The Prestwold Estate
The Prestwold Estate comprises 2,500 acres of farmland, parkland and immaculate gardens, nestled in the charming Leicestershire countryside.
Bolstered by hundreds of years of history and home to the Packe family, the Prestwold Estate comprises beauty, tradition and modern innovation.
Prestwold Hall
Prestwold Hall has been the seat of the Packe family for almost 400 years.
Having been remodelled by architect William Burn between 1842 and 1844, this Grade I listed stately home is truly an impressive feat of architecture.
From the grand Entrance Hall with its painted ceiling inspired by Raphael’s Vatican grotesques to the collection of 18th-century furniture and 20th-century portraiture, there’s something remarkable to admire at every turn.
Gardens
The Prestwold Estate offers the unique and spectacular beauty of a quintessential English country garden.
Prior to William Burn’s reworking of the gardens in 1842, Prestwold Hall was set on an informal lawn with shrubberies and trees. As part of his renovation of Prestwold Hall, Burn created the stunning planted beds and symmetrical gardens that you see today.
From the meticulously tended lawns and gardens to the ancient woodland and rolling parkland, Prestwold Estate’s outdoor space is the perfect backdrop for weddings and celebrations.
St Andrew’s Church
The medieval parish Church of St Andrew has been part of the Prestwold Estate for centuries.
This 13th century church is Grade II listed, and some parts of the present building are over 600 years old. Despite the extensive work commissioned by George Hussey Packe, the tower and chancel have retained much of their original masonry.
St Andrew’s Church still serves the local villages, with regular services taking place, as well as weddings, baptisms and funerals.
History
Prestwold Hall has been the seat of the Packe family since it was acquired by Sir Christopher Packe in 1649, shortly after the death of Charles I.
Throughout its history, the Hall has undergone numerous remodelling and renovation endeavours, most notably by Scottish architect William Burn in 1842. One of his earliest English commissions, it is a wonderful example of a William Burn house in the neoclassical style.
Almost 400 years on, Prestwold Hall remains the home of the Packe-Drury-Lowe family.
Sustainability
In keeping with the traditions of the Victorian stately home, embracing modern technology is a big part of life on the Prestwold Estate.
We pride ourselves on our dedication to sustainability and renewable energy, using environmentally friendly biomass boilers to heat our buildings.
Most notably, the Prestwold Estate is home to one of the largest solar farms in Europe. With 130,000 photovoltaic panels, we produce enough energy to power around 9,000 homes.
Airfield & Motor Circuit
Wymeswold Airfield has one of the longest runways in the county, second only to East Midlands Airport.
Opened in 1942, the airfield was used during the Second World War to train bomber pilots. The long runway was built to accommodate Vickers Wellington bombers, which required a lot of propulsion due to their size.
While planes can still land here if organised with our Estate Team, the airfield is now predominantly used as a motor circuit. Prestwold Driving Centre can be hired for supercar driving experiences, HGV driver training and corporate events.
The Hall Barns
This lovingly renovated barn venue offers a welcome escape from the busy city life.
Originally built as a model farm by Sir Hussey Packe in 1889, the barn’s original purpose was to demonstrate good farming and animal husbandry practices on the Prestwold Estate.
Having been lovingly restored between 2011 and 2021, The Hall Barns now house a unique, rustic event venue for weddings, parties and corporate events.
Estate Gallery
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Contact
If you’re interested in holding an event with us, or you’d like a tour of the Prestwold Estate, get in touch with our Estate Team and we will be delighted to help.
