Berrington Hall

A neo-classical mansion set in landscaped gardens, Berrington Hall commands stunning views over the Herefordshire countryside, particularly to the Black Mountains and Brecon Beacons.

Berrington Hall was built for Thomas Harley, the son of the 3rd Earl of Oxford who made his fortune supplying pay and clothing to the British Army in America and became Lord Mayor of London in 1767 at the age of 37. In 1778 Harley commissioned 'Capability' Brown to lay out the park and Henry Holland, Brown's son-in-law, to design the house.

The rather austere exterior conceals a lavish interior, with the principal rooms containing impressive fireplaces and beautifully sculpted doors, as well as a magnificent staircase hall with a stunning central dome, which many consider to be Holland's masterpiece. The domestic quarters, including a Victorian laundry and Georgian dairy, are located around a courtyard at the back of the house. The walled garden contains an historic collection of apple trees, impressive bedding plants, and is home to a great number of peacocks, most of whom were in full plumage during our visit.

In 1957 Berrington Hall was accepted by the Treasury in payment of death duty and transferred to the National Trust.

Date of Our Last Visit: March 2005