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Lilford park was originally acquired by William Briowne in 1473 & the beautiful hall was built in 1495.
The estate has gone through numerous owners & is now owned by the Micklewright family who are still resident a lot of the time.
The grounds also housed the USAF 303rd station hospital during WW2 which was later converted to a Polish school until 1954 but all trace of this has now gone.
Aviaries were built for Thomas Littleton Powys in the 1800s which become relevant here.
Thomas Littleton Powys was an avid ornithologist & is personally responsible for introducing the little Owl into Britian in 1880.
The 7th Baron Lilford restocked the aviaries around 1970, containing more than 350 birds of 110 species, and opened the Park to the public. This was closed to the public in 1990 & all the birds subsequently sold off.
The hall & grounds featured in the BBC series "by the sword divided" in the 90s
My friends mother worked here when we were children & I have vivid memories of days here in my childhood. We were free to ride our bikes around the park as it was never a "busy" attraction. I even recall being alloed to help feed some of the birds of prey which was very exciting as a youngster. I would of been 13 when this closed!
The Explore
Iv been looking at this place for ages & finally found time for a solo visit today.
I only did half of the grounds & believe there is a lot more to see so a return is in order.
A lot of the aviaries are being used for storage & I was very close to what I believe were groundsmen s cottages so wasn't as relaxed explore as it may come across.
Im pretty sure it hasn't been reported before so hope its of interest to some of you!
IMG_1342 by Bikin Glynn, on Flickr
Enclosure, possibly for large birds like Rhea or Ostrich
IMG_1301 by Bikin Glynn, on Flickr
IMG_1307 by Bikin Glynn, on Flickr
IMG_1309 by Bikin Glynn, on Flickr
IMG_1313 by Bikin Glynn, on Flickr
Seriously Overgrown Aviaries
IMG_1314 by Bikin Glynn, on Flickr
IMG_1315 by Bikin Glynn, on Flickr
IMG_1317 by Bikin Glynn, on Flickr
IMG_1321 by Bikin Glynn, on Flickr
Inside an Aviary
IMG_1320 by Bikin Glynn, on Flickr
IMG_1322 by Bikin Glynn, on Flickr
Summer House. Worryingly a lot of these buildings had dog food |& bowls in them but I was not sniffed out
IMG_1323 by Bikin Glynn, on Flickr
IMG_1325 by Bikin Glynn, on Flickr
IMG_1329 by Bikin Glynn, on Flickr
Former cafe, again being used for storage
IMG_1331 by Bikin Glynn, on Flickr
Gatehouse
IMG_1340 by Bikin Glynn, on Flickr
IMG_1336 by BikinGlynn, on Flickr
IMG_1346 by Bikin Glynn, on Flickr
IMG_1343 by Bikin Glynn, on Flickr
IMG_1345 by Bikin Glynn, on Flickr
Also after this explore I now know how to spell Aviaries ;-) thanks for looking
The estate has gone through numerous owners & is now owned by the Micklewright family who are still resident a lot of the time.
The grounds also housed the USAF 303rd station hospital during WW2 which was later converted to a Polish school until 1954 but all trace of this has now gone.
Aviaries were built for Thomas Littleton Powys in the 1800s which become relevant here.
Thomas Littleton Powys was an avid ornithologist & is personally responsible for introducing the little Owl into Britian in 1880.
The 7th Baron Lilford restocked the aviaries around 1970, containing more than 350 birds of 110 species, and opened the Park to the public. This was closed to the public in 1990 & all the birds subsequently sold off.
The hall & grounds featured in the BBC series "by the sword divided" in the 90s
My friends mother worked here when we were children & I have vivid memories of days here in my childhood. We were free to ride our bikes around the park as it was never a "busy" attraction. I even recall being alloed to help feed some of the birds of prey which was very exciting as a youngster. I would of been 13 when this closed!
The Explore
Iv been looking at this place for ages & finally found time for a solo visit today.
I only did half of the grounds & believe there is a lot more to see so a return is in order.
A lot of the aviaries are being used for storage & I was very close to what I believe were groundsmen s cottages so wasn't as relaxed explore as it may come across.
Im pretty sure it hasn't been reported before so hope its of interest to some of you!
IMG_1342 by Bikin Glynn, on FlickrEnclosure, possibly for large birds like Rhea or Ostrich
IMG_1301 by Bikin Glynn, on FlickrIMG_1307 by Bikin Glynn, on FlickrIMG_1309 by Bikin Glynn, on FlickrIMG_1313 by Bikin Glynn, on FlickrSeriously Overgrown Aviaries
IMG_1314 by Bikin Glynn, on FlickrIMG_1315 by Bikin Glynn, on FlickrIMG_1317 by Bikin Glynn, on FlickrIMG_1321 by Bikin Glynn, on FlickrInside an Aviary
IMG_1320 by Bikin Glynn, on FlickrIMG_1322 by Bikin Glynn, on FlickrSummer House. Worryingly a lot of these buildings had dog food |& bowls in them but I was not sniffed out
IMG_1323 by Bikin Glynn, on FlickrIMG_1325 by Bikin Glynn, on FlickrIMG_1329 by Bikin Glynn, on FlickrFormer cafe, again being used for storage
IMG_1331 by Bikin Glynn, on FlickrGatehouse
IMG_1340 by Bikin Glynn, on FlickrIMG_1336 by BikinGlynn, on FlickrIMG_1346 by Bikin Glynn, on FlickrIMG_1343 by Bikin Glynn, on FlickrIMG_1345 by Bikin Glynn, on FlickrAlso after this explore I now know how to spell Aviaries ;-) thanks for looking
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