Discover Harrington: History and Landscape

Harrington offers more than one possible reason to look for a hotel: the Church of St Mary, Harrington Hall and its parkland, and a cycle route each bring different historical and landscape features into focus. Harrington Hall connects architectural, literary and landscape history. The Horncastle to Harrington cycle route runs along two river valleys. When planning your stay, you can therefore first decide whether to focus mainly on historic buildings, the development of a parkland landscape, or a cycling tour.

Church, Country House and Literary History

The Church of St Mary in Harrington is a Grade II* listed parish church. Harrington Hall is a country house built for the Copledykes in the late 16th century. This puts two distinct historical subjects at the centre of Harrington: the parish church and the architectural history of the country house. Harrington Hall also has a literary connection to Alfred Tennyson. Here, he wrote poems to Rosa Baring (Maud), who lived in the house. Thus, in addition to its architectural history, the Hall offers a connection through Tennyson and Rosa Baring.

The Parkland and Its Layers of History

The grounds of Harrington Hall include 17th- and 18th-century gardens within a 19th-century park. This brings the older garden areas and the later park into view as distinct layers of history. Harrington Hall and its park together cover about 25 ha and are located in the village of Harrington. Viewed over time, the country house of the late 16th century is followed by a landscape whose gardens and park features date from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. This chronology gives the grounds a different focus from the architectural history of the house itself.

Harrington Carr also offers a distinct connection with nature. It is recorded as semi-natural woodland; its status as ancient woodland is considered probable. When comparing the landscape themes, this woodland is another possible focus alongside garden and park history.

Cycle Route and Views of Harrington Hall

The Horncastle to Harrington cycle route follows country roads, crosses the A158 and includes a footbridge over a ford. It runs along the Lymn and Waring river valleys on narrow roads. For planning purposes, the route description thus combines road sections and crossings with the landscape of two river valleys. Harrington Hall can also be seen from the Lindsey Trail. This is a different kind of connection from the cycle route: there, roads, crossings and river valleys shape the character of the route, while on the Lindsey Trail, the view of the country house is what matters. If you are choosing between a cultural focus and a tour, you can therefore weigh more precisely whether the history of the Hall and park or the course of a cycle route will shape your stay.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Harlaxton, Wyberton, Barrow-Upon-Humber, Wragby, Messingham, Lissington, Laceby, East Barkwith.

For the main travel overview: Lincolnshire.