Home > Articles > Leeds > Discover the beautuful grounds and galleries of Lotherton Hall. payment options

27th February 2008

Discover the beautuful grounds and galleries of Lotherton Hall.

The Gascoigne family presented Lotherton Hall to the Leeds City Council in 1969. The Gascoigne family originated in Gascony and came to England at the time of the Norman Conquest. The family have occupied Lotherton Hall for many years and is of historical importance to Leeds.

With Lotherton Hall came the park, gardens and items brought from the Temple Newson House. Other items included were from the Leeds City Art Gallery and objects brought especially for the house since opening in 1969.

The house boast fine furniture and paintings including a superb display of costumes and ceramics. The furniture is a perfect example of 19th century design, with the ‘Gothic’ chairs designed for Windsor Castle. The ceramics range from Chinese to contemporary pottery and procelelain.

Historical costumes on display are especially rich in 18th century dresses and fine suits. Furthermore there is also a superb display of the Sanderson Collection, which was purchased by the Leeds City Art Galleries in 1949. The exhibits were also bought up to date and extended to include leading modern designers such as Vivienne Westwood and Zandra Rhodes.

The Site of Lotherton has been continuously occupied since the 7th century. The site takes it name from an Anglo – Saxon settler called Hlutter, a farmer who occupied the site during earlier times.

Records from 1086 suggest that some sort of hall or manor house had been built on the site. During the middle ages a number of tenants were recorded as having lived on the site, including well-known Yorkshire families such as the Neville’s and the De Hothams.

John Gascoigne of Lasingcroft purchased the surrounding farmland of the hall in 1540. Lotherton Hall was not purchased until the later date of 1825, when Richard Oliver Gascoigne purchased both the hall and Park.

In 1893 Richard Oliver Gascoigne’s grandson Colonel Fredrick Gascoigne inherited and refashioned house to it present state. The house was then passed on to his son Sir Alvary, who retired there in 1953 after an active diplomatic career.