Himley Hall and Park

An imposing 18th century building set in 180 acres of grounds that were landscaped by ‘Capability’ Brown. Hall open for events and exhibitions during spring and summer. The parkland is open throughout the year and free to visit.

Himley Hall and Park is a beautiful place to visit at any time of the year, with stunning grounds where there is always something to see and enjoy.

The hall itself is open to the public during spring and summer, with a number of exhibitions to see, ranging from paintings to costumes, and some wonderfully refurbished rooms to explore on the guided tours.

The kids will enjoy discovering what is behind all those huge panelled doors and seeing the former indoor pool with ‘cocktail balcony’.

The park is open throughout the year and it is an excellent spot for family walks and bike rides, feeding the ducks on the lake, and having a picnic. Look out for the dog cemetery and the Ha Ha.

A number of events are held throughout the year, such as Under 5s Days, Tree Trails, Dragon Boat Racing, plus a number of guided walks, concerts and craft fayres. They also hold a fantastic bonfire event, with the largest Local Authority Fireworks display in the country!

History

In early days, Himley Hall was a moated manor house, standing beside the medieval church. For over four centuries it served as a secondary home to the Lords of Dudley and their knights. In 1645, King Charles I encamped in the grounds on his way to defeat at the Battle of Naseby during the English Civil War.

Today's hall dates from the 18th century when John Ward demolished the medieval manor to make way for a great Palladian mansion. The village of Himley was relocated at this time, and its church rebuilt on its present site in 1764. In 1774 John Ward died and was succeeded by his son John junior. He brought in Lancelot 'Capability' Brown to re-design the parkland. The 180 acres (728,000 m²) of grounds were reworked to include a great lake, fed by a series of waterfalls from a higher chain of smaller pools.

The family left Himley in the 1830s, because it was too close to the newly industrialised Black Country. They instead lived in great grandeur on their mineral wealth at Witley Court in Worcestershire.

In 1934 the Duke and Duchess of Kent honeymooned at Himley. The Prince of Wales (later Edward VIII) spent his last weekend there before his abdication.

After World War II, the property was sold to the National Coal Board for £45,000. The decline in the coal mining industry in the area led to the Hall being once more put on the market. In 1966, it was purchased jointly by Dudley and Wolvershampton County Borough Councils - despite existing within the Seisdon Urban District (and then South Staffordshire from 1974). The park was opened as a public leisure area. In 1988, Dudley bought Wolverhampton's share, gaining outright ownership.