Duncombe Park

Duncombe Park
Duncombe Park c. 1829
Map
General information
TypeStately home
LocationHelmsley, North Yorkshire YO62 5EB
CountryEngland
Coordinates54°14′20″N 1°04′29″W / 54.23889°N 1.07472°W / 54.23889; -1.07472
Completed1713 (1713)
OwnerFeversham Estate
Grounds450 acres (182 ha)
Design and construction
Architect(s)
Website
www.duncombepark.com
Listed Building – Grade I
Designated4 January 1955
Reference no.1295358[1]
Designated10 May 1984
Reference no.1001061[2]

Duncombe Park is the seat of the Duncombe family who previously held the title Earls of Feversham. The title became extinct on the death of the 3rd Earl in 1963, since when the family have continued to hold the title Baron Feversham. The park is situated one mile south-west of Helmsley, North Yorkshire, England and stands in 300 acres (120 ha) of parkland. The estate has a commanding location above deeply incised meanders of the River Rye within the North York Moors National Park.

Entrance front

The house was completed in 1713 for Thomas Duncombe (born Thomas Brown) to designs by the Yorkshire gentleman-architect William Wakefield.[3] It was remodelled in 1843 by Sir Charles Barry. In 1879 the main block was gutted by fire and remained a ruin until 1895 when rebuilding was carried out by William Young.[4] The reconstruction was based on the original design, though there were changes made, especially in the interior layout to meet contemporary needs. It is of two storeys with a basement and attic.

The house itself is not open to the public but visitors are allowed into the 30-acre (12 ha) garden from April until the end of August.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference nhle was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1001061)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
  3. ^ Died 1730; also credited with additions to Gilling Castle (Howard Colvin, A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects, 1600-1840, 3rd ed. 1995, s.v. "Wakefield William").
  4. ^ "Duncombe Park burned down". The Northern Echo. No. 2, 806. Column E. 13 January 1879. p. 3. OCLC 6685296.