Built in 1825, Normanby Hall Country Park is a Regency mansion designed by Robert Smirke, and is owned by the Sheffield Family, former Dukes of Buckingham, and the original owners of Buckingham Palace. During the 19th and 20th centuries the Sheffield family resided at Normanby for five months of the year, spending the winter season here pheasant shooting, and entertaining guests over Christmas and the New Year. In the spring, the family would move to London with some of their servants for the ‘coming out season’ and then return to Normanby for a week in June/July en route to their shooting lodge in Scotland where the family would spend the summer. Wherever the family were residing, hampers of fruit and vegetables from the walled garden at Normanby were sent to them, and in return, hampers of laundry were sent back to Normanby for washing. During the First World War the family remained in the house helping to care for the convalescing soldiers. The story of how the Hall was used as an auxiliary hospital during the First World War is told in the ‘Normanby at War’ exhibition on the first floor of the Hall.
The Victorian Walled Garden is a treat for any garden lover. Restored in 1997 to its late Victorian splendour, the garden is a nostalgic journey to the heyday of kitchen gardening. Visit recreations of working and living areas in the potting shed, bothy, and head gardener’s office. Victorian vegetable, flower and trainer fruit varieties are grown using traditional organic techniques. In the glasshouses visitors can see exotic ornamentals and luxury fruits like grapes and peaches. Glasshouses line the one acre garden on its warmest, south facing wall. The remainder is divided in to four large vegetable plots by broad gravel paths. Double herbaceous borders line the central pathway. It is also spanned by wrought iron hoops supporting roses, clematis and honeysuckle. Trained apples and pears grow on the hoops over the main crossing path and also on the garden walls.
The Peach Case is home to fan-trained peaches and nectarines. It also houses our collection of Victorian and scented leaf pelargoniums. In the Vinery, Victorian varieties of grapes grow on a single rod system and on benches there is a good collection of Victorian and species fuchsias. Tender vegetables, like tomatoes and aubergines, grow in the beds and on the rear wall are passionflowers and the beautiful Clematis Florida 'Alba'. Outside the Vinery in summer there is a superb sub-tropical bedding display with cannas, palms, dahlias and caster oil plants, among many other species. In the Fern House there are displays of tender ferns and orchids. The Display House is home to exotic ornamentals from all over the world, many of them rare.
With a well stocked lake that is open from 1 January to 30 September, Normanby is the perfect venue for fishing enthusiasts. The lake is open from 9am until the park closes. With level banks and a platform, the lake is especially suited to teaching children to fish. The lake has 20 pegs and is teeming with a variety of fish species. Current fish stocks include: Carp (Mirror and Common, up to 20lb), Roach, Rudd, Bream, Ide, Tench (up to 7lb) and Perch (up to 4lb). Day fishing tickets cost £5 per adult and £4 per child. Rural North Lincolnshire comes to life in re-creations of a farm worker’s kitchen and backyard, and a saddler’s and blacksmith’s workshop. Old farm machinery and transport tell the story of how the land was worked between 1850 and 1950.
They have recently installed paths through the woodland so that it is easier to access for those in wheelchairs or pushing buggies. They have two adapted bicycles available to hire free of charge in the park (for wheelchair users). The land train has also been modified to make it wheelchair accessible. The land train runs at weekends throughout the summer season, and during school holidays (weather dependent). Assistance dogs are welcome. The Hall has one scooter and two wheelchairs that are available to hire free of charge. The Hall has a ramp that can be put on the main entrance steps that allows wheelchair access. The ground floor is accessible to all visitors. Unfortunately the only access to the first floor is via the main staircase. This staircase has a banister, but it is quite a steep staircase with 31 steps. A taped tour of the Hall is specially designed for visually impaired visitors and is available for loan upon request. Please ask for this as you enter the Hall. The Farming Museum is fully accessible due to a lift that provides first floor access. Once a range of kennels, the toilet block is situated in the main carpark area. Facilities include ladies and gents toilets, a wheelchair accessible toilet, as well as baby changing and toddler cubicles.
Throughout the summer season the park charges a single admission price. This charge includes car parking and entry to the Park, the Hall, the Walled Garden, the Farming Museum and the Costume Gallery. The three hundred acres of parkland and woodland at Normanby have something to offer every day of the year. Experience the changing seasons from carpets of snowdrops and daffodils in spring to spectacular rhododendrons in summer and glorious leaf colour in autumn.
Location : Normanby Hall Country Park, Normanby, North Lincolnshire DN15 9HU
Transport: Scunthorpe (National Rail) then bus or taxi. Bus Routes : 800 and WR stop outside.
Opening Times : Daily 09:00 to Dusk
Opening Times Hall + Museum: Daily 13:00 to 17:00
Tickets : Adults £6.50; Seniors £5.90; Children £3.30; Carers Free
Tel: 01724 720588
