Kiplin Hall

This hidden gem, situated between Richmond and Northallerton, was built in 1620 by George Calvert, Secretary of State to James I and Founder of Maryland, USA.
Since then, the Calverts, Crowes, Carpenters and Talbots, all related by blood or marriage, have left their stamp on the house.

A ‘Gothic’ wing was added to the original Jacobean house in the 1820s and redesigned in 1887 by W.E. Nesfield.

This intriguing house is now furnished as a comfortable Victorian home with 16 rooms, including the fascinating Travellers’ Bedroom, open to the public. The Hall is crowded with an eclectic mix of previous owners’ furniture, paintings, portraits and personalia, including many Arts and Crafts items.

The people who owned Kiplin Hall left behind an extensive and important collection of original paintings that date from the 16th – 19th century. These paintings hang throughout the Hall, and include works by notable artists including Joachim Beuckelaer, Luca Carlevarijs, Angelica Kauffman, George Cuit, Siegfried Bendixen and George Frederic Watts.

Many of the owners of Kiplin, family members and local communities have been touched by wars since the Hall was built, from the English Civil War of the 17th century to the Second World War when an RAF Maintenance Unit requisitioned the estate, supplying bombs to local airfields.

Duty Call, an exhibition, trails and events recount 300 years of Kiplin’s owners, family members and local communities in times of war.

Additional info

Access: The ground floor, including the Shop and Tea Room, is accessible to visitors in wheelchairs. An album of photographs of the first and second floors is available at the Reception Desk.
A large print version of the ‘Kiplin Hall Brief Tour’ (self-guided) is available.

In the late 19th century, Admiral Carpenter owned Kiplin Hall near Scorton. He and his wife, Beatrice, were interested in the current, national Arts and Crafts movement. This is reflected in the blue and white tiles in the Drawing Room fireplace, designed by the architect Philip Webb and sold by William Morris’s firm, Morris & Co., in London. The Library fireplace has richly glazed tiles by William de Morgan, with wonderful ships and sea monsters. Beatrice probably embroidered the fire screen in the Lady Waterford Room, worked from a kit which was sold by Morris & Co.

Beatrice taught classes in woodcarving and inlay, where local men made the furniture she designed. Many pieces are still at Kiplin Hall. Albert Hurwood (1875-1962) of Scorton attended Mrs Carpenter’s classes and made many carved items of furniture for his home. His most remarkable piece was a magnificent, oak fireplace with over mantel, carved with vines, which his grandsons have kindly donated to Kiplin Hall.

Collection details

Architecture, Costume and Textiles, Decorative and Applied Art

Key artists and exhibits

• Arts and Crafts furniture
• William de Morgan tiles
• William Morris
• Philip Webb

Getting there

Kiplin Hall (DL10 6AT) is midway between Richmond and Northallerton
on the B6271, about 5 miles east of the A1.
Nearest Train Station: Northallerton
Bus Route – Number 55, Richmond - Northallerton service
Coast-to-Coast – Richmond to Danby Wiske section