Visiting the house at Nostell

Visitors outside the 18th-century mansion at Nostell Priory — The 18th-century mansion at Nostell Priory | © National Trust Images/Arnhel de Serra

Nostell is one of the grand houses of the north of England and home to countless treasures, stories and secrets.

A signifier of wealth and status

Built as an ambitious statement by the Winn family between 1725–1785, the house is a showcase for elegant and fashionable design. It was created not simply as a home, but also to send out an important message about the family's wealth and social status.

Today you can unravel the story of grand designs and unfinished masterpieces, discover the architects and craftsmen that created this Yorkshire show home and explore the collections you can see today.

Some of the most treasured items at Nostell include a world-class collection of Thomas Chippendale furniture and textiles, historic paintings, a Georgian dolls' house, Robert Adam interiors and a rare John Harrison clock.

The interior of the library at Nostell Priory showing a large desk and ornate bookcases on the walls — The library at Nostell | © National Trust Images/James Dobson

125 treasures

Nostell is proud to care for six of the National Trust’s 125 treasures. Step across the Georgian threshold and discover tales of design, drama and society with the help of a new treasure guide and house keeper’s room experience. All trails lead to treasure: iconic items at Nostell.

Master craftsman Thomas Chippendale’s monumental library desk takes centre stage in the room it was crafted for – an exquisite example of 18th century design and part of Nostell’s world-class Chippendale collection just waiting to be explored with fresh eyes.

Tales of trade, ambition and fortune unfold amid the intricate decoration of the ‘hongs’ punch bowl, newly displayed to reveal the secrets of a key chapter in global history.

Nostell’s rare 18th century dolls’ house has pride of place in its own bespoke exhibition room following a major conservation project to reawaken the beauty of its stunning interiors; from fine wall decoration and elaborate upholstery to working locks and tiny silverware.

The power of film unlocks hidden dimensions within one of Nostell’s most visually formidable treasures, the Thomas More painting, with a specially commissioned video revealing stories of its symbolism and how it came to be at Nostell.

A new assembly of five of Nostell’s most treasured paintings invites visitors to view several of history’s most iconic artists through a fresh lens, including a masterpiece by 18th century ‘global celebrity’ Angelica Kauffman capturing her moment of career choice between the arts of music and painting.

Hidden compartments add to the majesty of one of Nostell’s most elaborate treasures – a 17th century cabinet fit for a king. A place to hide precious objects, the piece is an example of French flamboyance possibly created by Pierre Gole, furniture maker to Louis XIV.

Nostell’s interiors

The design and décor of Nostell’s interiors are also a work of art in themselves. Over two generations, the Rose family of plasterers crafted superb plaster ceilings for the house. The vibrant Rococo designs of James Paine with motifs taken from nature were later joined by the more sober Neo-classical decoration of Robert Adam which used geometric shapes and ornament taken from Roman and Greek archaeology. See if you can spot the difference as you walk through the rooms of the house.

Behind the Walls exhibition

Behind the Walls explores, for the first time, the life of Sabine Winn (1734-1798), lady of the house from 1765 until her death. Portraits in the mansion depict domestic happiness, but in reality she faced challenges, including language barriers, strained family relationships, and worries around physical and mental health, that resonate with many today. Explore the rooms of the house to learn more about her story.

To deal with her sense of isolation and the challenges facing her, Sabine retreated to her Dressing Room, a private sanctuary where she could surround herself with prized objects and personal belongings. This room has been redisplayed to bring the story of its most important past occupant to life, showcasing some of these objects and letters to her husband whilst he was travelling on business.

The Dressing Room also includes new film projections that portray Sabine’s mental and physical health struggles. The installation blends images of the house, its collections, and Sabine’s letters with the voices and stories of Mindful Movers, a local wellbeing group who have reflected on how Sabine’s story connects to positive mental health and wellbeing today.

Sabine’s struggle to acclimatise to British Georgian culture is also explored, along with her love for French fashions, cherished pastimes and her interests in apothecary and herbal remedies. An exquisite mahogany apothecary’s counter, supplied by Chippendale, reflects Sabine and Rowland’s struggles with health conditions and Sabine’s active interest in sickness remedies and cosmetics.

Fabric of Identity exhibition

Inspired by the richly embellished textiles of Sabine Winn, students from Wakefield College have created original artworks in response to the theme of 'Fabric of Identity'. Their work explores how fabric can be a powerful form of self-expression, breaking down stereotypes and building connections across cultures.

This exhibition is open Friday to Monday in the workshop on the ground floor of the house .