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Quenby Hall: a
Jacobean jewel in Leicestershire. Space and
tranquility set amidst hills and woods in 1,400
acres.
The private home of
the de Lisle family and extensively restored,
Quenby Hall, a Grade 1 listed building, is now
available for exclusive hire for Weddings, Country
House Weekends, Private or Corporate Dinners,
Meetings and Conferences.
Quenby Hall was built
in 1627. It remains a perfect and unspoiled jewel
of a High Jacobean country house – the finest in
Leicestershire and one of only a handful of such
houses remaining in the UK. Many of the rooms are
the same as they were when the architect conceived
them with beautiful proportions, intricate plaster
ceilings, finely worked panelling and fireplaces.
Quenby’s great claim
to international fame is that Stilton cheese was
first made here, by the housekeeper. Her daughter
lived at the staging inn at Stilton, and sold her
mother’s cheeses …the rest is history. The Old
Dairy is now available for functions: Stilton on
the menu is optional!
It is the home of the
de Lisle family whose ancestry in England dates
back to the Norman conquest of 1066, and have
lived in Leicestershire for over 300 years. Quenby
was built by George Ashby, and it only passed out
of the Ashby family’s hands at the turn of the
20th century.
For most of the
19th century, as a popular part of the Quorn
hunt territory, it had been rented to various keen
hunting enthusiasts including the 5th Marquess of
Waterford and Viscount Downe and possibly the
Empress of Austria: the house was widely famed for
its hospitality and many wild post-hunting parties
– it was Waterford and his friends who were the
origin of a well known phrase when they supposedly
‘painted the town red’ (Melton) after a
particularly lively session!
It was bought in 1904
and restored by Lady Henry Grosvenor who made many
Edwardian improvements and restored much of the
Jacobean interior.
Only twenty years
later it was bought by Sir Harold Nutting who
lived and hunted happily here for 50 years until
his death in 1972. We know that the Queen of
Denmark and Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester
and David Niven stayed here during this era.
The Squire de Lisle
then bought Quenby, to replace the family seat at
Garendon Hall which was demolished in 1964. Quenby
has been extensively restored and now offers the
highest level of warmth and comfort whilst
remaining faithful to its Jacobean heritage.
Private
Stays Although not open to the public on an
open basis, the family offer the hall for guests
to experience
the peace and relaxation of an exclusive private
venue, with the highest level of comfort and
convenience.
Accommodation comprises four double rooms: two
four-posters, two twins, all with en-suite
facilities. There is also one additional single
en-suite bedroom. Price from £75 - £350 per room,
including breakfast. Special rates are available
if all rooms are taken by one party.
Ideally situated for those travelling from the USA
and on into Europe, Quenby Hall is available for
Overnight Stays, Country House Weekends, Hunting
House Parties and Shooting Weekends.
Weddings and Parties
The setting of Quenby
is perfect for weddings, providing both romance
and a sense of scale yet in beautiful rooms which
provide a sense of warmth and intimacy. While you
are here, we aim to ensure that you feel that the
house is yours.
It
is not open to the public and because Quenby is a
family home we limit the number of events
throughout the year. All clients have exclusive
use of the house and will have the peace of mind
that another client won’t be leaving just as they
are arriving.
Quenby is ideally suited
to everything from the intimacy of a very small
private wedding for 10, a country-style barn-dance
for 100, to a grand ball for 500.
The
Management at Quenby Hall have many years
experience in all aspects of planning and
co-ordination of a successful event and will
gladly provide assistance based on their
individual knowledge and experience.
 
 
Corporate Events
At Quenby we offer the
highest level of privacy, comfort and efficiency
in a remarkable historic setting which is unique,
and only 20 minutes from the M1 and the centre of
Leicester.
Our
management can organise all the technical
presentation aids you may require, within our
Jacobean setting. Mr Frederick and The Honourable
Mrs de Lisle are delighted to host your luncheon
or dinner upon request.
Quenby Hall’s dramatic setting on a hilltop at the
end of a half-mile long oak-bordered drive
provides a superb backdrop for product launches.
The height and breadth of the end wall of the
Great Hall provides a dramatic large screen space
for visual presentations.
For
corporate entertaining, the 1400 acres of
parkland, woods and farm offer unparalleled
opportunities for sport of all kinds; clay
shooting, off-road driving, coarse fishing, riding
and hunting, paintballing - even croquet!
Filming
Quenby Hall and the Estate afford a rare and
exceptional historic venue for those seeking an
unusual filming location. The hall is set in 1400
acres of estate land with hills and uninterrupted
views. Please contact us
in advance to arrange scouting visits.
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