Hodsock Priory
Sightseeing attraction | Worksop | England | United Kingdom
The "Hodsock Priory" in Worksop, England, is an impressive country house in the county of Nottinghamshire, which despite its name, was never a monastery. It is located in an idyllic landscape, about four miles north of Worksop and one mile south of Blyth, and is best known for its magnificent gardens, which attract visitors, especially in spring, with an overwhelming display of snowdrops. The property, which now serves as a venue for weddings and special events, has a rich history dating back to the Bronze Age, providing a fascinating insight into England's past and the changing owner families that have shaped it over the centuries.
The origins of Hodsock Priory stretch back far: Already in the Domesday Book of 1086, the place is mentioned as "Odesach," where a certain Wulfsi owned two carucates of land - about 240 acres. Archaeological finds in the gardens confirm that the area has been inhabited since the Bronze Age, with traces of Roman and Saxon activities. From the mid-12th century, the property belonged to the Cressey family for over 200 years, who were so influential that they received kings such as Henry II, John, and Edward I - a sign of their high social status. In the early 15th century, Hodsock passed into the hands of the Clifton family, who held it for 14 generations until 1765. During the Clifton era, however, the house was not the family's main residence, and after a heavy penalty for their support of the Royalists in the Civil War, it increasingly fell into disrepair and was at times only used as a large farmhouse.
In 1765, Hodsock Priory was sold by Sir Gervase Clifton to William and his son Charles Mellish, who already owned the nearby Blyth Hall - the only sale of the property in its long history. After Charles' death in 1797, his son Henry Francis Mellish inherited both Blyth Hall and Hodsock. Henry, known for his extravagance and gambling addiction, had to sell Blyth Hall in 1806 to pay off debts, making Hodsock the family's main residence. After his childless death in 1817, the property passed to his sister Anne Chambers, who made extensive renovations. She commissioned the renowned architect Ambrose Poynter to add a new south wing and an Italian terrace in Gothic Revival style, giving the house a touch of elegance and modernity.
After Anne Chambers' death in 1855, her cousin William Leigh Mellish inherited the property. When he died in 1864, his wife Margaret took control and in 1873 commissioned further extensions and alterations by architect George Devey. After her death in 1901, Hodsock passed to her only surviving son, Henry Mellish, a bachelor with a passion for meteorology and marksmanship, who lived there with his two unmarried sisters Agnes and Evelyn. After his death in 1927 and the passing of the last Mellish sister in 1935, the property passed to a cousin, Mary Constance Mayhew, who moved in in 1942 and sold parts of the land and household items. In 1966, her nephew, Sir Andrew Buchanan, 5th Baronet, took over the property, and the Buchanan family still owns it to this day.
Hodsock Priory is situated in the center of an 800-acre estate that has been in family ownership since 1765. The agricultural use includes 700 acres where carrots, wheat, barley, and sugar beets are grown, while 100 acres are wooded. A special feature is a reservoir built in 1997 with a capacity of 20 million gallons, which harmoniously blends into the landscape and attracts wild birds such as oystercatchers, grebes, and Brent geese. The estate's wildlife is diverse, with birds such as little owls, kingfishers, cuckoos, green woodpeckers, and robins, as well as mammals like hedgehogs, foxes, moles, and hares.
The gardens of Hodsock Priory are the true highlight of the attraction, especially the five acres of formal gardens and the twelve acres of woodland, famous for their snowdrop displays in spring. These are part of the National Collection and attract numerous visitors each year to admire the white carpets of blossoms. The gardens were established in 1967 and besides snowdrops, they also feature other early bloomers such as crocuses, daffodils, and winter aconites, as well as an Italian terrace that provides an impressive setting for events. The house itself is not open to the public, but the gardens and woods were formerly open seasonally, especially in February for the snowdrop season, although this tradition was discontinued after the retirement of Sir Andrew and Lady Buchanan.
Today, Hodsock Priory is primarily an exclusive venue for weddings and special occasions, blending its historic atmosphere with modern comforts. The Tudor gatehouse entrance from the early 16th century, built by Sir Gervase Clifton to welcome King Henry VIII, is one of the first things visitors see, adding a fairytale touch to the estate. The combination of its long history, magnificent gardens, and seclusion amidst 800 acres of land makes Hodsock Priory a unique experience.
In summary, "Hodsock Priory" is an attraction that combines nature, history, and architecture in a fascinating way. It tells of over 2,000 years of settlement, royal visits, and the changing fortunes of its owner families, while the gardens provide a vibrant testament to English garden art. For visitors to the Worksop region, it is a place that celebrates the past while also offering a peaceful retreat in the present - a true gem in rural Nottinghamshire.
