Newby Hall Gardens open to visitors
Newby Hall in North Yorkshire, one of the country’s most famous horticultural landmarks, has opened the gardens to visitors for the first time this year following the Covid19 pandemic. Newby Hall is currently holder of the Historic Houses Garden of the Year title and should have opened in April 2020, but lockdown started before the gates could open.
Owners Richard and Lucinda Compton, aided by the head gardener, Phil Cormie, have worked through the two-month closure, mowing grass, planting and watering the 25 acres of gardens, to ensure that they are looking their finest and early summer best.
Strict measures are in place to ensure visitor and staff safety and in order to manage the number of visitors each day, visitors must book via the online ticket booking system. Safety information is given to visitors at the start of their visit to ensure social distancing and additional toilets have been opened in the gardens and there is a rigorous hygiene regime for all outdoor areas. Staff at the visitor entrance are protected by plastic screens as are the team at the onsite café which will be providing take-away refreshments.
“It is an overwhelming feeling of relief to see visitors back enjoying the gardens,” said Richard Compton. “Visitors, and the essential income they bring, allow us to maintain the house and gardens for future generations of visitors to enjoy. It is wonderful to see people coming through the gates at Newby again.”
Stuart Gill, Commercial Director, said: “The lockdown period frustratingly coincided with the sunniest ever May but we’re delighted that the easing of the lockdown measures has allowed us finally to open the gardens. We hope that the playground, railway, restaurant, exhibitions and house tours can open soon too.”
Newby Hall is one of Britain’s finest Adam Houses, built in the 1690s by Sir Christopher Wren. It was later enlarged and adapted by John Carr and subsequently Robert Adam. It was crowned Historic Houses Garden of the Year in 2019, marking the first time the award was by online public vote that saw Newby Hall scooping nearly a third of the votes.
Visitors should note that at the time of writing (June 2020) the Hall, playground, railway, dancing water jets, restaurant and all exhibitions remain closed until allowed to fully reopen.
You can book tickets to visit Newby Hall and also check out the latest news on opening arrangements for various parts of the estate by visiting: www.newbyhall.com
