Burnby Hall Gardens and Museum
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Burnby Hall Gardens and Museum are situated in the market town of Pocklington, on the edge of the Yorkshire Wolds.
The iconic Yorkshire Gardens have been described as "a jewel in Yorkshire's Crown" and have been awarded the prestigious Yorkshire in Bloom Gold Award for five consecutive years.
The Upper and Lower Lakes are home to a National Collection of over 100 varieties of Hardy Water Lily, and offer a wonderful array of changing vistas. The Gardens also include a Rockery, Stumpery, a Victorian Garden, Secret Garden, formal beds and natural shrubbery.
The gardens are home to one of the biggest arrays of Hardy Water Lilies growing anywhere in Europe in a natural setting. Designated a National Collection, the water lilies can be seen in all their splendour throughout the summer months but reach their peak between June and August. The lakes are stocked with rainbow and brown trout, carp and koi carp.
Burnby Hall Gardens are often referred to as "a haven of beauty and tranquillity" and were the inspiration of Major Percy Marlborough Stewart (1871-1962), a second cousin of Winston Churchill. He was an amazing man who made eight round the world tours between 1906 and 1926. The Stewart Museum within the Gardens is dedicated to his extraordinary life and contains the fascinating artefacts he brought back to Pocklington.
Often accompanied by his wife, the Major visited every continent, explored remote regions and collected a remarkable range of cultural and religious exhibits. Many of these have been recognised by UNESCO as of national and international importance. These artefacts are now housed in state-of-the-art display cases in the museum with a number of interactive stations.
Directions
Pocklington is situated off the A1079 between York and Beverley, brown signs point to the Gardens from either direction. Free parking is provided.
