Things to see in Beningbrough Hall

Four people exploring around a large wooden staircase — Your eyes might trick you when you first see the cantilever staircase | © National Trust / Anthony Chappel-Ross

During 300 years of history, Beningbrough Hall has changed many times. From different families to aircrews during the Second World War, each changing the furniture, layout and how the rooms were used. Meander through the historic rooms on the ground floor taking in the fine architecture and key collection items and see what's on in the art gallery.

Beningbrough Hall was a home for 240 years and the centre of a working estate that paid for it. Many people have lived here – owners, tenants, wartime servicemen and generations of servants and estate workers. Each have left their mark, but at its heart the hall remains the showcase first created around 1716 for a young couple, John and Mary Bourchier.

Mr Bourchier’s Fine New House

A quote by Edward Southwell Diary, 1724

John Bourchier unexpectedly inherited his family’s old Tudor house and scattered Yorkshire estates aged just 16. This, combined with a marriage eight years later to a wealthy Yorkshire heiress called Mary Bellwood, gave the young couple the means to build a large and fashionable new Beningbrough Hall.

Yorkshire Baroque

John Bourchier was not alone in his building ambitions – many wealthy landowners in the county were keen to upgrade their country residences at this time:

[There] are several gentlemen in these parts of the world that are possess’d with the spirit of building

A quote by John Vanbrugh

Beningbrough is an important surviving example of the popular architectural style many chose. This mixed Continental and English design ideas to create houses with relatively simple exteriors and elaborately decorated, formal interiors.

Making it all possible for the Bourchiers was the skilled local carpenter-architect William Thornton, who delivered for his clients some of the best wood and stone carving he and his team of talented craftsmen – some French Huguenots who had settled in the York area – could create.

The end result was a hall designed to impress and to be visited, with John and Mary’s initials and coats of arms carefully laid into the stunning floating staircase and carved into the interior woodwork.

Exploring the historic rooms

Before his marriage, John Bourchier visited Italy on a Grand Tour. Some design features in his new house have been copied from palaces he must have seen in Rome – was John inspired by his Italian travels? Today roam around the ground floor and imagine Beningbrough through the decades. With new LED lighting, the quality craftmanship of the building is easy to see. Through displays of key pieces of the collection, uncover the stories of the people who shaped Beningbrough and significant moments in history.

Ornate ceiling with intricate carving and arches as viewed from the floor below — Don't forget to look up | © National Trust Images/Anthony Chapel-Ross

Great Hall

Traditionally the heart of the English country house, Bourchier added classical grandeur you might expect from a Roman palace. Impressive and functional as a busy thoroughfare, just like today. Another owner of Beningbrough, John Bourchier’s niece Margaret Earle, also spent time in Italy with her husband, Giles. The marble bust of Pope Clement XIV that still sits on the fireplace was bought by the Earles as a memento of their time in Rome in the early 1770s. The space has been furnished by previous owners, today it's a grand entrance and used to house large sculptures during exhibitions.

Two people looking at parts of the collection in a glass case — Don't miss the Bourchier seal | © National Trust / Anthony Chappel-Ross

Dining Room

Likely to have been known as the Great Parlour and always used for eating, it became the family’s principal dining room by the 19th century. Today find the Bourchier seal, used to sign the death warrant of Charles I. A painting posing a mystery, were the wings ever built or was this simply a status symbol? And a new display of floorboard finds, a selection of the 70 or so objects uncovered during the recent rewire work. Look out for the timeline and panels themed around Beningbrough business, beautiful Beningbrough and beloved Beningbrough.

Cantilever Staircase

With another vaulted ceiling this grand staircase would have taken guests to the Saloon on the first floor for parties and formal dinners. The shallow risers helped with the full-skirt fashions of the time. Although appearing weightless, there are wrought-iron struts cantilevered from the walls and concealed in the oak construction. The balustrade, balusters and pierced panels, likely a Thornton commission, simulate delicate ironwork, when they are in fact made from carved wood. Volunteers play the piano on selected day and fill the hall with sound; visiting pianists are invited to take a turn.

Delve deeper into cantilever staircases

A large historic room full of furniture — Don't miss the carvings in the Drawing Room | © National Trust / Anthony Chappel-Ross

Drawing Room

This space was originally two rooms with the ceiling beam showing the original divide. The smaller side would have been the original bedroom and in among the exquisite wooden carvings if you look closely are JMB, for John and Mary Bourchier. Along with furniture dressing the space, the portraits on display include members of the Chesterfield and Bourchier family…possibly John Bourchier himself. Don’t miss the graffiti etched above the fireplace of a long-lost love story of Gipsy and Olie, nearly lost to time except for a fortuitous visit from a much older Gipsy who shared the truth behind the imprint.

Two women exploring in a room with a grand four poster bed and tapestry on the wall — If you lived here how would you use this room? | © National Trust / Anthony Chappel-Ross

Blue Bedroom

Despite the current furnishings, this room might have had several uses, but not necessarily as a bedroom. Perhaps originally the Common Parlour, or everyday room, in the 1890s a billiards room for the Dawnay family and Lord Chesterfield’s study by 1920. The last private owners were the Chesterfields, and it remained a private home for Lady Chesterfield for 40 years. Their purchase was of the wider estate and parkland you visit today, including the neighbouring Home Farm where Lady Chesterfield moved to during the Second World War when the hall was billeted.

Two people looking at a large red bed — Exploring the bedroom furnishings | © National Trust /Anthony Chappel-Ross

State Bedroom and Dressing Room

Either side are two apartments including the State Apartment, allegedly based on royal apartments from Hampton court and Kensington Palace. The series of rooms both protect privacy and define status by how far a visitor can reach. The State Bed, the pinnacle of the suite were a grand symbol of power and wealth, and not often slept in! Don’t miss the 1960s Yorkshire Post archive showing the wife of the then custodian of the hall working on the canopy. Fashions and conservation practices have changed a little since then.

Two women reading in a room with lots of books on shelves — Grab a new book in the library | © National Trust / Anthony Chappel-Ross

Library

With plush chairs and symmetrical shelving, settle in for a short time and have a read. Now a wonderful space for second-hand books, it’s easy to imagine a fire in the hearth, music from a gramophone and losing some time the pages of a novel or writing your diary in this cosy space with views along the avenue. For now, leave a cash donation or pay at any till if one of the donated books tempts you. Donations of pre-loved books are always welcome to keep the shelves stocked up.

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Mrs Earle was the last of one of the most ancient families in England; the Bourchiers, having their origin from the remotest period of antiquity

A quote by Margaret Earle’s epitaph following her death in October 1827

As you explore, make the most of the passionate and informative team of staff and volunteers in the spaces. Whatever your interests, they are full of stories to shed more light on the history, people, and collection. If you prefer to read, look out for the picks-up, themed to build on the Dining Room panels of Beningbrough business, beloved Beningbrough and beautiful Beningbrough.

Planning your visit

Due to narrow corridors and small turning spaces, visitors are asked to leave mobility scooters outside. The team have indoor wheelchairs, small prams, hip seats and baby slings available to help with visiting the hall.

The Victorian Laundry

Conservation in action

Ever wondered how we care for the laundry and linens? Every year the collections team merticulously wash, dry and press some of the most delicate and fragile pieces in our collection. The fabrics, wooden and metal objects in the Victorian laundry all need specialist care to keep them looking their best. The display items vary over the year to help with the lifespan of the most fragile items.

The team will be in the Victorian Laundry every third Wednesday from June - September, 10.30am - 3pm.

Chat to them about their skilled and meticulous work whilst they condition check and care for the pieces. Full event details can be found here.

Between exhibitions

Comings and Goings

1 April - 10 August

This temporary interpretation will be in place on open days in between exhibitions. Uncover the varied and fascinating stories of the people who have shaped the hall and called it home over the centuries. Discover new stories, voices from the past and find out how they left their mark on Beningbrough.

Coming next

During autumn and winter, the first floor Reddihough Galleries hosts carefully curated changing exhibitions. Working with artists, in partnership with museums and galleries, and drawn from National Trust collections. Over the coming years, the gallery will showcase high quality contemporary and historic art.

Whispers of the Wilderness: Exploring Wilderness Gardens

2 September 2025 – 12 April 2026 on open days

Step into a world where art and nature intertwine in a celebration of Beningbrough’s Wilderness Garden, past and present.

Woman holding willow stood indoors next to a large flowing willow sculpture — Look out for large scale sculptures from Laura Ellen Bacon from autumn | © Alun Callender courtesy of Hignell Gallery

The Reddihough Galleries

Ready for the next 300 years

Beningbrough is an accredited museum, which means that every item in the collection, every design feature and every material used in the house is cared for by the conservation team. This includes day to day work and longer projects like the conservation work carried out recently.

Along with a full re-wire and new professionally designed lighting system, other work included addressing decayed timbers, repairs to ceiling and staircase plasterwork, chimneys and stonework and improvements to environmental controls and heating.

Work will continue in the coming years to repaint the interior of the hall. This will be carried out systematically, a room at a time to reduce any further impact for visitors. Aspects of the collection will also have conservation inspections and repairs including several mirrors.

Legacies and support

Beningbrough has received several bequests over the years and the late Mr Ian Reddihough left a generous gift in his will to support the conservation and care of Beningbrough Hall, which has made this vital work possible.

By visiting and supporting the charity you are helping to ensure the future of this beautiful building for the next generation and beyond. Thank you.

Overhead shot showing countryside, gardens, hall, walled garden and tree lined avenue

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