Duncombe Park

Duncombe Park is the seat of the Duncombe family who previously held the Earldom 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

Duncombe Park
Duncombe Park c. 1829
General information
TypeStately home
LocationHelmsley, North Yorkshire YO62 5EB
CountryEngland
Coordinates54°14′20″N 1°04′29″W
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]

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. 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.

History

In 1694 Charles Duncombe, one of the richest commoners in England, bought the 40,000-acre (16,000 ha) Helmsley estate, occasionally staying at the castle. After his death in 1711 it passed to his sister Ursula and from her to her son Thomas Brown, who changed his name to Thomas Duncombe and commissioned the building of the present house. On his death in 1746 it passed to his son, Thomas Duncombe II, who extended the grounds to include the Rievaulx Terrace.[4] In 1774, Anne Duncombe, daughter of Thomas Duncombe of Duncombe Park was married to Robert Shafto, of Whitworth Hall, near Spennymoor, County Durham, the famous "Bonny Bobby Shaftoe" of the folk song.

In the late 1700s the estate was owned by Thomas' son, Charles Slingsby Duncombe, who was succeeded in 1803 by his eldest son and heir Charles. Charles was MP for Shaftesbury, Aldborough, Heytesbury and Newport IoW and High Sheriff of Yorkshire for 1790–91. He built up a considerable art collection at the house and was made 1st Baron Feversham in 1826.[5] His son William succeeded him and was MP for Yorkshire and after 1832 for the new North Riding constituency. William's son William Ernest was created the 1st Earl of Feversham. The second Earl was killed in the First World War and the earldom became extinct on the death of the third earl in 1963.

The building was used as a girls' school between 1914 and 1980. The Rievaulx Terrace and Temples were acquired by the National Trust in 1972. After 1985 the house was restored as a family home by the 6th Baron Feversham, but on his death in 2009 it was left not to his heir Jasper Duncombe, 7th Baron Feversham, but to a younger son Jake Duncombe.[6] It is a Grade I listed building.[1]

The house closed to the public in 2011.[7]

In 2012, Duncombe Park was used in filming the period drama TV mini-series Parade's End as the fictional Groby Hall in Cleveland, North Yorkshire. The film stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Rebecca Hall and is based on the novels by Ford Madox Ford. In 2013 it was used in the film The Thirteenth Tale, as Angelfield House.

In March 2013 the National Centre for Birds of Prey opened a branch in the grounds.[8]

Notes
  1. Historic England. "Duncombe Park (Grade I) (1295358)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
  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. "The History of Helmsley Walled Garden". Retrieved 14 March 2013.
  5. "DUNCOMBE, Thomas (?1724-79), of Duncombe Park, Yorks. and Barford Park, Wilts". History of Parliament Online. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
  6. Roberts, Laura (5 March 2010). "Aristocrat disinherits 'porn baron' son from £46 million fortune". The Telegraph. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
  7. "Duncombe Park website". Retrieved 17 January 2014.
  8. "A Short History". National Centre for Birds of Prey. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
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