Harvington Hall

Harvington Hall

Tucked away in a peaceful corner of Worcestershire, Harvington Hall is a beautiful moated manor house with the largest surviving series of priest hides in the country and a rare collection of original Elizabethan wall paintings.Originally built in the 1300s and developed magnificently in the late 1500s, Harvington Hall brings to life the fascinating history of the survival of Roman Catholic families and clergymen during the Reformation of the late sixteenth century. Visitors will discover the Hall’s many ingenious secret priest hides, many of which were designed by Saint Nicholas Owen, and marvel at the outstanding and rare wall paintings of the late 1500s. The moated island is home to a variety of wildlife, not least the highly-esteemed ducks. The moat harbours sizeable carp, and the occasional Kingfisher has been known to hunt there. The Hall’s beautiful gardens offer a peaceful retreat, with a stunning display of colour and a variety of styles.

Review

Worcestershire isn’t synonymous with being a tourism county, but a county that has links to industry and farming. Worcestershire is rapidly becoming one of the United Kingdom’s must see Counties. A testament to that statement is here at Harvington Hall. This moated Manor House is one of Worcestershire’s biggest hidden gems and because it is situated on a moated island, this just adds to it’s uniqueness. I stumbled upon Harvington Hall completely by accident, but I’m so glad that I did. Over 500 years of history lie here and room after room you’ll find Elizabethan splendour in its highest form. Then there’s the Gardens, which offer a perfect paradise to just sit and take in everything you’ve just experienced inside the house. All in all, I found Harvington House to be a must see place, but don’t just take my word for it, go and see for yourself.