Slide 1 – Chevet, the seat of the Pilkingtons, is finely situated, and stands in a well wooded park, which rises to a lofty hill, and commands grand views of the surrounding country. The mansion of Chevet was built in the reign of Henry 8th, as appears by the following inscription cut upon a beam of timber:- “Thys hows was made by John Nevyll, Knight, and Dame Elizabeth hys wyf, in the yere of ouar God M.CCCC, XXIX” (1529) It is an irregular building having several interior courts. The south front was added and other alterations made to the original Tudor mansion, during the 18th Century, by Mr Cavendish Nevile. The Neviles held Chevet in direct descent from Henry 7th 1504, until 1720, or 216 years, when John Nevile, the last of the eldest line of this family, died, and the property passed to the Pilkingtons who have possessed it since 1771 and made it their place of residence.
