Arley House and Gardens

The manor of Upper Arley was acquired in the mid 15th century by Thomas de Littleton, and remained with the Lyttelton family until the death of Thomas Lyttelton, 2nd Baron Lyttelton, in 1779; it then passed to his sister Lucy, wife of Arthur Annesley, 1st Earl of Mountnorris, and then to their son George Annesley, 2nd Earl of Mountnorris, who built Arley Castle in 1844. He died in that year without issue and the manor passed to his nephew Arthur Lyttelton Annesley, who sold it in 1852 to Robert Woodward. It remained in the family until 1959, when it was sold to R D Turner; it was privately owned until 1997. Arley Castle was a sandstone building in Gothic style, situated on high ground near…

The present Arley House, a two-storey building, was built about 1965 on the site of Arley Castle. There are gardens, area about 2 ha, around the house, laid out in the late 20th century. A lodge north-west of the house, at the entrance to the gardens and arboretum, has a crenellated parapet and two towers flanking the central entrance; it dates from the building of Arley Castle and is Grade II listed. The parkland, area of about 35 ha, is on rising ground to the north of the house. It was probably laid out when Arley Castle was built.