The estate was bought by the Lascelles family in 1738. Their increasing wealth had brought a rise in social and political standing and Edwin Lascelles, the first Lord Harewood, wanted a house to reflect this.
During the 19th Century many changes were made to the House, most notably the extensions and alterations made by Charles Barry. These included the addition of a third storey, removal of the classical portico on the south side and the addition of the Terrace Garden between 1844 and 1848. Many interior changes were also made.
Following the precedent set by Princess Mary and the Sixth Earl, there is a continuing programme of restoration work in the house. The rediscovery of the original Chippendale mirrors prompted the restoration of the State Rooms between 1987 and 1991 as space was needed to display them.
For further information visit the main Harewood House Website which includes a comprehensive multimedia tour of both the House and Grounds.
Harewood House was built by Edwin Lascelles between 1759 and 1771, and is a fine example of the English country house.
In 1748, Edwin commissioned John Carr of York to design and build the House (plus stables, farm and 'model' village). Whilst Carr was completing work on the stables, Edwin Lascelles showed the plans of the house to Robert Adam, a young Scottish architect. After noting Adam's comments, Edwin decided to commission both architects, with the result that the central part of the house was designed by Carr whilst the two wings and the interiors were created by Adam. Thomas Chippendale was employed to design much of the furniture in the House to complement Adam's fashionable Neo-classical interiors. Foundations were laid in 1759 and the house finally became habitable in 1771, although the Gallery was not finished until a year later.
It was not until 1929-39 that the house was again remodelled by the sixth Earl and HRH Princess Mary. This time it was with an eye to restoration. Sir Herbert Baker, who had worked alongside Edwin Lutyens on the New Delhi project in India, was asked to design the alterations and improvements. On the architectural side, Adam's designs re-emerged as the dominating influence inside the house and other work included the re-hanging of paintings and room refurbishment schemes.
The Cinnamon Drawing Room is now presented as an interlude between Adam's Neo-classicism and the Victorian refurbishment and shows how the house's architectural history has been transformed by the owners of Harewood for the last two hundred years.
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