NIDD
HALL – KNARESBOROUGH
Romantic Georgian Retreat in the Yorkshire Dales
A stunning
beauty of an ivy clad Georgian era manor house set in Knaresborough,
with its historic
castle ruins of the Plantagenet age and spectacular
rail viaduct across the River Nidd which flows through the verdant green
and rock strewn hills of the Yorkshire Dales, Nidd Hall makes for a charming
romantic getaway, a few minutes from Harrogate. The elegant Nidd Hall,
built in the 1820s by wealthy Yorkshire wool merchant Benjamin
Rawson on the site of a former Elizabethan manor is operated as a hotel
by the
Warner Leisure Group. Nidd Hall’s claim to romance history is the
suggestion that Edward VIII met Wallis Simpson at a party there, though
other locations have been claimed for the first fateful meeting which
ended in a king’s abdication, though Prince Edward would have spent
a fair amount of time in Knaresborough. The castle, a ruin since the
days of Cromwell (see Knaresborough
Castle), is still a royal property
and Edward’s
sister, Princess Mary was living at Goldsborough House in Knaresborough
and then
after her marriage at Harewood House not far away.
The Georgian
manor at Nidd Hall was completly rebuilt by Rawson with only
the cellars showing the gothic arches of the original house. The
maze hedges in front frame the manor, set on forty-five acres of
Victorian
and Edwardian
landscaped park land with sculptured
gardens and stepped terrace lawn. The historic hotel rooms
in the Old House and the newly refurbished Cottage all date from the
1820s, each decorated to match the character of the original house. The
Cottage is a separate Georgian era structure, looking out on the quaint
and historic little Norman medieval age Nidd Church located on the grounds,
with more rooms, recently refurbished in 2009 and new wing has been
added
with
additional
rooms.
The
style of the original 109 room mansion of Nidd Hall makes an impression
with its grand
entry staircase
sweeping
above richly
carved decoration with stained glass panels illuminating throughout.
The dining room impresses with copper ceiling and high marble fire
hearth.
The
wood
paneled Old Library offers a tranquil
respite and a chance to contemplate the purpose of the secret chambers
hidden behind the bookcases. Nidd Hall has two restaurants each with
their own distinct style. The Rawson Restaurant provides a range of dining
from a full buffet and carvery, or table service with an extensive menu,
including Gluten Free and Vegetarian. The Terrace Restaurant overlooks
the lawns and its tearooms serve coffee, lunch, afternoon tea and refreshments
all day.
The Warner Hotels
Group features “exclusively for adults” romantic
packages from overnight getaways including a meal to dancing and day
trips. And you can even have an encounter with Nidd Hall’s resident
owl. A full fitness suite with a 20 meter indoor pool, spa, sauna and
steam rooms offers relaxation year round and outdoor activities include
Croquet, Tennis and Boules courts. In summer, add the bowling green,
archery, rifle shooting, and guided walks of the grounds. Freshwater
angling is available on the fishing lake, though you’ll have to
get a license in season. © Bargain
Travel Europe
Find
best hotel deals in Knaresborough
on TripAdvisor
Web Info
Warner
Leisure Hotels Nidd Hall
These articles are copyrighted and the sole property of Bargain Travel Europe and WLPV, LLC. and may not be copied or reprinted without permission. Photos courtesy Warner Leisure Hotel Group.
See Also:
BETTYS CAFE & TEA ROOMS HARROGATE
