Shandy Hall

Grade I listed house in North Yorkshire, England

54°11′19″N 1°11′15″W / 54.188650°N 1.187500°W / 54.188650; -1.187500TypeHistoric houseKey holdingsFirst editions of Laurence Sterne's worksCuratorPatrick Wildgust

Shandy Hall is a writer's house museum in the former home of the Rev. Laurence Sterne in Coxwold, North Yorkshire, England. Sterne lived there from 1760 to 1768 as perpetual curate of Coxwold. He is remembered for his novels The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman and A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy.

Architectural history

Plaque commemorating Laurence Sterne at Shandy Hall

The extant buildings result from three major phases of building: a medieval long hall built for the local priest around 1430; this was extended in the 17th century and then significantly altered by Sterne with the income from his novels.[1][2] A stone tablet above its doorway states that Sterne wrote Tristram Shandy and A Sentimental Journey at Shandy Hall. This is not entirely accurate, for two volumes of Tristram Shandy had already been published in 1759 before Sterne moved to Coxwold.

The house is a Grade I listed building. It was extended and altered internally for Sterne and subject to restoration in 1960. The Hall is now administered by the Laurence Sterne Trust, a registered charity,[3] and is open to the public.[4] Shandy Hall featured in the 2006 film A Cock and Bull Story, which was based on Sterne's book Tristram Shandy.[2]

Gallery

  • West entrance of Shandy Hall
    West entrance of Shandy Hall
  • The Parlour
    The Parlour
  • Plaque commemorating the writer Laurence Sterne
    Plaque commemorating the writer Laurence Sterne
  • Medieval wall paintings behind later wood panelling in Shandy Hall's parlour
    Medieval wall paintings behind later wood panelling in Shandy Hall's parlour
  • The formal gardens behind the hall
    The formal gardens behind the hall
  • Sterne's study
    Sterne's study
  • Shandy Hall appearing in a detail of Martin Rowson's graphic novel of The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman
    Shandy Hall appearing in a detail of Martin Rowson's graphic novel of The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman

References

  1. ^ Green, Carole. "Places Features – Shandy Hall". BBC York & North Yorkshire. BBC. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
  2. ^ a b "The History of Shandy Hall". The Laurence Sterne Trust. The Laurence Sterne Trust. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
  3. ^ "The Laurence Sterne Trust, registered charity no. 529593". Charity Commission for England and Wales.
  4. ^ "Laurence Sterne Trust". Laurence Sterne Trust.org.uk. Laurence Sterne Trust. Retrieved 3 November 2014.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Shandy Hall.
  • The Laurence Sterne Trust – official site
  • TristramShandyWeb see the section dedicated to Shandy Hall (with images)
  • Historic England. "Shandy Hall (1315184)". National Heritage List for England.