There are few former royal residences open to the public for overnight stays. Some castles and palaces offer visitors the opportunity to explore exhibitions and displays, but in terms of spending the night and experiencing a day in the life of previous royal inhabitants, it’s almost impossible to get a truly authentic regal experience. Goldsborough Hall is one of the few exceptions.
The Grade II, early 17th-century stately home was once home to HRH Princess Mary, the Queen’s aunt, and daughter of King George V and Queen Mary – both were regular visitors and guests.
Echoes of the Halls illustrious past can be seen everywhere. From the sundial in the garden, given to Princess Mary as a gift from the people of Goldsborough Village to the copse of Japanese cherry trees planted on the Union Flag Lawn, a wedding present from the Emperor of Japan.
The Hall was originally built by Sir Richard Hutton between 1599-1625. Hutton was a prominent London Lawyer, knighted by King James I in 1617. During the English Civil War the house was occupied by Cromwell’s parliamentarian army and in 1692 Hutton’s granddaughter Mary Wharton inherited the estate.
The house didn’t obtain its official royal pedigree until 1922, when Princess Mary (the Princess Royal) married Henry Lascelles. Lascelles was heir to the Harewood estate, however, as his father was still alive he had not yet inherited Harewood House and needed a place to live – somewhere fit for his royal bride. Goldsborough Hall had been owned by the Lascelles family since 1753, during which time it had served as a hunting lodge, a Dower House, and finally home to the Viscount heir-in-waiting and his new wife Princess Mary.
The couple lived at Goldsborough Hall for 8 years before moving to Harewood House when Henry Lascelles inherited his fathers title and estate. When Princess Mary’s husband died in 1947 the house was sold and she remained at Harewood House until her death in 1965. She is buried at the nearby All Saints church in Harewood.
Today the Oglesby family are the current custodians of Goldsborough Hall. Mark and Clare Oglesby purchased the property in 2005 and saved it from developers. In order to secure the Hall’s future they decided to open the house up to visitors wishing to spend the night in one of the luxurious bedrooms, they added a fine dining experience to the formal dining hall, and restored the gardens to their previous royal splendour.
To the south of the Hall visitors can stroll down Royal Lime Tree Walk, a wonderful tree-lined grassy walk that stretches for quarter of a mile. The trees here all have historical significance, having been planted by Kings, Queens, Princes and Princesses. The gentleman planted trees on the left of the walk and ladies planted trees on the right. Pick up a guide at reception to see who planted each tree and when.
As Princess Mary was a keen gardener, the grounds in the 1920’s would have been simply spectacular. In 2006 a new planting scheme began to restore the gardens, and beautiful flowering borders once more abundantly bloom between June and October.
In order to continue the tradition of sustainability, and to provide Goldsborough Hall’s award-winning kitchen with traditional home grown produce, The Glasshouse was constructed in 2018 using reclaimed brick and cedar wood. Built by a family firm awarded a royal warrant from HRH The Prince of Wales, the centre piece of the Kitchen Gardens is split into three different temperature controlled rooms. The central space is filled with tropical plants and serves as an exotic paradise where guests can sit and relax.
The Dining Room at Goldsborough Hall – awarded three rosettes for culinary excellence by the AA and featured in The Michelin Guide 2022 – serves up a sumptuous fine dining experience. The à la carte menu has been created by the Hall’s head chef and a new Tasting Menu is created daily. Widely acclaimed, The Dining Room is the perfect setting for an anniversary dinner, a birthday meal – or just because!
Spending the night at Goldsborough Hall is not just about experiencing 400 years of history, it’s about relaxing in beautifully appointed rooms that are synonymous with the highest standards of excellence. Guests can choose from a range of luxury suites and rooms spanning the upper floor of the main house and the adjoining Dower House & Garden House. With AA 5 Gold Stars, Goldsborough provides the finest accommodation in Yorkshire.
We are offering guests the opportunity to experience everything that Goldsborough Hall has to offer including an overnight stay in a Luxury Garden View room, with welcome drinks, multi-course tasting menu in The Dining Room, and full English breakfast – from just £315 per night
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