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England > Cumbria > Gardens > Levens Hall
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Levens Hall topiary
Levens Hall topiary

Levens Hall & Topiary Gardens


The core of this delightful Elizabethan manor is a pele tower built in 1350 as a defense against Scottish raiders. The later Elizabethan home was built around the tower by the Bellingham family, who created a comfortable home with paneled rooms decorated with fine plasterwork ceilings. The dining room is worthy of special note; it has unusual embossed leather wall coverings from Cordova.

The house was expanded in 1694 by Col. James Grahme, former Privy Purse to James II. Rooms feature the family collections of paintings and memorabilia, including the earliest known example of English patchwork. Among the various items on display are Beau Brummel's snuff box, paintings by Van Dyck, Brueghel the Elder, and Rubens, and items associated with the Duke of Wellington and Admiral Nelson.

Levens Hall is home to several resident ghosts; a Grey Lady is known to appear in front of cars on the driveway, a woman in a print dres and cap appears before children, and a small black dog wanders the hall.

THE TOPIARY GARDENS
The gardens were laid out in 1694 by Guillaume Beaumont, who trained under Andre Le Notre at Versailles. Beaumont had only recently finished laying out gardens at Hampton Court Palace. Very little has been altered since that time, which is all to the good, as Beaumont created a wonderful experience with his imaginative use of topiary and garden walks. The gardens also feature the earliest known example in England of a "ha-ha", or sunken ditch.

The topiary of clipped yew and box hedges is underplanted with bedding plants in spring and summer, making for excellent colour. A rose garden, herbaceous borders, and a nuttery complete a most enjoyable garden. The most recent addition at Levens Hall is a fountain, approached by an avenue of pleached lime planted to celebrate 300 years of the gardens. Best viewed in: summer.

Location map for Levens Hall

Details
Levens Hall
Kendal
Cumbria
England
LA8 0PD
Location: 5 m S Kendal, on A6
Website: Levens Hall
Email: houseopening@levenshall.co.uk
Phone: 01539 560 321
Fax: 01539 560 669

map
OS SD495 851


+ Find out more +

    Nearest Hotels to Levens Hall

Crooklands hotel Kendal Crooklands hotel - 2.6 miles away
Kendal, Cumbria
Stay from: 69.00
Stonecross Manor Hotel Kendal Stonecross Manor Hotel - 3.9 miles away
Kendal, Cumbria
Stay from: 55.00
Station Inn Oxenholme Station Inn - 4 miles away
Oxenholme, Lancashire
Stay from: 55.00

More Hotels near Levens Hall



 

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+Attractions +
Nearest Attractions

Sizergh Castle
1.8 miles (Historic House)

Kendal
3.8 miles (Town)

Abbot Hall
4.6 miles (Museum)

Castle Howe
4.7 miles (Castle)

Kendal Castle
4.8 miles (Castle)

Arnside and Silverdale
5.5 miles (Countryside)

Leighton Hall
6.6 miles (Historic House)

Fell Foot Park
7.1 miles (Countryside)

Top Cumbria Destinations
Ambleside
Appleby
Bewcastle
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Burgh-by-Sands
Caldbeck
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Coniston
Edenhall
Glenridding
Gosforth
Grange
Grasmere
Great Salkeld
Kendal
Keswick
Kirkby Lonsdale
Kirkby Stephen
Kirkoswald

Suggested Cumbria Attractions
Abbot Hall
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Blackwell, the Arts and Crafts House
Blakely Rise stone circle
Bolton, All Saints Church
Borrowdale
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Bowder Stone
Brantwood
Brockhole Gardens
Brothers Water



+Accommodation +

Some hotels in Kendal
Balcony House Guest House - from 65.00
Castle Green Hotel in Kendal - from 44.00
County Hotel - from 30.00

More hotels in Kendal

Self Catering near Kendal
Benson Hall
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Sleeps 7, from £178


Self Catering in Cumbria
1 Field Foot
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Sleeps 5, from £300


12 Market Street
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Sleeps 4, from £250


2 Eden Grove Cottage
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Sleeps 6, from £400


2 Lonsdale House
Keswick
Sleeps 4, from £200


2 Sycamore Barn
Reagill
Sleeps 6, from £300



More self catering in Cumbria