From 1914 to 1980, Duncombe Park served as a girls’ boarding school, ensuring continued care of the fabric and safeguarding its future—even as its use evolved dramatically
Preserving the Past: National Trust & Modern Era
In 1972 the Rievaulx Terrace and its follies were transferred to the National Trust, reflecting growing appreciation for the historic landscape’s communal value
After the school closed in 1980, the 6th Baron Feversham oversaw the house’s restoration, adapting it as a private family home. On his death in 2009, the estate passed to his younger son, Jake Duncombe, rather than his eldest
The house closed to the public in 2011, but in 2013 the National Centre for Birds of Prey opened on-site, augmenting the estate’s appeal as a family–oriented attraction shutdown123