Elsham Hall

Elsham Hall is a 17th century country house situated in its own parkland in Elsham, North Lincolnshire, England.

Elsham Hall

The Park and Gardens are open to the public.^[1]

The House

The present house dates back to the 1760s, on the site of an earlier dwelling of which little is known. It is of brick construction, Limestone ashlar on the main aspect and rendered elsewhere, and with a Westmoreland slate roof. The house was extended for the then owner, T G Corbett, in the 19th century, although most of the 19th century service wing was demolished in the 20th. There were further enhancements by the Elwes family in 1933. The house is a Grade II* listed building.^[2][3]

The house includes a Catholic chapel dating from 1933, and an 18th-century stone staircase.^[4]

Separate from the house, on its own alignment, is a fine 19th century Orangery, which is a grade II listed building in its own right.^[5][4]

The house is not open to the public.

History

Sir John Dugdale Astley

Sir Frances Edmund George Astley- Corbett

The origins of Elsham Hall date from the 17th century or even earlier^[6] but in about 1760 major additions were made to the building. At this time the property was owned by William Thompson and his wife Elizabeth (nee Gore). He died in 1764 and his son Robert Thompson inherited the estate so it is possible that it was he who made the additions. He died in 1788 and as he had no children he left the house to his niece Elizabeth Corbett.^[7]

Elizabeth Corbett (nee Edwin) was the daughter of Humphrey Edwin and Mary Thompson. She was born in 1839 and in 1855 married Thomas Corbett (1730-1808) who was of Darnhall Hall in Cheshire. When she inherited Elsham Hall from her maternal uncle in 1788 she brought the property to the Corbett family.

When her husband Thomas Corbett died in 1808 their eldest son William Thompson Corbett (1759-1832) inherited the estate and also took the additional name of Thompson. In 1794 he married Jane Eleanor Ainslie, the daughter of General George Ainslie. They had twelve children and the eldest son Thomas George Corbett^[8] inherited the property in 1832. He married In 1837 Lady Mary Noel Beauclerk, daughter of the 8th Duke of St Albans. They had one daughter Eleanor Blanche Mary Corbett and she married in 1858 Sir John Dugdale Astley, 3rd Baronet (see picture).^[9]

When Thomas George Corbett died in 1868 his daughter Eleanor inherited Elsham Hall and so brought the house to the Astley family. Their eldest son Francis took the additional name of Corbett and so became Sir Francis Edmund George Astley- Corbett (see photo), 4th Bt. He inherited the property on the death of his father in 1894. In 1925 he sold the Elsham estate to King's College, Cambridge as an investment.^[10] They sold the house in 1931 to the Elwes family who still own the property.

The Park and Gardens

The Carp Lake

The gardens include a large medieval Carp Lake, and a 19th-century coach house and stables, which is a Grade II listed building.^[11]

The Park and Gardens were opened as a country park in 1970 by Captain and Mrs. Elwes "to promote enjoyment of the countryside and wildlife and an appreciation of the arts and rural crafts".^[12][13]

It is a local point of interest and a destination for school field trips, particularly during the spring lambing season. A list of facilities include:^[13][1]

• Carp lake, with a feeding platform
• Walled and Lakeside Gardens, Sensory gardens, Arboretum and wild butterfly walkway
• An adventure playground
• Aviaries
• Farm Animal display and feeding
• Craft Centres, in particular a working Blacksmith
• The stables also include a shop and the Courtyard Cafe
• The Barn Theatre - used for indoor & outdoor performances, Weddings, Medieval Banquets and Conferences

The centre is a registered venue for civil weddings.^[14]

References

External links

• Official Elsham Hall Website
• Elsham Hall weddings

Coordinates: 53°35′36″N 0°26′37″W / 53.5933°N 0.4437°W / 53.5933; -0.4437