Journey through a Forgotten History
At Harvington Hall visitors will step back in time to discover how English Catholics lived during the second half of Elizabeth's reign of terror.
Each corner and staircase reveals a history of Recusant Catholics being fined for not attending church, the countrywide banning of Mass, the hunting of priests and the sordid, hair-raising history of torture and execution!
Harvington’s beauty and history are matched only by its uniqueness. The Hall has seven remaining priest hides, more than any other house in England, and allows visitors to experience the unique beauty of Elizabethan wall paintings, original panelling and floorboards. Adding to Harvington’s reputation as an attraction that people visit again and again, the Hall’s staircases, passages and doorways disorientate and trick the mind meaning no visit is ever the same.
See if you can navigate the seemingly endless routes around the Hall, perhaps created as a way to confuse priest hunters if they were ever to raid.
The family at Harvington would have been on high alert, dreading the heavy-handed bang at the door, with a haunting sound of “Let us in, in the name of the Queen!”
Truly a shining example of living history, Harvington brings the past to the present in vivid, thrilling detail.
Hall and Gardens set to open Spring 2021
Due to the ongoing issues presented by the Coronavirus pandemic, we regret that the Hall is currently closed.
However, following recent Government announcements, we are pleased to announce that the Gardens and Café are set to open on 3rd April 2021.
In addition, we plan to open the Hall to guided tours from 21st May 2021.
Please note that for 2021 we are not permitting free access to Historic House members, and the grounds are only open for free on non-event days.
All guided tours should be pre-booked, please check our ‘WHAT’S ON’ page, Facebook and Twitter for details.
Should you have any queries call us on 01562 777846.
The Malt House Café
The Sticky Fig Catering Co. have partnered with Harvington Hall to bring you The Malt House Café - set to open 3rd April 2021.
Taking its name from its historical use, The Malt House is an Elizabethan building that has been sympathetically converted into a small coffee shop, serving artisan coffee, sandwiches and homemade cakes from a bakery counter.
The Malt House menu has been carefully designed to use seasonal produce from local suppliers, to create simple yet comforting food.
Tom Court, owner of The Sticky Fig Catering Co. has said, ‘We hope to create a trusted, local coffee shop that champions British food and suppliers."
