Burton Constable Hall by Mo

I was invited along to Burton Constable, in fact to carry out an interview with Robert Needham, a sculptor, who is the resident Artist, with a mind to showing his extaordinary work on thisisUll.com. This naturally led to my introduction to Dr David Connell, an Art Historian, lecturer for Hull University and director of Burton Constable with an open invitation to take some photographs.

Burton Constable Hall, also known as the Treasure House of Holderness, is situated eight miles north of Hull in a quiet and peaceful location near the village of Sproatley. The Hall is a registered charity (Founded in 1992) with a remit to acquire and maintain for the public benefit the house and grounds. It was built during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1533-1603), and is the ancestral home of the Constable family, who have lived there since the house was first built.

Burton Constable is East Yorkshire’s largest historic house with more than 30 rooms open to the public. Being personally invited I got to enter from the back courtyard, which is pretty 'castle like' as you can see from these photos.

The superb interiors are filled with fine furniture and include the Great Hall, Long Gallery, dining and drawing rooms, bedrooms, a chapel and a magnificent Chinese Room.

Other features include collections of Chippendale furniture, paintings and sculpture along with William Constable’s 18th century Cabinet of Curiosities which includes fossils, corals, scientific instruments, natural curiosities and sporting guns.

As expected it has collected several ghosts and stories from its 450 year history, the most frequently seen ghost being that of Nurse Dowdall, a much loved nanny to the children of the household during the 19th century.

There is also the ghost of a nun that 'floats' down the Long Gallery, and across into the Staircase Hall, and the spirit of a long dead black Labrador dog pushes past visitors to the house on The Tower Stairs. Outside a Roman Legion, made up of a battalion of phantom soldiers, some on horseback, have been seen to march along the road leading to the gates of the hall.

There have also been recent sightings of an unidentified woman, her bottom half is clearly visible, dressed in a brown check skirt and brown shoes, but the top half of her body seems to have vanished!!

Burton Constable Hall can be found by following the B1238 from Hull to Sproatley or from Beverley by way of the A165 road to Bridlington. Pictured left are the beautiful back gardens.

Further information can be obtained by contacting the Burton Constable Foundation, tel: 01964-562400. Visit Burton Constable Hall Website Burton Constable Hall Main Entrance.

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