Holker Hall & Gardens

Holker is the home of Lucy Cavendish and her husband Tor McLaren who extend a warm welcome to all visitors. Magnificently situated only a short distance from Grange-over-Sands and the expanse of Morecambe Bay, the Estate is set in exceptionally beautiful countryside with gardens that merge into parkland, framed by the Lakeland Hills. Both the Hall and the gardens are open to the public.

Tour the house without the restriction of ropes and barriers, see the distinguished library, elegant drawing room, and ornate dining room. Climb the striking staircase and you can view portraits of Charles II, and Catherine of Braganza. You can even visit the bedroom where Queen Mary stayed in 1937.

The house and gardens are usually open to the public from Marh to October each year. The Hall and Gardens host many events throughout the year.

The House

The land on which the house stands was originally owned by Cartmel Priory and following the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the 16th century it was bought by local landowners, the Preston family. The estate passed to the Lowther family by marriage and then in 1756 passed to the Cavendish family, again by marriage. It has remained in the ownership of the Cavendish’s ever since.

The Jacobean house was altered in the late 18th century by John Carr of York and the parkland around the house was laid out at a similar time.

Additions to the grounds were made during the 19th century and included an arboretum, a conservatory, terraces, and a walled garden. The conservatory has since been demolished. Noted Kendal architect George Webster rebuilt the house in Jacobean Revival style during 1838–41. In 1871 fire almost completey destroyed the front wing of the house and noted architects Paley & Austin were commisioned to rebuild the wing. This they did in grandeur adding two towers in an Elizabethan style, forming the house as we view it today.

During the fire over 100 works of art were lost including pieces by Holbein and Canaletto.

The Garden

The gardens at Holker have evolved over many hundreds of years, under the guidance of generations of the Cavendish Family.  Each owner has made their mark, adding new features and plantings, to create a garden that is now rich in character and beauty.  At its heart, it remains a family garden and while its scale is grand, it retains an intimacy in its planting and design.

The 23 acres of immaculately kept gardens comprise of a series of formal gardens set within a more informal landscape of interesting trees, shrubs and meadows. They are planted to offer year round inspiration for casual visitors and keen gardeners alike. The spring is a riot of colour with displays of tulips, daffodils, wallflowers and spring meadows, framed by majestic Rhododendrons and Magnolias. Summer brings billowing borders packed with colour and exciting tender plants, and wonderful summer flowering trees such as Styrax, Stewartia and Eucryphia. Autumn brings its own show in the stunning autumn colours across the gardens.

Much of the gardens you see today, were developed by Lord & Lady Cavendish over the last 40 years. They are a credit to their eye for detail, sense of fun and love of exotic plants, which they have brought together to give the garden its unique character. The gardens are now entering a new phase with their daughter Lucy Cavendish and her Husband Tor McLaren now starting to make their own mark.

The gardens have won numerous awards, most recently BBC Countryfile Garden of the Year 2016.