Harewood, Slavery and the Caribbean
15 January 2025
Regarded as one of England’s ‘Treasure Houses’, Harewood House’s history, like most prominent British institutions, is closely linked to slavery and colonialism. Here, you’ll learn more about this intricate history.
International Women’s Day: Celebrating Career Growth
6 March 2025
This International Women’s Day, we’re reflecting on the power of opportunity, mentorship, and support in shaping careers and unlocking equal rights for all.
Celebrating Thomas Girtin’s 250th Birthday
18 February 2025
Today, on what would have been Thomas Girtin's 250th birthday, we celebrate the artist who reshaped the future of British landscape painting.
Harewood Reimagined: Sharing Stories, Inspiring Change
4 February 2025
We’re thrilled to announce the launch of our newly transformed website, made possible thanks to the incredible support of The National Lottery Heritage Fund and National Lottery players.
Harewood on Film: Downton Abbey
28 January 2025
Filming of Downton Abbey film took place in October 2018, when over 100 cast and crew took over Harewood House and grounds for a week.
Anthos, Surface Area Dance Theatre
24 January 2025
Surface Area Dance Theatre's collaboration with Harewood House, the custodian of Sir Jacob Epstein's sculpture Adam (1938), culminated in the creation of an innovative dance-for-camera short film, filmed on location at Harewood in 2024.
Meet the team: Malcolm
20 January 2025
Meet Malcolm, Harewood shuttle driver and one of our longest serving volunteers.
Voices of Leeds
20 January 2025
Harewood is near Leeds, a thriving, energetic and multicultural city. Given Harewood's history, we want to raise the voices of our local communities.
Missing Portraits with St Matthew’s Church of England Primary School
7 January 2025
A collaborative project with St Matthew's Church of England Primary School in Leeds to create some inspiring pieces of work on their Black role model for Harewood Missing Portrait series.
Mischief at the Mansion
5 January 2025
A mischievous troop of no-so-angelic angels escaped the Music Room Christmas tree to stir up holiday magic in the House and Gardens.
Spreading kindness this festive season
24 December 2024
We have a zero-tolerance policy for bullying, abuse, or racism. At Christmas, we want to remind everyone that respect and kindness are at the heart of the Harewood experience.
Mischief in the Making: Interview with Scriptwriter Christina Lewis
27 November 2024
In this interview, Scriptwriter Christina Lewis shares a glimpse into her creative process, the inspiration behind the story, and what it’s like weaving wonder and mischief into the halls of Harewood.
Harewood Biennial 2024: Create/Elevate
20 October 2024
The third edition of Harewood Biennial, Create/Elevate, celebrated the power of craft to surprise, inspire and bring people together to imagine new worlds.
Tour of the Caribbean
20 October 2024
In 1906, the Lascelles family set sail in their yacht, the Dolores, for a several month-long holiday to the Caribbean.
NFU Mutual support new safari experience
21 June 2024
NFU Mutual Agents and their staff at the Boston Spa & Harrogate agency recently nominated local charity Harewood House Trust, to receive a donation of £6,509 from NFU Mutual’s national £1.92million ‘Agency Giving Fund’.
Harewood and the Barbadian Revolt of 1816
14 April 2024
On the evening of the 14 April 1816 – 208 years ago to this day – fires were lit in the sugar cane fields of the Bayleys plantation in the parish of Saint Philip on the island of Barbados.
The Gift of a Green Turtle
11 April 2024
Whilst exploring Harewood’s Old Kitchen, visitors may notice an unusual decoration perched above one of its cooking ranges – a large shell belonging to a green sea turtle.
Sharing Stories from Harewood’s Libraries
7 March 2024
This World Book Day, we’re diving into the stories held within the libraries at Harewood, home to over 10,000 books.
David Harewood: What’s in a Name?
4 March 2024
There are several hundred historic portraits in Harewood House. Until recently, they were exclusively of rich, privileged white people, usually members of the Lascelles family.
Early Autumn in Harewood’s Gardens
3 October 2023
The gardens team at Harewood are responsible for maintaining over 100 acres of beautiful Grade 1 listed gardens, grounds and woodlands.
Heritage Education Trust’s Sandford Award
20 September 2023
Harewood House Trust is delighted once again to become the recipient of the prestigious Heritage Education Trust’s Sandford Award, in recognition of the achievement of the Trust’s Learning programme.
Meet the team: Ella
2 June 2023
Volunteers are an essential part of Harewood, and this week we would like to show our gratitude and give thanks to all of our 200 volunteers for their outstanding volunteer service.
Object in Focus: Orpheus, Harewood’s Iconic Landmark
19 May 2023
Orpheus, the magnificent bronze sculpture by German-born British artist Astrid Zydower, has become an emblem of Harewood’s artistic charm.
Heirs of Slavery
24 April 2023
Harewood House Trust welcomes the creation of the Heirs of Slavery group, which includes David Lascelles, the Earl of Harewood, and other people whose ancestors profited from transatlantic slavery.
Arthur France: Son of a Small Island
27 February 2023
Arthur France: Son of a Small Island told the story of a young boy who grew up in the Caribbean island of Nevis and became one of the leading community figures in Leeds.
Season of tradition with a twist: Christmas at Harewood
8 January 2023
Christmas is the most magical season at Harewood, and each year we bring a fresh, bold twist to the festivities.
Bird Garden and Farm Experience Closure
1 January 2023
It is with huge sadness that the Trustees have reached the conclusion that the Bird Garden and Farm Experience must close.
Gingerbread Harewood House
9 December 2022
We sat down with Klara and asked her about volunteering at Harewood and how her interest in gingerbread began.
Recovering Identity in Harewood’s West Indian Archive
11 August 2022
In this article, Olivia Wyatt discusses the importance of surviving plantation inventories and how they can be used to recover the identities of enslaved African Caribbeans.
The Royal Avenue
1 June 2022
A tree has been planted at Harewood in honour of Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, as part of The Queen’s Green Canopy initiative.
Framing the Renaissance
13 May 2022
The Gallery contains an outstanding collection of Renaissance paintings, many of which are by Venetian artists.
Horticulture and its role in tackling climate change
9 November 2021
During the COP26 climate change conference in Glasgow, the horticulture industry, alongside agriculture and many others, will be presenting its sustainability targets and demonstrating the progress being made towards net zero.
Craft Spotlight: Chris Day
31 October 2021
Chris Day creates glass works that open conversations around Black history, including the Transatlantic trade in enslaved African people. In 'Craft Spotlight' Day brought Harewood’s own history into that dialogue through a work he made for the exhibition.
Bertie Robinson: The Footman from St Vincent
25 October 2021
In 1893, at the age of just 13, George ‘Bertie’ Robinson, became the first (and only) Black member of staff to enter service at Harewood House.
Anthony Burrill on his latest installation Together We Are
30 July 2021
Graphic Artist Anthony Burrill talks us through TOGETHER WE ARE, a new flag installation which creates a series of pausing points along a newly created circular walk.
Monitoring Dust on the State Floor
11 June 2021
We've been monitoring dust across the State Floor to show how frequently objects need cleaning as part of our museum conservation programme.
Bound to Protect: Guardians of Harewood’s Libraries
3 June 2021
There are more than 10,000 books held within the 3 libraries at Harewood, collected by every generation of the Lascelles family and covering a range of different genres.
Meet the team: Sam
13 May 2021
Twelve years ago, Sam suffered a life changing head injury. Discover how volunteering has played a vital role in his journey toward healing and well being.
Cleaning the Chippendale Chairs
23 December 2020
With the House closed due to Covid 19, the conservation team have been deep cleaning the State Bedroom Chippendale Chairs.
Sustainability in Harewood’s Gardens
20 November 2020
Head Gardener Trevor takes us through new processes and methods being implemented across the Gardens, as Harewood looks to the future and more sustainable ways of caring for its Gardens and Grounds.
Object in Focus: Harewood’s Dining Room Chairs
28 October 2020
This chair, part of a set of 20, was made by Thomas Chippendale for the State Dining Room at Harewood House, delivered in around 1771.
Power. Whiteness. Resistance.
24 August 2020
In this blog, Olivia Wyatt, researcher, historian and former Harewood volunteer challenges the ‘facts’ of the archive.
Volunteer on a mission for equality
3 July 2020
This photograph was taken during the first of my many visits to Harewood House.
VE Day: A Double Celebration for Harewood
7 May 2020
75 years ago today, the Allied Nations celebrated Victory in Europe Day, signalling the end of the Second World War.
Harewood Contemporary
31 January 2020
Harewood Contemporary has showcased groundbreaking art for over 30 years, featuring leading artists, including Turner Prize winners, in a pioneering country house setting.
Of Landscape and Literature
11 November 2019
Having always loved words, especially literature relating to landscapes, plants and gardens, I was delighted to accept an invitation from the Ilkley Literature Festival, to speak at their reception for the Festival Friends at the Ilkley Playhouse
In conversation with the Collections Care team
14 August 2019
The Collections Care Team at Harewood House Trust is truly a behind the scenes team, ensuring that the museum-accredited collection is maintained to the highest quality of standards, with conservation and preservation at the top of the list.
Archiving the collection of linen at Harewood
13 June 2019
Over the past three months, a project to document and re-house Harewood's collection of linen, humble to highly decorative, has taken place.
Watch Useful/Beautiful: Why Craft Matters series
12 June 2019
Together with the Crafts Council, we co-produced a series of short films about our current exhibition, Useful/Beautiful: Why Craft Matters.
Marching on together
1 February 2019
David Lascelles, Earl of Harewood, wears his Leeds colours with pride, as he is announced Honorary President of Leeds United, in this the club’s centenary year.
Harewood Biennial 2019: Useful/Beautiful Why Craft Matters
31 January 2019
Q&A with Hugo Macdonald, curator of the inaugural craft exhibition, Useful / Beautiful: Why Craft Matters
Thomas Chippendale’s Tercentenary
20 December 2018
The Chippendale tercentenary this year has successfully marked the birth of this famous influential Yorkshire cabinet maker and Harewood House Trust has played a key role in the celebrations.
In conversation with artist Geraldine Pilgrim
11 December 2018
One of the most exciting aspects of the Chippendale exhibition this year was the contemporary response of the artist Geraldine Pilgrim who considered the relationship between a finished piece of Chippendale furniture and the original material from which is was constructed, wood and the trees from which this wood came.
Seeds of Hope
5 September 2018
Seeds of Hope was an interdisciplinary and innovative response to the centenary of the end of World War I.
Harewood acquires Thomas Chippendale’s famous Director
24 August 2018
Harewood House Trust has marked the tercentenary of Thomas Chippendale with the acquisition of The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker’s Director.
Honouring Thomas Chippendale
19 June 2018
Over 500 residents from Otley visited Harewood on 5 June, to celebrate the 300th anniversary of Master Carpenter, Thomas Chippendale’s baptism.
Professor Ann Sumner on Chippendale’s largest commission
5 June 2018
To mark the Baptism Day of Thomas Chippendale on 5th June 2018, we are publishing a recording of the paper delivered by Ann Sumner at the 42nd Annual Symposium of the Furniture History Society.
In conversation with Dr Adam Bowett
11 May 2018
Professor Ann Sumner shares her experience of the 42nd Annual Symposium of the Furniture History Society which was held on Saturday 14 April 2018 and interviews Dr Adam Bowett, Chairman of the Chippendale Society about the now lost Circular Dressing Room at Harewood House.
Notes for an Axminster Carpet by Rommi Smith
20 May 2017
Acclaimed poet Rommi Smith has written a new poem in response to Harewood House Trust’s on-going reassessment of its historic Axminster carpets.
Costumes from ITV’s Victoria on display
1 September 2016
To celebrate the success ITV's Victoria, the opulent rooms on Harewood’s State Floor will come to life with costumes worn by Jenna Coleman who plays Queen Victoria.
Preparing Harewood for ITV’s Victoria
23 August 2016
Harewood House was recently used as a major set for ITV’s new series, Victoria. The crew filmed across Yorkshire for several months during winter 2015/16; Harewood was fortunate enough to be one of their key locations.
Harewood’s Electricity Story
3 August 2016
Harewood House Trust and University of Leeds have been awarded £5,000 from The Culture Capital Exchange to research the electrification at Harewood House.
Harewood on Film: ITV Victoria
3 December 2015
During December and on into Spring, Harewood will be used as a location for new ITV drama, Victoria, which will air on ITV.
Harewood’s Servants’ Database
25 August 2015
Harewood's Servants' Database records fascinating insights into the people who kept Harewood House operational between 1749 and 1980.
The Harewood Rum Story
29 June 2015
This exhibition told the story of one of the strangest and most extraordinary discoveries at Harewood in recent years - the story of the Harewood Rum.
Battle of Waterloo: what are the odds?
18 June 2015
Three generations of the Lascelles family were wounded in major European wars exactly 100 years apart on June 18 in 1815, 1915, and 1944. What are the chances?
Plans to mark the First World War Centenary
2 September 2014
In September 1914, a seventeen year old Princess requested a meeting with some of the most influential figures of the day including the Duke of Devonshire and the Prime Minister, Hergert Asquith.
Tour de France Grand Départ
26 June 2014
Tour de France kicked off in style with Royal Family visitors, the Red Arrows, perfect weather, and an incredible crowd.
Announcing Gormley at Harewood
6 May 2011
Antony Gormley’s installation will open to the public in the Terrace Gallery at Harewood on 13 August and will run till 30 October.
Sonia Boyce: Crop Over
31 December 2007
Crop Over is a Barbadian festival which evolved from the harvest festivals of England and West Africa.
Carnival Messiah
30 September 2007
Nobody who attended the performances of Geraldine Connor’s epic masterpiece Carnival Messiah at Harewood House will ever forget it.
Reimagining our Landscape
It’s our mission to protect and enhance Harewood House Trust for the benefit of you, our visitors. So from 2023 – 2033 we’ll be Reimagining our Landscape.
Future of Harewood