THE HISTORY OF LAMPORT Architecturally, Lamport Hall is of Grade I importance. During the time of the Commonwealth, the Hall was developed from a Tudor Manor and is now best known for its classical frontage. This was started by John Webb in 1655 and completed in the eighteenth century, to the design of Francis Smith of Warwick. The Hall contains a wealth of outstanding furniture, books and paintings collected by the Isham family. Most were bought during the third Baronet’s Grand Tour of Europe, in the 1670s. They include portraits by Van Dyck, Kneller, Lely and others. The fine rooms include: The High Room of 1655, with a magnificent plasterwork ceiling, by William Smith. The 18th Century Library, with ancient tomes from the 16th Century. The early 19th Century Cabinet Room, containing rare Neopolitan cabinets with mythological paintings on glass. The first floor has undergone lengthy restoration, allowing further paintings and furniture to be displayed. This also houses a photographic record of Sir Gyles Isham, a Hollywood actor, who initiated the restoration. The Isham family lived at Lamport for over 400 years, until Sir Gyles Isham, the 12th Baronet, died in 1976. In his will he bequeathed the Hall, with its contents and Estate, to the Trust. The Lamport Hall Trust is a charitable organisation, established for the public benefit and controlled by a governing body of Trustees. GARDENS The Hall is set in tranquil gardens, enclosed by a spacious park. Of the gardens originally laid out in 1655, by Gilbert Clarke, only the surrounding banks and large wrought iron gates still remain. There are several sycamores and cedars, which were planted in the 1820s by Mary Isham, a redoubtable Irish Lady, responsible for the planting in the surrounding parkland. Sir Charles Isham, the son of Mary Isham, inherited his mother’s love of gardening. He is responsible for the present day appearance with a small Italian garden and the remarkable rockery. This is the earliest alpine garden in England, rising like a ruined castle and 24 feet tall. Sir Charles peopled it with miniature figures, the world’s first garden gnomes. The only remaining original is on view in the Hall. Today the gardens include extensive herbaceous borders and shrubbery walks containing some rare and interesting plants.