Lilford Hall
Lilford Hall
Vorlage:Infobox Historic building
Lilford Hall is located in Eastern Northamptonshire, north of Thrapston. The Hall has been home of Lord Lilford since 1635 and has also served as nurse's quarters for USAAF 303rd Station Hospital during WWII. Lilford Hall and associated parkland of 350 acres is located north-west of the village of Wigsthorpe.
The hall was built around 1635 and alterations were made in the 18th Century by Henry Flitcroft for Thomas Powys. His grandson was created the first Lord Lilford by William Pitt, and Lilford Hall remained the family home until the mid-1940's when it was sold to pay death duties of the fifth Lord Lilford. The Family however retained their estate of Bank Hall, Bretherton,Lancashire, which they used as a summer house in the late 1800's.
Thomas Littleton Powys, 4th Baron Lilford (18 March 1833 - 17 June 1896), was a famous ornithologist. Lilford was one of the eight founders of the British Ornithologists' Union in 1858 and its President from 1867 until his death. He was also the first President of the Northamptonshire Natural History Society. Lilford travelled widely, especially in the Mediterranean Region and his extensive collection of birds was maintained in the grounds of Lilford Hall. His aviaries featured birds from around the globe, including rheas, kiwis, Pink-headed Ducks and even a pair of free-flying Lammergeiers. He was responsible for the introduction of the Little Owl into England in the 1880s.
The seventh Lord Lilford bought back Lilford Hall and Park and for 20 years the restocked aviaries, containing more than 350 birds of 110 species had been open to the public. In the autumn of 1990 Lilford park was closed to the public, and the Hall and Park is now owned by the Micklewright family.