Lotherton Hall!

Sue Davies and I moved on to spend the afternoon at Lotherton Hall...

Lotherton Hall and Estate consists of a fine country house within extensive grounds, including a red deer park, bird garden, nature trails, cafe and extensive family play area. We were shown around the Hall by Mike Shaw, Site Keeper, and Dionne Matthews, Learning and Access Officer who told us that Lotherton Hall was rebuilt in its present form during Victorian and Edwardian times. It was owned by the Gasgoigne family until the Gasgoignes gave the Hall and Estate to the City of Leeds in 1968. There are collections of pottery, porcelain, paintings, sculpture, silver, furniture, jewellery and costume on display. Yet despite this magnificence, the house retains the warmth of a friendly family home. I was surprised to see an American Indian on a horse sitting in the entrance to the house. The Hall is the first venue for a British Museum's touring exhibition 'Warriors of the Plains' which includes fabulous warrior shirts and headdresses, horse equipment, women's arts, sacred pipes and animal regalia, and paintings.

Chris