Sudbury Hall, home of Vernon Family, near Ashbourne, Derbyshire, England.

Sudbury Hall and the Museum of Childhood

Local Services:

Local Geography:

Sudbury Hall is a fine and highly individual late 17th Century House set in its own park and with an open aspect in all directions. The interior is richly decorated with wood carving by Gibbons, superb plasterwork and decorative painted murals and ceilings by Laguerre.

Sudbury was largely the creation of George Vernon who succeeded to the estate in 1660 and remained in the Vernon Family until it was passed to the National Trust.

There are many fine furnished rooms to wander through but the most notable feature is the Great Staircase which is one of the finest to be found in an English House, and a fine Long Gallery with many portraits of important and court figures from the late 17th Century, including several of Charles II's mistresses.

Housed in the service wing of the hall is the National Trust Museum of Childhood. This has a separate admission charge to the main hall though joint tickets are available. There are fascinating displays about children from the 18th Century onwards - aspiring chimney sweeps can practise in the chimney climbs and Betty Cadbury's collection of toys and dolls is on show. Other features include a Victorian school room where you can attend a class.

There is a licensed tea room offering a varied menu with a children's menu available and it can cope with party bookings by appointment.

The church of All Saints lies next to the Hall and has always had close links with the Vernon family.It was restored and developed for the 6th Lord Vernon in the late 19th Century and the Vernon chapel contains some fine monuments including an alabaster tomb chest to John Vernon (d 1600) and his wife Mary who lies below him.

The Park covers a large area and has a lake. The park and gardens have continuously evolved from the original formal gardens typical of the Restoration period through the 'natural landscape' influenced by Capability Brown and returning to the more formal influences of the Victorian era. The National Trust added various new features in 1970 including lime trees patterned in groups of five in front of the 19th Century Wing.

Both the Hall and Museum of Childhood run hands-on activities and special events - open air performances are held in the gardens.

Sudbury Hall and the Museum of Childhood Photo Gallery - click on the images to enlarge- Click Here for a slide show

0 - Sudbury Hall - Close view of the front

1 - Sudbury - Museum of Childhood

2 - Sudbury Hall Church

3 - Sudbury Hall - A Vernon tomb in thechurch

Ordnance Survey Grid Reference: SK159341

See location on Streetmap.co.uk

How to get there

By Road:
Sudbury lies just off the A50 road which links Derby/East Midlands Airport/M1 with Stoke-on-Trent, between Derby and Uttoxeter. There is a free NT car park close to the Hall entrance - entry prices are reduced if you come by public transport or park outside the grounds.

By Bus: The no 1 bus between Derby and Uttoxeter passes through the village, past the front door of the Hall.
When is it open?

The Hall is open 1.00pm - 5.00pm Wednesday-Sunday from 11th February to 4th November.The Museum is open every day 11.00am - 5.00pm from 2nd April - 4th November, and on Thursday - Sunday from 8th November - 9th December, and Wednesday - Sunday 11.00am - 4.00pm between 11th February and 1st April. The grounds are open every day from February 11th - 9th December 10.00am - 5.00pm
What does it cost?

Gift Aid Admission (Standard Admission prices in brackets)

Hall - Adult £8.00(£7.20)/ Child £4.20(£3.78)/ Family £14.70(£13.23)/ Family with 3 children £20.20(£18.18)

Museum - Adult £8.00(£7.20)/ Child £4.20(£3.78)/ Family £14.70(£13.23)/ Family with 3 children £20.20(£18.18)

Hall and Museum - Adult £14.60(£13.14)/ Child £7.70(£6.93)/ Family £27.20(£24.48)/ Family with 3 children £36.90(£33.21)

Reduced rates apply when arriving by cycle or public transport.

Prices and opening times are shown as a guideline only and may vary. See this link for more information on prices and opening

Website: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sudburyhall/

Sudbury Hall, home of Vernon Family, near Ashbourne, Derbyshire, England.

Sudbury Hall, once the home of the Vernon family, is a fine and highly individual late 17th Century house south of Ashbourne and between Derby and Uttoxeter, Derbyshire. It also houses the 'Museum of Childhood'.

Sudbury Hall and the Museum of Childhood