Wollaton Hall

Categories: Visitor attractions in Nottinghamshire | Historic houses in Nottinghamshire | Museums in the United Kingdom

Image:Wollaton Hall late 18th century print by M A Rooker after a drawing by Thomas Sandby.JPG
Wollaton Hall in the late 18th century. Engraving by M A Rooker after a drawing by Thomas Sandby
Image:Wollaton Hall from Morris's Seats of Noblemen and Gentlemen (1880).JPG
Wollaton Hall in 1880
Image:Whall.jpg
Wollaton Park and outbuilding

Wollaton Hall is a country house in Nottingham, England completed in 1588 for Sir Francis Willughby by the Elizabethan architect, Robert Smythson (also the architect of Hardwick Hall). The building consists of a high central hall, surrounded by four towers. Unfortunately, Smythson's interior was destroyed by fire, a remodelling was carried out by Sir Jeffry Wyatville in 1801.

Now owned by the City of Nottingham, it currently houses Francis Willughby and John Ray's natural history collection of stuffed animals and birds.

In 1855 Joseph Paxton designed a near replica of Wollaton Hall in Buckinghamshire, now known as Mentmore Towers.


The grounds, Wollaton Park, are the home to the Intercounties Cross Country trials in March of each year, as well as many other events. In this park, during World War II members of the U.S. 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment were billeted waiting to be parachuted into Europe. A small plaque commemorates this event.

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