Sewerby Hall lies a couple of miles to the north of Bridlington ,on the East Coast, of the East Riding of Yorkshire. For some time, on the rare occasions that my Hubby and myself have visited Bridlington, we have headed straight out towards Sewerby. Bridlington, although it has a lovely, picturesque bay, has become far too commercial in recent years. My on and off love affair with Sewerby Hall has lasted however for nigh on 40 years.
I first visited Sewerby Hall as a child at junior school. The day we visited there were many other school parites there and the place was heaving. Remember though this was about 40 years ago. As a child of course Sewerby Hall seemed such a large, grand and impressive building. We had visited because an exhibition had been set up regarding Amy Johnson, who was a famous airplane flyer from my home town of Kingston-Upon Hull. Really what I remember more than anything was:
That it was a beautiful sunny day.
There were lots of children there.
The house, which was magnificent.
The gardens with their plants and wildlife.
The clock tower.
The spectaculer views.
Since then, however, Sewerby has added much more to the estate.
You can reach Sewerby by car or bus from Bridlington but we do neither. We usually travel by train to Bridlington. From here we either walk the few miles along the cliffs and sometimes the beach, or take the tourist train. The tourist train picks up in Bridlington Harbour, stops at the end of the north beach and then again in Sewerby. However, on a good day the walk is lovely and it is very pretty around here once you are away from the noise of Bridlington.
Sewerby is actually a village and we sometimes stop first at one of the few pubs near to the cliffs tp enjoy a pub lunch and a drink. From here it is a short walk through the pretty but small village to the entrance to Sewerby Hall and gardens. As I have already said, in common with many such places it has grown over the years.
I am not sure of the current entrance fee but it is not expensive as there is plenty to see once through the gate. The grounds where you enter are well stocked with all sorts of creatures. This part is called a Woodland Walk and is a relatively easy walk but not for those with mobility issues. It has gentle slopes. There is a wealth of trees, birds, flowers, plants and wildlife.
Your ticket includes a 'floor plan' of Sewerby Hall and gardens. It is not essential but I think it's worth having a look at, so that you get to see everything you want to.
There is a zoo and farm area which is interesting, especially for children. It is not a large zoo, or one that makes you feel uncomfortable for the animals. However they do have penguins and I personally hate to see these lovely little creatures away from their habitat. Strange I know but there you go.
The gardens are rather large and there are a few different sections. Hubby and I loved the garden which housed the huge monkey puzzle trees. This was a lovely, quiet and relaxing area for our picnic lunch. However, there are other designated picnic areas with seating. One of my other childhood memories also was of a low building with a clock tower. This building is now a cafe and it has a nice area to sit outside on a sunny day. The prices are not bad either.
The Hall itself is still a little imposing, even though I am more worldly these days. It is a stone building with some nice curved front steps which lead into the entrance. There is a gift shop down here at the left. The museum is spread over a few floors but there is a lift for anyone with mobility problems. The exhibits change from time to time but the Amy Johnson artefacts and the many maritime paintings seem to be permanent exhibitions. There are good views from the upstairs windows to the sea.
In the grounds we especially liked the rose garden and the fish pond which held some magnificent carp. There is also an adventure playground for the kiddies and a putting green.
I have actually tried to give you an overview as we never visit everything when we are at Sewerby Hall. There is enough to easily keep you going all day. For us it is usually an afternoon visit. From time to time there are events such as jousting and brass bands and classical concerts in the lovely orangery which is attached to Sewerby Hall.
Contact the Hall or Bridlington Tourist information for more details and full listings of opening hours.