Historic home to the family that hasn't moved for 400 years
There can't be many homes that have been occupied by the same family for 400 years.
Historic stately home Burton Agnes Hall, near Driffield, is one of them with those rare credentials.
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PARTY TIME: Owner Simon Cunliffe-Lister with his wife, Olivia, daughter Islay, 3, and son Joss, 1, at Burton Agnes Hall.
Generations have filled the Elizabethan mansion with treasures from magnificent carvings to impressionist paintings.
But the charm of the beautiful old hall is that it is a loved and lived in home - despite being open to the public.
People can play a part in the latest chapter of the history of the house by joining its 400th birthday bash at the weekend.
Present owner Simon Cunliffe-Lister, 32, is inviting families to join the special anniversary celebration.
He said: "We felt that we had to do something out of the ordinary because this really is a unique occasion.
"Burton Agnes Hall has been in the ownership of the same family for 400 years, and has never had to be sold.
"The ethos of the latest generation of the family is to share this beautiful stately home with others, so we are holding a birthday fete over two days."
Mr Cunliffe-Lister inherited the hall from his uncle Marcus Wickham-Boynton who had no children and died in 1989.
He said: "Work commenced on the hall in 1598 and I celebrated my 21st birthday here 400 years later in 1998.
"Building work was completed 12 years later in 1610, and now we are celebrating that anniversary 400 years later over this weekend.
"The hall is part of our Burton Agnes country estate, which includes 60 farms and houses, and we are inviting all those tenants to the party.
"We have 50 staff working at the hall, including guides and cleaners, and we also use local craftsmen and tradesmen to maintain and improve the hall.
"So many local people are involved with Burton Agnes Hall so we thought it would be nice to base the party on the theme of a traditional village fete."
Local community groups, charities and schools have been enthusiastically involved in helping to plan and set up the celebrations.
Scouts and brownies have organised a treasure hunt in the Woodland Walk in the grounds of the hall, and school pupils took part in a birthday card competition.
All the card designs are displayed in the Great Hall for the birthday alongside Tudor artwork created by Burton Agnes Infant School.
Three generations of the Cunliffe-Lister family, Susan, Olivia and Islay, have baked a huge birthday cake for the special occasion.
Mr Cunliffe-Lister said: "We wanted to bring the local community together to help celebrate out home's 400th birthday.
"Everybody has responded magnificently and helped us come up with a celebration that is really worthy of this historic architectural gem.
"The weekend will be great fun for all the family, including our own children, who can't wait for it all to begin."
Entertainment includes a vintage fairground. magic shows, giant garden games, treasure hunt, and traditional stalls and sideshows.
The hall will be open for visitors to explore and enjoy, and the Courtyard shops will be open, including the Farmers' Food Store.
The birthday fete is from 11am to 5pm today (sat) and Sunday.
Link
Burton Agnes Hall
www.burtonagnes.com
9 Comments
by Charles, cott
Monday, September 06 2010, 2:47AM
“When they say it's the same family for 400 years is that like I've got a yard brush that's 50 years old only had five new heads and three new handles?
I ask only to cure my abysmal ignorance of these matters.”
by Bumpkin, Driffield
Sunday, September 05 2010, 4:03PM
“Susan Cunliffe-lister does not live at Burton Agnes Hall 'actually' she lives at her own stately pile. The House & Estate is a registered charitable Trust not a home - its a business & a cash cow.”
by Eleanor, at home
Saturday, September 04 2010, 7:10PM
“Graham of Driffield. What on earth are 'biils'? You call me an ignoramus? At least I can spell. The over inflated prices they charge people to have a look round pays the bills. As I said, they don't have to worry about bills. I never said they didn't have bills. As you are so passionate about the family, I'm assuming you are just a servant?”
by Magoo, East Yorkshire
Saturday, September 04 2010, 5:27PM
“"Hasn't moved for 400 years!"
If Cameron has his way, the council will boot them out, & the house will be given to a more deserving chav mother of 10 kids”
by Graham, Driffield
Saturday, September 04 2010, 4:52PM
“Er, Mrs Susan Cunliffe-Lister does live at the hall actually.
And Eleanor, of course they have biils, you silly fool, it will be the need to pay those bills that mean the hall is open to ignoramuses like you.
That, and the fact that the family share a heritage of art work, beautiful gardens and history with the nation.
The hall is run very differently to the National Trust type properties - it is not a museum, but a lived in home which benefits from a variety of uses - the Jazz festival, which is attended by people from all over the world, seasonal fairs.”
by Sid Nical, Brough cum Capper Pass.
Saturday, September 04 2010, 4:13PM
“I would have thought by allowing the public in for so many days a year qualifield for a grant from English Heritage.”
by Billy, Hull
Saturday, September 04 2010, 3:23PM
“Here we go again, a HDM subliminal advert lol.”
by Bumpkin, Driffield
Saturday, September 04 2010, 2:40PM
“This is just a shameless advert for this place which has gone downhill in recent years since a 'management team' was brought in to run it. It lost all of teh so ccalled family feel to a bunch of secretarys and accountants. Many staff have become disgruntled and many have left. That is a news story rather than the free advert for Mr & Mrs Double barrelled who don't actually live at the hall anyway.”
by Eleanor, at home
Saturday, September 04 2010, 12:50PM
“Nice place - lucky people never having to worry about bills!! Good idea to let the commoners in for a party. I bet its not free though !!”