Normanby Hall & Country Park
The hall and park are north of Scunthorpe near Burton on Stather. Normanby Hall is set in the 300 acres of what is now Normanby Hall Country Park. You can visit the Regency Hall and learn about Lincolnshire's rich rural heritage in the fascinating Farm Museum. Step back in time in the award winning Victorian Walled Garden and stroll through the beautiful Pleasure Grounds with their stunning herbaceous borders. Enjoy the extensive woodland with its wealth of wildlife, or walk through the Deer Park with its herds of Red and Fallow Deer. NOTE that most of the facilities are only open end of March to end of September (approx).
I picked up an events leaflet for 2009 for Normanby Hall and the regional food festival on Sunday 31 May, sounded just my sort of thing. It took about forty minutes to drive there along amazingly pleasant and almost traffic-free Sunday morning roads. That is until we got to about a mile from our destination and hit the traffic queuing up to get in. It took us almost as long to get in (OK a very slight exaggeration) as it did to drive there. When we did get in there is absolutely loads of parking, well-marshalled and controlled so I guess we must have just hit peak time.
The hall was built in the early 19th Century on the site of earlier buildings, of which nothing remains. There were later constructions and deconstructions and the present building is a pleasant but not particularly imposing house which was home to the Sheffield family. The rooms are well-proportioned and elegant and contain Regency, Victorian and Edwardian furniture, pictures and family memories. Hall open 29 March - 27 September 2009 1pm daily, last entry 4.30pm. There was a café open the day we were there but I can't find mention of it in the literature.
Victorian Walled Garden
This was restored in 1997 and is extensive and interesting. You can visit the glasshouses, gardeners' rooms and the day we visited there was a cooking demonstration in the kitchen. Open daily from 10.30pm, last entry 4.40pm in summer, 3.30pm in winter.
Farm Museum
A large collection of agricultural machinery and transport with reconstitutions and images of rural life. Museum open 29 March - 27 September 2009 daily from 1pm, last entry 4.30pm.
The Park
The gardens surrounding the hall are well-stocked and well-kept. We didn't manage to get out for a stroll through the country park but it covers 300 acres with a deer park, woodland and bog gardens. There is an ice-house, Victorian laundry, coach house and stables. Tea room and gift shop. Open all year from 9am to dusk.
Review
Despite the frustrations getting parked we had a wonderful day out. There were dozens of stalls with a wide and interesting range of products, plenty of entertainment. I enjoyed the house and the walled garden, but liked the farming museum best. A good day out for couples or families in the open season.
Information
Cost 2009 Adults £5, children £2.50 (under 5s free), over 60s £4.50. Season Ticket for two £11, family season £19. If you are going to go more than once great value season tickets. Includes entrance to park, hall, garden, children's adventure playground and museum. Dogs allowed on leads. Lots of regular events of wide interest to all sorts but not autumn and winter.
Wheelchairs and motorised scooters available for free - book on 01724 732309. Ground floor of hall and museum (forgot to check if there was a lift) and garden accessible to all.