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Levens Hall(See also Levens)
Levens Hall is also noted for its ghosts: a black dog who inhabits the stairs and a friendly lady in pink. The Hall is proud of their secret recipe, dating from Elizabethan times, for spiced Morocco Ale (now made by the Daleside Brewery). It was named by Colonel James Grahme who associated the dark beer with Tangiers. The beer was matured for 21 years and served in the garden every May. Guests were once required to stand on one leg and empty, at one go, a tall Constable glass of the ale while pledging "Luck to Levens whilst t'Kent flows".
Levens Hall is still, as it has been for centuries, a lived-in family home. Its atmosphere reflects the fact that it is a much loved one. Levens Hall is five miles south of Kendal off the A590/A6. Tel. 015395 60321 Photos courtesy of Barbara Ballard , Levens Hall and Risto Hurmalainen © 1997-2008 by The Cumbria Directory. Reproduction of this work in whole or in part, including images, and reproduction in electronic media, without documented permission from The Cumbria Directory is prohibited. |
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Levens Hall, a large Elizabethan house and Grade I listed building, dates mostly
from the late 1690's. The original construction, a 1350 pele tower, was built by the de Redman
family in a time when Scottish border raiders were a threat. The de Redmans remained owners until
1562 when the Bellingham family took over.
In 1578, James Bellingham
inherited and proceeded to construct a family mansion around the tower, completing the work about
1641. A wing, staircase, brewhouse, and gardens were added in 1694 by Colonel James Grahme, who
came into ownership after the Bellingham owner's gambling debts led to the loss of the Hall.
Grahme served for many years in Parliament. The Howard family added a tower in 1820 when they
inherited the Hall. They also established two schools.
An original long gallery was, at
some time, changed into a series of rooms. Oak panelling and chimneypieces and Italian
plasterwork are part of the Elizabethan décor. The dining room is embossed with Cordova leather
(1688). Decorating the wall above the fireplace in the panelled great hall are the arms of
Elizabeth I. William and Mary and Jacobean furniture (added in 1694), paintings (Rubens and
Lely), and a collection of 1708 English patchwork are on view. Family memorabilia are scattered
throughout the rooms. Two items are related to famous men: Wellington's watch and Cromwell's
armour.
Famous for its yew topiary,
the garden was designed by Monsieur Guillaume Beaumont, who was already well known for designing
Hampton Court's gardens. He spent the last 40 years of his life working at Levens. His portrait
is found in the house with the inscription 'Gardener to King James II and Col. James Grahme . .
.". Mostly constructed between 1694 -1710, the garden now comprises more than 90 topiary works.
Using electric shears, the gardeners spend four months trimming the topiary to keep it in shape.
Beech hedges, seasonal beds, a rose garden, and a fountain garden also figure in the garden
scheme. The grounds include an herb garden, vegetable borders, and an orchard.
The Hall sits in a large deer park, one of Cumbria's oldest. There are
legends related to this herd of dark fallow deer. It is said that a white fawn born into the herd
holds special significance-good or bad-for the owners of Levens Hall. The legend surfaced on a
number of occasions. One such was when the owner had a white fawn shot and misfortune fell on the
family. Another story was that a gypsy woman, given short shrift by the family, put a curse on
them. She forecast that no male heir would be born until the River Kent stopped and a white fawn
was born. One winter the river froze over and a white fawn was born. Shortly thereafter a son was
born to the family. Thus the curse was given credence.
The Redman, Bellingham,
Grahme, Howard, and Bagot families all owned Levens Hall and were all related, so it can be said
the home has experienced continual family ownership for over 700 years.