Levens Hall, English tourist attractions, places to visit

Levens Hall image Levens Hall, a large Elizabethan house and Grade I listed building, dates mostly from the late 1690's. The original construction, a 1350 pele tower, was built by the de Redman family in a time when Scottish border raiders were a threat. The de Redmans remained owners until 1562 when the Bellingham family took over.

Levens Hall is still, as it has been for centuries, a lived-in family home. Its atmosphere reflects the fact that it is a much loved one.

The Hall sits in a large deer park, one of Cumbria's oldest. There are legends related to this herd of dark fallow deer. It is said that a white fawn born into the herd holds special significance-good or bad-for the owners of Levens Hall. The legend surfaced on a number of occasions. One such was when the owner had a white fawn shot and misfortune fell on the family. Another story was that a gypsy woman, given short shrift by the family, put a curse on them. She forecast that no male heir would be born until the River Kent stopped and a white fawn was born. One winter the river froze over and a white fawn was born. Shortly thereafter a son was born to the family. Thus the curse was given credence.

Levens Hall is also noted for its ghosts: a black dog who inhabits the stairs and a friendly lady in pink.
The entrance to Levens Park is opposite the main gates to Levens Hall. Beaumont created an oak avenue through the park, reflecting a growing popular interest in the landscape style of garden, which was to continue into the 18th century.

There are footpaths through the park, and visitors can see the herd of rare breed Bagot goats as well as black fallow deer.

Dogs are welcome in the park, on leads please.

Levens Hall Gardens image The Topiary Gardens at Levens are world-famous in their own right, and are a must for any visitor to the English Lake District. When Col. Grahme, who had held the office of Privy Purse to King James II, came back to Levens in 1688 upon the abdication of the King, he brought with him the gardener Monsieur Guillaume Beaumont, who had been trained under Le Nôtre at Versailles and who had laid out the gardens at Hampton Court. He started work in 1694 creating the design for the garden you can see today.

Lunches and teas, open 10-5pm.
Steam engine collection, Gift shop, Plant centre, Children's play area, Walks

Levens Hall is five miles south of Kendal off the A590/A6.

Tel. 015395 60321
Fax. 015395 60669
Open April-mid Oct, Sun-Thur; gardens and eatery from 10-5pm, house 12 noon-5pm.
Website: www.levenshall.co.uk
Email: email@levenshall.fsnet.co.uk

Please mention this web site when contacting - thank you.

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English - Crafts .Leven's Hall England's on-line craft fair - Enter our Shop

Leven's Hall

English - Crafts .Leven's Hall
England's on-line craft fair - Enter our Shop