.
The last actual resident of the house was was Sylvia Grant-Dalton (decendant of Charles Sabine Augustus Thellusson), who fought a losing battle against subsidence and leaking roofs for 56 years. Costs began to mount. Following her death in 1988, English Heritage then made the bold but highly successful decision to conserve the interiors 'as found' rather than replacing or restoring them, recounting the tale of how a once opulent Victorian house grew comfortably old and inviting to all. They took the decision to conserve rather than restore the house.
The family and their decendants still live within the grounds in another house that was built later.
The superb model village of Woodlands is nearby. Woodlands was originally built for the miners at Brodsworth Colliery.
[edit] External links
Information from English Heritage:
