Photo source: Michael D Beckwith, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Harewood House is a Grade I listed stately home in West Yorkshire, and a member of Historic Houses. Read about its history, architecture and gardens, plus how to visit and what's nearby.
About Harewood House
Harewood House stands above the Wharfe valley in West Yorkshire, built between 1759 and 1771 for Edwin Lascelles by architect John Carr.
The interiors were designed by Robert Adam and furnished with pieces commissioned from Thomas Chippendale, who was born nearby in Otley.
The house holds a significant art collection and fine Chinese and French porcelain.
The landscape, laid out by Capability Brown, covers about 1,000 acres, including some 100 acres of gardens, with later terraces added by Sir Charles Barry.
The Lascelles family's wealth came substantially from Caribbean sugar plantations and enslaved labour, a history the house now addresses directly in its galleries.
Harewood House Trust cares for the property.
Read more on WikipediaHistory of Harewood House
Edwin Lascelles commissioned the house from architect John Carr, with Robert Adam designing the interiors and Capability Brown laying out the parkland. The Lascelles family's fortune came substantially from Caribbean sugar plantations and enslaved labour, a history the house now addresses directly in its galleries. Princess Mary, Countess of Harewood, lived at the house from 1929 until her death in 1965, and the house is now managed by the Harewood House Trust.
Architecture of Harewood House
The house is a Palladian design by John Carr of York, with state rooms fitted out by Robert Adam and furnished with pieces commissioned from Thomas Chippendale, who was born nearby in Otley.
Worth knowing
Princess Mary, the only daughter of George V, lived at Harewood for over three decades.
Gardens & grounds at Harewood House
The grounds include woodland and a lake laid out by Capability Brown, with terraces added later by Sir Charles Barry in the 1840s.
Facilities
Plan your visit to Harewood House
Nearest station: Weeton Rail Station (2.8 miles)
Open seasonally; generally 7 days a week end of March to start of January, and Friday-Sunday during winter weekends mid-January to mid-March; check official website for specific dates.
Places to visit near Harewood House
All Saints' Church, Harewood
View All Saints' Church, Harewood on heritage mapSt Mary's Church, Stainburn
View St Mary's Church, Stainburn on heritage mapSpofforth Castle
View Spofforth Castle on heritage mapHistoric places nearby
Within 5 miles of Harewood House there are 2 historic properties, including 2 churchs.
Within 10 miles of Harewood House there are 10 historic properties, including 4 churchs, 4 historic houses and 2 castles, across Historic Houses, Churches Conservation Trust and English Heritage sites.
Within 20 miles of Harewood House there are 36 historic properties, including 11 historic buildings, 10 churchs and 10 historic houses, across Historic Houses, Churches Conservation Trust and English Heritage sites.
Facts
A Chippendale-furnished treasure house that is now openly reckoning with the Caribbean plantation wealth that built it.
- Type
- stately home
- Location
- West Yorkshire, England
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