ONE of Yorkshire's top craft fairs arrives at Newby Hall and Gardens, near Ripon, this weekend for the final few days of the season at this historic venue before its doors are closed for the winter break.

Around 200 exhibitors will be demonstrating and selling their crafts at the Rainbow Craft Fair, which will take up residence in the grounds of Newby Hall from Friday until Sunday.

It will be held under huge marquees and visitors will be able to find gourmet food halls alongside the craft stalls, which will sell just about everything from pottery to homemade cheese.

This weekend will also mark the last opportunity this year for visitors to look around the historic house and gardens as Newby Hall will be closing on Sunday for the winter break.

The house was built in the style of Sir Christopher Wren between 1691 and 1695, although much of the interior was designed later by Robert Adam. It was Adam who designed the domed sculpture gallery and tapestry room to house the treasures brought back from Europe by owner William Wendell after his grand tour of 1765 and 1766. The entire contents of the tapestry room are still in their original condition.

Formal gardens and avenues were begun shortly after the house was built, though today's grounds bear a different character as the present design was largely the creation of the current owner's grandfather, the late Major Edward Compton, who inherited Newby Hall in 1921.

The grounds are now made up of compartmentalised formal gardens around a broad grass walk, each designed to be at their best at certain times of the year, thus creating a garden for all seasons. One to make a point of viewing at this time of year is, for obvious reasons, the Autumn Garden.

Newby Hall is now home to the Compton family and has featured in the BBC television series Heirs and Graces.

Kids will often yawn loudly if confronted with the possibility of a trip to a stately home, but at Newby Hall they are catered for royally thanks to a spectacular adventure garden, which includes a miniature railway, paddling pool, aerial slide, climbing frames, swings and sand pits.

Newby Hall also has a sculpture park to its name, with 50 exhibits of modern sculpture, mostly centred around the ornamental woodland walk.

This weekend's Rainbow Craft Fair is open between 10.30am and 5pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Admission is included in the normal price to enter the gardens.

Entry to the house and gardens costs £7 for adults, £6 for OAPs and £4.50 for people with disabilities and children. Admission to the gardens only costs £5.50 for adults, £4.50 for older folk and £4 for people with disabilities and children.

Updated: 10:08 Wednesday, September 25, 2002