Route: Sledmere House and Garden
Area: East Yorkshire
Date of walk: 10th May 2025
Walkers: Andrew, Gilly, Nich and Patricia
Distance: 1.0 mile
Ascent: nil
Weather: Sunny
Sledmere is a Grade I listed Georgian stately home, occupied by the Sykes family for 250 years and currently the home of Sir Tatton Sykes, 8th Baronet. The house is located in the village of Sledmere, between Driffield and Malton. It is surrounded by parkland designed by Capability Brown, and among its many attractions are a rare breed farm park, a museum and the 18th century Walled Garden
We’ve visited the gardens on many occasions over the years, but until today have never looked around the house. Guided tours are available on selected dates and these have to be booked in advance. Sledmere House has a long and fascinating history and our friendly guides took us through the magnificent interior which is full of priceless artefacts. In 1911 a disastrous fire swept through the house, leaving nothing standing except the outer walls. Miraculously, with the help of every single person in the village, ninety per cent of the contents were saved, passing down a human chain from hand to hand. Since then it has been restored to its former glory
After a very enjoyable and informative visit and lunch at the Coach House Café we walked across the parkland to the nearby Walled Garden, which is hexagonal in shape. This was once a productive vegetable garden for the estate, but has been transformed into different planting areas. We were about a week too early to witness the long Wisteria Walk in all its glory, but the white wisteria ‘Alba’ growing up the walls, bordered by purple allium, was a spectacular sight
After visiting the rare breed farm and the museum it was time to take our leave, having spent nearly a full and very enjoyable day here. Click here for details of a longer walk around the parkland, although check in advance as to whether this is open
Click on the icon below icon for a map showing the location of Sledmere House
Scroll down – or click on any photo to enlarge it and you can then view as a slideshow
Plan of Sledmere House and Garden
We enter via the stable block
The stables are now home to shire horses, but this was once a successful stud which raised many famous racehorses
Sledmere House from the parterre
St Mary's Church, which is within the grounds
Sledmere House...
Our guided tour begins as we enter the dining room
These rooms are used by the Sykes family, giving them an intimate atmosphere
The entrance hall
Ornate plasterwork on the ceiling of the Drawing Room
The Imperial Staircase and the Statue of Apollo
The magnificent library
View of the parkland, designed by Capability Brown
One of the many bedrooms
Following a fascinating tour of the house, we walk across to the Walled Garden
The Parkland, home to a large herd of red deer
View from the front of Sledmere House, looking over the Round Pond to the Deer Park in the distance
Path to the Walled Garden...
Plan of Sledmere Walled Garden
The Fruit Garden
The Wisteria Walk, about to burst into bloom...
A section of the garden known as 'Lark Ascending', where the allium and white wisteria were at their peak...
The Angel Garden...
The Honeysuckle Walk
Succulents in one of the greenhouses
The Summerhouse
The Reflection Garden
We leave the Walled Garden
On the way to the exit, we pass by the Ceres Statue. Stolen in plain sight by men in hi viz jackets in 2002, it ended up in Chicago before being restored to its plinth by antique recovery experts
We leave Sledmere House at the end of a wonderful visit
