History

Birdsall, North Yorkshire

Birdsall & Family History

Birdsall House stands on the site of an ancient monastic settlement, its story shaped over centuries by the families who have called it home. First transformed from a Tudor dwelling into an elegant Georgian residence by Thomas and Elizabeth Willoughby, whose remarkable meeting in a snowstorm brought the Willoughby family to Birdsall in 1729, the house has since evolved through thoughtful additions, from 18th-century State Rooms to Victorian extensions by Anthony Salvin. Surviving the challenges of the post-war era, Birdsall became the family’s principal home and remains so today, where James and Cara Willoughby continue its tradition of stewardship, welcoming guests for weddings, filming, country pursuits and more.

History of Birdsall

Birdsall village is constructed on an old monastic site. Following the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1540, the Sotheby family acquired the land from the church and built a small Tudor house, where they lived for several generations.

In 1719, Thomas Willoughby, a younger son of the 1st Lord Middleton and MP for Cambridge, was travelling over the Yorkshire Wolds from the family home, Wollaton Hall in Nottingham, when he lost his way in a heavy snowstorm. He sought shelter and followed a light he saw in the distance which led him to Birdsall House. The Sotheby’s gave Thomas shelter for the night and introduced him to Elizabeth, their daughter and only child; the pair fell in love, marrying the same year.

The Willoughby Family

The Willoughby family has long been home to pioneering and extraordinary figures. Hugh Willoughby tragically lost his life in 1553 while seeking the North East Passage to the Far East. Francis Willoughby (1635–1672), a naturalist and founder member of the Royal Society, catalogued hundreds of species of plants and animals—two centuries before Darwin. Nesbit Willoughby (1777–1849) is remembered as one of the most daring figures in British naval history and is said to have inspired characters in the Hornblower novels. These remarkable ancestors, along with many others, have shaped the rich tapestry of Birdsall House, their stories and collections of art, antique and furniture forming the heart of the estate’s heritage.

Birdsall House, however, has been the home of the Willoughby family since 1729 when Thomas and Elizabeth Willoughby inherited the house from Elizabeth’s parents. They set about converting the original Tudor house into a much grander Georgian style house. Thomas and Elizabeth’s son Henry expanded further by adding a new wing in 1775 which gave the family new State Rooms; the Oval Room and the Ballroom.

In 1873 Henry, 8th Lord Middleton employed the renowned Victorian architect Anthony Salvin to further extend the house. Salvin added a symmetrical wing opposite the Georgian wing (now the Dining Room) on the other side of the house and also added a further storey to the main block of the house along with a service wing on the back of the house.

Following the first World War, and the death of several members of the family, the Willoughby’s were faced with crippling double death duties. The family were forced to sell their main family home, Wollaton Hall in Nottingham, as well as two other estates in Warwickshire and Applecross on the west coast of Scotland. Following the sale, the family’s sole residence has been Birdsall House.

James and Cara Willoughby and their family still live and work at Birdsall, hosting weddings, filming, shoots, and more.

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