Harvington Hall

A medieval Elizabethan manor house, with it’s own moat, plus priest holes and walled gardens to explore. There is also a Visitor Centre in the old Malt House. Audiovisual and interactive displays help bring the history to life.

We are delighted to announce that the Hall has recently received a Sandford Award for Heritage Education, a fitting accolade to the dedication, hard work and professionalism of the volunteers who present the Educational Activities at the Hall.

Harvington Hall is a moated medieval manor house, which contains some of the best series of priest’s hiding places anywhere in the country and many original Elizabethan wall paintings.

The priest hides were built at the end of the 16th century, when it was high treason to be a Catholic priest.

There are a number to investigate at the hall, including the ingenious priest hide in Dr Dodd’s Library, which is behind a swinging beam that would have once been disguised behind paneling or bookshelves.

The Malt House, which still has a number of original features including the 18th century malting kiln, is now a Visitor Centre with a number of displays, such as an audiovisual display, which brings the drying floor and old kiln to life, a display describing life on the estate, and fun interactive games that tell the story of the Hall’s 700 year history.

If the kids fancy a wander, there is a path that follows the edge of the moat, which widens into a small lake on the west side, and is a good spot to see a number of waterfowl. Kids can take a look at the Georgian chapel, and a washhouse before exploring the lovely walled gardens, which include a restored herb garden.

School Trips

Schools are shown around the Hall in class-sized groups by experienced guides who are mostly ex-teachers; the tours last for about an hour and a quarter / half.

If schools are taking part in one of the Key Stage Two Tudor Activity Days, during the afternoon they experience life in a Tudor House both ‘below’ stairs in the Kitchen and on the estate and ‘above’ stairs in the Great Chamber with appropriate costumes for each activity. See details about the Key Stage Two Days below.

Key Stages One and Three pupils will have specially adapted tours of the Hall, see details on the pages linked to the specific Key stages below.

Some indoor accommodation is available for picnic lunches, should the weather be poor.

A new DVD suitable primarily for Key Stage 3, but also for older Key Stage 2 pupils, is now available entitled ‘The Manhunters’ . It is 68 minutes long, made by Harvington Hall re-enactors and volunteers, telling the story of the search for priests in a house similar to Harvington.

The story starts with a courier meeting a newly arrived priest at the coast, an interview with Queen Elizabeth I, searches and interrogations at the house. There are accompanying teachers notes, the pack is available from the Hall and costs £7.50.