Wollaton Hall Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description
Wollaton Hall is a stately home in Nottingham, England completed in 1588 for Sir Frances Willoughby by the Elizabethan architect, Robert Smythson (also the architect of Hardwick Hall). The building consists of a high central hall, surrounded by four towers. Unfortunately, Smythson's interior was destroyed by fire, a remodelling was carried out by Sir Jeffrey Wyatwille in 1801.
Now owned by the City of Nottingham, it currently houses Francis Willughby and John Ray's natural history collection of stuffed animals and birds.
In 1855 Joseph Paxton designed a near replica of Wollaton Hall in Buckinghamshire, now known as Mentmore Towers.