In 1793, Henry Vavasour bought the newly built Melbourne Hall and land in Melbourne with the idea to create a country estate for him and his family. Over the next 50 years, this was achieved by him, his son and daughter-in-law.

We are delighted to be hosting a new lecture series with the Gardens Trust featuring our member researchers, Patrick Eyres, Gillian Parker, Jim Godfrey and Jemima Hubberstey. Tickets are available at £6 per lecture for

Walter Fawkes (né Hawksworth) inherited the Farnley estate in 1786 and started to put in place the designed landscape we see today. His son, Walter junior, continued the major remodelling from 1792 for the next twenty years.