Welcome to Stately Homes

The thirty acres of magnificent landscaped grounds are Belsay`s particular glory, and are deservedly listed Grade I in the Register of Gardens. They are largely the work of two members of the Middleton family, Sir Charles Monck (1779-1867) and his grandson Sir Arthur Middleton (1838-1933).

Especially fine are the quarry garden and the Cragwood Walk where Sir Charles Monck, who also built the present hall, introduced many rare and fine specimens. Succeeding generations extended the quarry and added to its planting. They made a green gorge, its sheer walls hung with exotic plants and the floor dotted with ferns. It is an adventure in itself to explore its paths and shady corners. Rhododendrons, among Belsay`s great delights, grow in the quarry - some can be found flowering as early as November - as well as in the woodland and rhododendron gardens created later in the 19th century.

These wilder areas are separated from the more formal terraces at the front of the Hall, with their beds of roses, lilies, lavender and other plants. English Heritage has made great efforts to return Belsay`s gardens, which suffered from neglect after World War II, to their former state, to complement the great house.

Sir Charles Monck built the Hall to his own designs in 1810 after studying Greek architecture. It resembles a Greek temple, raised on a podium with giant columns at the entrance and pilasters on the walls. The beautiful honey-coloured stone from which the house is built came from its own quarries which became the garden. A castle, built in the 14th century, preceded the house , with a new range attached in 1614. The family moved into the New Hall in 1817.

Opening Times - 2010:

1st - 18th April 2010: daily, 10 am - 6 pm
1st May 2010 - 26th September 2010: daily, 10 am - 6 pm
October 2010: daily, 10 am - 4 pm
1st November 2010 - 23rd & 27th - 31st December 2010: daily, 10 am - 4 pm
2nd January 2011 - 31st March 2011: daily, 10 am - 4 pm
Open Feburary Half Term for Snowdrop Displays
Open Bank Holidays.

Addmission Prices - 2010:

Adult - £8
Children - £4
Concession - £6.80
Family - £20

15% discount - groups (11+).

More information on the garden can be found on The Gardens Guide.