Newby Hall: Behind the scenes with dusters and polish as a Yorkshire stately home gets ready to reopen

A spring clean at North Yorkshire's Newby Hall might be compared to a Royal visit each week.There are statues to be polished and the replica crown jewels, while a conservator is called in to vacuum the tapestry walls. The great grand chandelier is lowered in the hall.
Ruby Kitchen
By Ruby Kitchen
Published 21st Mar 2023, 06:00 BST

The country house is a hive of activity before it reopens to the public on April 1.

"Everything is on track," said commercial director Stuart Gill. "Just about every hour is allocated - there's no room for any last minute changes."

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First built in the 1690s, and attributed to Sir Christopher Wren, Newby Hall is widely said to be among the finest country seats in the North.There were significant adaptations, through history, by some of Britain's best known architects including John Carr and Robert Adam.

Behind the scenes at Newby Hall & Gardens near Ripon, North Yorkshire. Pictured Sarah Barlow, Visitors Services Manager, holding St Edwards Crown, one of the principal items in the replica Coronations Regalia. The originals of these items are of course in the Tower of London and will be used in the Coronation ceremony of King Charles II. Picture By Yorkshire Post Photographer, James HardistyBehind the scenes at Newby Hall & Gardens near Ripon, North Yorkshire. Pictured Sarah Barlow, Visitors Services Manager, holding St Edwards Crown, one of the principal items in the replica Coronations Regalia. The originals of these items are of course in the Tower of London and will be used in the Coronation ceremony of King Charles II. Picture By Yorkshire Post Photographer, James Hardisty
Behind the scenes at Newby Hall & Gardens near Ripon, North Yorkshire. Pictured Sarah Barlow, Visitors Services Manager, holding St Edwards Crown, one of the principal items in the replica Coronations Regalia. The originals of these items are of course in the Tower of London and will be used in the Coronation ceremony of King Charles II. Picture By Yorkshire Post Photographer, James Hardisty

Inside, there are perhaps 30 rooms to prepare. Alabaster urns, and impressive columns, tables and chairs by Thomas Chippendale.

In the anteroom, teams have lowered the chandelier to give it a "once over". Then there's the brass work. The statue gallery.

"When you do one room, you create dust," said Mr Gill. "The tapestry room has wall-to-wall carpet, everybody just backs out the door."

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There have been challenges. Just a few weeks ago, three trees were destroyed in a storm. Each was 300 years old. This was emotional, said Mr Gill, to see them laid down. Clearing created a setback. Now in the final days, it's to the wire.

Pictured Stuart Gill, Commercial Director, of Newby Hall & Gardens. Picture By Yorkshire Post Photographer, James Hardisty.Pictured Stuart Gill, Commercial Director, of Newby Hall & Gardens. Picture By Yorkshire Post Photographer, James Hardisty.
Pictured Stuart Gill, Commercial Director, of Newby Hall & Gardens. Picture By Yorkshire Post Photographer, James Hardisty.

"Newby is a bit different, it's a family home, the Comptons do live here," said Mr Gill. "We tend to start the big spring clean as soon as we can in January. It comes down right to the last week really. There's lots of rooms with lots of ornaments and lots of bits to polish. It's a big job. One of the final jobs is to 'oil' the front door.”

To Mr Gill, it’s a bit like preparing for a Royal visit, with everything pressure washed “to within an inch of its life”.

"The smell of furniture polish is right through the house,” he added. “It's the smell of March, to us, getting ready for the season to begin."

Related topics:North YorkshireBritain