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Historic place review: Ham House (National Trust), Ham, Richmond, Surrey, England

Posted in Historic places and sites, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on May 12, 2013 | Leave a Comment »

Historic place review: Ham House (National Trust)
Date of visit: 2 May 2013
Ham Street, Richmond-upon-Thames, TW10 7RS
Ham House – map
Telephone: 020 8940 1950
Email: hamhouse@nationaltrust.org.uk
OS Grid Ref: 176:TQ172732
Review by: Alexa Williamson
Rating: ***** (out of 5)
Review commentary follows after history

Ham House - Nutshell history from Wikipedia: “Ham House is situated beside the River Thames in Ham, south of Richmond in London, United Kingdom. It is claimed by the National Trust to be “unique in Europe as the most complete survival of 17th century fashion and power.”

Early years
Ham in the early 17th century was bestowed by James I to his son, Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales.

The house was built in 1610 by Sir Thomas Vavasour, Knight Marshal to James I. It originally comprised an H-plan layout consisting of nine bays and three storeys. The Thames-side location was ideal for Vavasour, allowing him to move between the courts at Richmond, London and Windsor.

With death of the Prince of Wales in 1618, the lands at Ham and Petersham passed to James’ second son, Charles, several years prior to his coronation in 1625. After Vavasour’s death in 1620, the house was granted to John Ramsay, 1st Earl of Holderness until his death in 1626.

William Murray, 1st Earl of Dysart
In 1626 Ham House was leased to William Murray, whipping boy and close childhood friend of Charles I. Murray’s initial lease was for 39 years and, in 1631, a further 14 years added but this did not give long term security of tenure for Murray’s family. When George Cole had to sell his property in Petersham as part of the enclosure of Richmond Park in 1637, he made over the remaining leases of the Manors of Ham and Petersham to Murray. Murray sought to obtain the freehold but both this and a further bid in 1641 were unsuccessful.[4] The neighbouring Manor of Canbury (Kingston) was also granted to William in 1640, but, in 1641, he passed it to Thomas Bruce, Lord Elgin, a relative of his wife.[5]William and his wife, Catherine, extensively redecorated and refurbished the interior of the house, many features of which survive to this day including the great staircase.

Prior to the outbreak of the English Civil War, Murray shrewdly transferred ownership of the house to his wife for the duration of her life and thereafter to his four daughters, to be held in trust. The principal trustee was Lord Elgin who, as an important Scottish Presbyterian and Parliamentarian supporter, thus afforded the estate and family a degree of political protection.

During the Civil War, the house and estates were sequestrated, but persistent appeals by Catherine regained them in 1646 on payment of a £500 fine. Thus Catherine skilfully defended ownership of the house throughout the Civil War and Commonwealth, and, despite Murray’s close ties with the Royalist cause, the house remained in the family’s possession. Shortly after the execution of Charles I on 30 January 1649, Catherine died at Ham on 18 July 1649. The parliamentarians sold off much of the Royal Estate, including the Manors of Ham and Petersham. These, inclusive of Ham House, were bought for £1,131.18s on 13 May 1650 by William Adams, the steward acting on behalf of Murray’s eldest daughter, Elizabeth and her husband Lionel Tollemache, 3rd Baronet of Helmingham Hall, Suffolk. Ham House became Elizabeth and Lionel’s primary residence, as Murray was predominately exiled in France.

Elizabeth and Lionel Tollemache, 3rd Baronet of Helmingham Hall
Elizabeth continued her parents’ political support of the Royalist cause and she and her husband became members of the Sealed Knot. Between 1649 and 1661, Elizabeth bore eleven children, five of whom survived to adulthood; Lionel, Thomas, William, Elizabeth and Catherine. Elizabeth and Lionel made few substantial changes to the house during this busy time. On the Restoration in 1660, Charles II rewarded Elizabeth with a pension of £800 for life and, whilst many of the parliamentarian sales of Royal lands were put aside, Elizabeth retained the titles to the Manors of Ham and Petersham. In addition, in about 1665, following William’s death, Lionel was granted freehold of 75 acres (30 ha; 0.117 sq mi) of land in Ham and Petersham including that surrounding the house and a 61 year lease of 289 acres (117 ha; 0.452 sq mi) of demesne lands. The grant was made in trust to Robert Murray for the daughters of the, then, late Earl of Dysart, “in consideration of the service done by the late Earl of Dysart and his Daughter, and of the losses sustained by them by the enclosure of the New Park.” Lionel died in 1668, leaving his Ham and Petersham estate to Elizabeth.

More history of Ham House available at Wikipedia.”

Review commentary: Put in simple terms, Ham House is stunning. The estate consists of large grounds, which also houses a large garden and the house, which is many stories and rooms. Decorated in the appropriate 17th century style, the house is elegant and has much beautiful furniture and upholstery in it as well as lovely ceramics and paintings.

From the house and accompanying manicured gardens (including a kitchen garden and ‘wilderness’ – an area of the garden with wildflowers and trees), you will get a sense of how the Murrays and the Tollemaches lived during the reigns of Charles I and Charles II and beyond. There are many rooms including a library, bedchambers, dining room, the long gallery, kitchen, Elizabeth Murray’s bathroom (in the basement), the Queen’s bedchamber and many more rooms. Plus, a great wooden staircase that connects the upstairs and the downstairs. On a nice day it is worth walking in the garden then relaxing in them and any time, it is worth seeing the house as it is large and has many stories and history to it.

Ham House has various events throughout the year (mainly in the spring and summer) and also a standard house tour and also garden tour. There is also a shop and restaurant and small café on site. Plus, much lovely outdoor seating and views to the river and to Ham Common. If you are looking for history and elegance, you will find it in abundance here.

Further information:
Ham House (National Trust – official site)
National Trust (official site)
Ham House (Wikipedia)

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Historic place review: Hatchlands Park (National Trust), East Clandon, Guildford, Surrey, England

Posted in Historic places and sites, tagged , , , , , , , , , on May 12, 2013 | Leave a Comment »

Historic place review: Hatchlands Park (National Trust)
East Clandon, Guildford, Surrey, GU4 7RT
Hatchlands Park – map
Telephone: 01483 222 482
Email: hatchlands@nationaltrust.org.uk
OS Grid Ref: 187:TQ063516
Review by: Alexa Williamson
Date of visit: 1 May 2013
Overall rating: ***** (out of 5)
Review commentary follows after history

Hatchlands Park - Nutshell history from Wikipedia: “The park initially belonged to the Chertsey Abbey with the park being mentioned in the Domesday Book. In 1544, after the dissolution of the monasteries, it was granted by Henry VIII to Sir Anthony Browne and his wife, Lady Elizabeth Fitzgerald (commonly known as ‘The Fair Geraldine’). The first visual record of the park is shown on a John Seller map of 1693.

The park was purchased in 1750 by Admiral Boscawen who landscaped the grounds; for the house he employed the architect Stiff Leadbetter. Admiral Boscawen‘s widow, Fanny sold the estate in 1770 to the Sumner family of the East India Company; both father and son made further alterations to the property. The father, William Brightwell Sumner commissioned Benjamin Armitage to make alterations, and his son, George Holme Sumner asked Humphry Repton (1752–1818) to redesign the park and garden. Towards the end of the century, Joseph Bonomi, ARA, was commissioned to alter several rooms and to impose a frontispiece on the west front.

In 1888, the Sumner family sold the estate to Stuart, later Stuart Rendel, 1st Baron Rendel. He had extensive changes made to the fabric of the house. Rendel was mainly his own architect but he also employed his nephew by marriage, Halsey Ricardo, and commissioned Reginald Blomfield to build the Music Room. Rendel coloured and gilded Adam‘s ceilings, embellished the staircase with rococo decorations and switched the main entrance of the house to the east. Rendel also commissioned Gertrude Jekyll to design the gardens which contain a parterre.

Hatchlands Park was passed to the National Trust by a grandson of Lord Rendel and is open to the public, but closed in the winter months. There is a café and shop. There is a cobbled courtyard and in the grounds there is a disused ice house.

House interior
The house contains splendid interiors by Robert Adam, decorated in appropriately nautical style: anchors, cannon, dolphins and sea-nymphs are presided over by Neptune himself run through the house reflecting its first owner Admiral Boscawen.”

Review commentary: Hatchlands Park is a beautiful, large and open estate with a big and wonderful house on it, which has been owned by the National Trust since the 20th century. With the park dating back to the Domesday Book a lot has happened here and the house underwent a lot of work in the 18th and 19th centuries.

When you view it, currently, you can see and feel the various eras that the house has been built and you can see interesting furniture and ceramics and upholstery from these times. There is also a large collection of musical instruments and, currently, with the current tenant a good collection of paintings – including a portrait of William Shakespeare. The house is host, currently, to numerous concerts throughout the year and some of the pianos on display were used by classical music composers JS Bach, Frederic Chopin and Felix Mendelssohn.

The grounds are, generally, lovely grass lawns – with a gazebo in one area and a fountain in front of the house. However, there are also many wooded and field walks here. On site, there is also a shop and tea room/restaurant.

Hatchlands Park, in the summer and autumn, has a lively events calendar and it is also worth coming to enjoy the grounds and view the house on a sunny day. This is a lovely, interesting and peaceful place to visit.

Further information:
Hatchlands Park (National Trust – official site)
National Trust (official site)
Hatchlands Park (Wikipedia)

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Historic place review: Clandon Park (National Trust), West Clandon, Guildford, Surrey, England

Posted in Historic places and sites, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on May 12, 2013 | Leave a Comment »

Historic place review: Clandon Park
West Clandon, Guildford, Surrey GU4 7RQ
Clandon Park – map
Telephone: 01483 222 482
Email: clandonpark@nationaltrust.org.uk
OS Grid Ref: 186:TQ042512
Review by: Alexa Williamson
Date of visit: 1 May 2013
Overall rating: ***** (out of 5)
Review commentary follows after history

Clandon Park - Nutshell history from Wikipedia: “Clandon Park is an 18th-century Palladian mansion in West Clandon just outside Guildford, Surrey, in the United Kingdom. It has been a National Trust property since 1956.

The house was built, or perhaps thoroughly rebuilt, around 1730–33 (the latter date is on rainwater leads), designed by the Venetian architect Giacomo Leoni, replacing an Elizabethan property. The estate had been bought in 1641, together with Temple Court Farm at Merrow, by Sir Richard Onslow, MP for Surrey in the Long Parliament, from Sir Richard Weston, canal builder & pioneering agriculturalist, of nearby Sutton Place. The new building was commissioned by his great-grandson Thomas, 2nd Baron Onslow. Many members of the Onslow family followed political careers—three of them, including Arthur Onslow, were Speakers of the House of Commons.

Clandon Park’s interiors, which were finished into the 1740s, feature a two-storey Marble Hall, containing marble chimney pieces by English sculptor Michael Rysbrack. Since being presented to the National Trust, the house has been extensively restored and redecorated under the direction of John Fowler. The building now houses the fine collection of 18th century furniture and porcelain formed by Hannah, Mrs David Gubbay, and the Ivo Forde Meissen collection of Italian comedy figures and Mortlake tapestries and other textiles and carpets. The building also houses the Queen’s Royal Surrey Regiment Museum.”

Review commentary: If you like stately homes, then Clandon Park is worth a visit as it is well kept and you get a feel for what the house was like in the 1700s right up to the 20th century as the content of the rooms varies and houses different pieces of furniture, fixtures, paintings, art and ceramics. However, there is a consistent feeling of elegance and old world England, throughout the house, as it is in excellent upkeep and the house itself maintains the style that it was originally built in.

In Clandon Park you will see the wonderful ceramics collections of Ivo Forde, which contains many Commedia del Arte Meissen ceramics figurines as well as the interesting porcelain collection of Mrs Hannah Gubbay. Both are large and beautiful collections of European ceramics and Mrs Gubbay’s collection also includes British and Asian ceramics. (Some of my favourite pieces of Mrs Gubbay’s collection were the Derbyshire flower centrepieces).

During World War I, the house was also used as a military hospital for soldiers and officers to recover. The house was gifted to the National Trust in 1956 and they have kept it in beautiful condition since.

Clandon Park is a lovely and regal place to explore. The staff were exceptionally knowledgeable, kind and patient as well and there is a tea room/restaurant and shop on site. Plus, the House has various events, for the public, during the year. Worth checking opening times as it also has a schedule for private events such as weddings so can be closed to the public.

Further information:
Clandon Park (National Trust – official site)
National Trust (official site)
Clandon Park (Wikipedia)

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Historic place review: Cliveden (National Trust, Taplow, Maidenhead, Berkshire, England)

Posted in Historic places and sites, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , on May 12, 2013 | Leave a Comment »

Historic place review: Cliveden (National Trust)
Cliveden Road, Taplow, Maidenhead, Berkshire SL6 0JA
Cliveden - map
Email: cliveden@nationaltrust.org.uk
Telephone: 01628 605 069
OS Grid Ref: 175:SU915851
Review by: Alexa Williamson
Date of visit: 11 May 2013
Overall rating: **** (out of 5)
Review commentary follows after history

Cliveden - Nutshell history from Wikipedia: “Cliveden (pronounced /ˈklɪvdən/) is an Italianate mansion and estate at Taplow, Buckinghamshire, England. Set on banks 40 metres (130 ft) above the River Thames, its grounds slope down to the river. The site has been home to an Earl, three Countesses, two Dukes, a Prince of Wales and the Viscounts Astor.

As home of Nancy Astor, the house was the meeting place of the Cliveden set of the 1920s and 1930s—a group of political intellectuals. Later, during the 1960s, it became the setting for key events of the notorious Profumo Affair. During the 1970s, it was occupied by Stanford University of California, who used it as an overseas campus. Today owned by the National Trust, the house is leased as a five-star hotel run by London & Regional Properties.

Cliveden means “valley among cliffs” and refers to the dean or valley which cuts through the estate to the east of the house. Cliveden has been spelled differently over the centuries, some of the variations being Cliffden, Clifden, Cliefden and Clyveden. The 375 acres (152 ha) gardens and woodlands are open to the public, together with parts of the house on certain days. There have been three houses on this site: the first, built in 1666, burned down in 1795 and the second house (1824) was also destroyed by fire, in 1849. The present Grade 1 listed house was built in 1851 by the architect Charles Barry for George Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, 2nd Duke of Sutherland.

Present House
Designed by Sir Charles Barry in 1851 to replace a house previously destroyed by fire, the present house is a blend of the English Palladian style and the Roman Cinquecento. The Victorian three-story mansion sits on a 400-foot (120 m) long, 20-foot (6.1 m) high brick terrace or viewing platform (visible only from the south side) which dates from the mid-seventeenth century. The exterior of the house is rendered in Roman cement, with terracotta additions such as balusters, capitals, keystones and finials. The roof of the mansion is meant for walking on, and there is a circular view, above the tree-line, of parts of Buckinghamshire and Berkshire, including Windsor Castle to the south.

Early History
Cliveden stands on the site of a house built in 1666 designed by architect William Winde as the home of George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham. But before Buckingham’s purchase the land was owned by the Mansfield family and before that to the de Clyveden family.

The details are recorded in a document compiled by William Waldorf Astor in 1894 called “The Historical Descent of Cliveden”. It shows that in 1237 the land was owned by Geoffrey de Clyveden and by 1300 it had passed to his son, William, who owned fisheries and mills along the Cliveden Reach stretch of the Thames and at nearby Hedsor.

The document also shows that in 1569 a lodge existed on the site along with 50 acres (200,000 m2) of land and was owned by Sir Henry Manfield and later his son, Sir Edward. In 1573 there were two lodges on 160 acres (650,000 m2) of treeless chalk escarpment above the Thames. It was on this impressively high but exposed site that Buckingham chose to build the first Cliveden house.

Buckingham pulled down the earlier buildings and chose William Winde as his architect. Winde designed a four-storey house above an arcaded terrace. Today, the terrace is the only feature of Buckingham’s house to survive the 1795 fire. Although the Duke’s intention was to use Cliveden as a “hunting box” he later housed his mistress Anna, Countess of Shrewsbury there. A contemporary account of Buckingham’s antics with Anna is recounted by Samuel Pepys in his diary of the period.”

Review commentary: Set in the rolling hills and farmland of Berkshire, Cliveden – the house and grounds are a historic and breathtaking place. It seems, these days, that in very few places are there such large, manicured gardens.

Owned by the National Trust since 1942, the property is well-maintained and also, currently, the building is used as a 5-star hotel with timed entry, on a tour, to a few of the downstairs rooms available on Thursdays and Sundays (NB: this is correct as of May 2013, but is subject to change).

So, if you go you may go for the tour but are more likely to go to see the grounds and visit the park and maze. The grounds at the back of the house are stunning and you are allowed to gaze out over the garden and surrounding hills from the balcony of the house and also walk through the grounds. The gardens have been planted with flowers in specific designs and also have a grassy avenue to walk down through.

Also on the estate is a maze and a garden with a Japanese water feature. Plus, the grounds hold many walking trails. On site amenities also include a National Trust restaurant and tea room and a shop. This a lovely place to visit at all times of year but particularly in the summer months.

Further information:
Cliveden (National Trust – official site)
National Trust (official site)
Cliveden (Wikipedia)

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Historic place review: Basildon Park (a National Trust property, Lower Basildon, Reading, Berkshire, England)

Posted in Historic places and sites, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , on May 11, 2013 | Leave a Comment »

Historic site review: Basildon Park (National Trust)
Lower Basildon, Reading, RG8 9NE
Telephone: 0118 984 3040
Email: basildonpark@nationaltrust.org.uk
OS Grid Ref: 175:SU611782
Basildon Park – map
Date of visit: 11 May 2013
Review by: Alexa Williamson
Rating: ***** (out of 5)

Basildon Park is a lovely day out! Nothing can do this lovely estate justice until you get there and see it for yourself. And with the country house in an excellent state of decor – from the frieze-laden, sculpted ceilings to the lovely paintings to the canopy beds to the porcelain vases and Staffordshire pottery and much more – it is no wonder that Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (starring Keira Knightley) was filmed here in 2005.

Basildon Park, which was originally built between 1776 to 1783 and designed by John Carr for Sir Richard Sykes is a beautiful building with huge rooms and many windows. It is done in a relaxed Palladian style and the building itself is much fun to wander through. The furnishings also give it an exceptionally elegant feel, but that and the bedding and other things also make you want to snuggle up and relax.

Yes, the house is set up to show it off but it does not, happily, feel like a museum and even though parts of certain rooms are cordoned off it does not feel unwelcoming. The grounds around the house and the rolling hills are also lovely and you feel a huge sense of space. The fresh air and short cut lawns (with flowers) are lovely and they even provide lounge chairs to rest, relax and possibly read or snooze on. This, and the shops and out buildings that have exhibitions and activities are all great. And, for those who want something to eat or drink there is also a tea room on site. Overall, Basildon Park is a lovely countryside experience which you can do for a couple of hours or make a day out of. Wellworth a visit and good value for money.

[Thanks also to Lord and Lady Iliffe, who bought and also restored the state in the 1950s - many pieces of Lady Iliffes seashell collection are on display, as is, of course their 1950s taste and furniture (upstairs). Basildon Park was left to the National Trust in 1979 byLord Iliffe and has been kept in excellent repair since then - as witnessed today. Before they bought Basildon Park, during World War I and II, for awhile it housed military personell.]

Further information:
Basildon Park (National Trust)
National Trust (official site)
Basildon Park (Wikipedia)

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Historic place review: Scotney Castle, Lamberhurst, Kent, England (National Trust)

Posted in Historic places and sites, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on May 6, 2013 | 1 Comment »

Historic place review: Scotney Castle (National Trust)
Lamberhurst, Tunbridge Wells, TN3 8JN
Scotney Castle - map
Telephone: 01892 893820
Email: scotneycastle@nationaltrust.org.uk
OS Grid Ref: 188:TQ688353
Review by: Alexa Williamson
Date of visit: 4 May 2013
Overall rating: ***** (out of 5)
Review commentary follows after history

Scotney Castle - Nutshell history from Wikipedia:
“Scotney Castle is an English country house with formal gardens south-east of Lamberhurst in the valley of the River Bewl in Kent, England. It belongs to the National Trust.

The gardens, which are a celebrated example of the Picturesque style, are open to the public. The central feature is the ruins of a medieval, moated manor house, Scotney Old Castle, which is on an island on a small lake. The lake is surrounded by sloping, wooded gardens with fine collections of rhododendrons, azaleas and kalmia for spring colour, summer wisteria and roses, and spectacular autumn colour.

At the top of the garden stands a house which was built to replace the Old Castle between 1835 and 1843. This is known as Scotney New Castle, or simply Scotney Castle, and was designed by Anthony Salvin. It is an early, and unusually restrained, example of Tudor Revival architectural style in 19th century Britain. Following the death of the resident, Elizabeth Hussey, in 2006, this house was opened to the public for the first time on June 6, 2007.

The earliest record from 1137 gives the owner of the estate as Lambert de Scoteni. Roger Ashburnham is credited with building the castle c.1378-80.

Construction of the castle began as a roughly rectangular fortified house with towers in each corner. The original plan may never have been finished, and by 1558 it is likely only the southern tower remained. In 1580 the south wing was rebuilt in Elizabethan architecture style, and around 1630 the eastern range was rebuilt in three story Inigo Jones style. The Elizabethan wing remained a bailiff’s residence until 1905, but the eastern range was partly dismantled on the completion of the new house in 1843, leaving the ruin as a garden feature.

Catholic Recusant owner Thomas Darrell hid Jesuit Father Richard Blount, S.J. in the castle while he administered to Roman Catholics from 1591 to 1598. Catholicism was then illegal in England, and during the second raid by authorities to arrest the Father he fled over a wall into the moat and escaped.

The Darrell family owned the estate for some 350 years. In 1778 Edward Hussey bought the estate and his grandson, also Edward, built the ‘new’ Castle to the designs of Anthony Salvin, from sandstone quarried from the slope below. The hollow created was developed into a Quarry Garden and contains a 100 million year old impression of a dinosaur’s footprint.

On Christopher Hussey’s death in 1970 the estate was left to the National Trust. Several apartments in the castle and on the estate were let out by the Trust, with tenants including Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher who rented the Belfry flat for a time during the 1970s and 1980s, when it served as a weekend escape for her from Westminster life.

The castle grounds have played host to Shakespeare productions, notably A Midsummer Night’s Dream, with the actors appearing from behind the bushes on cue.

Old Scotney Castle was used as the location for the video to the Squeeze song Some Fantastic Place.”

Review commentary: Set back in the rolling hills of Kent, this is a lovely estate with – old castle ruins, gardens, small lake and also stunning 19th century country house (what an amazing place it must be on a stormy night or for a murder mystery re-enactment or a party!).

If you love old country houses dating from the 19th century and also old castle ruins and rolling green hills, then you will enjoy your visit to Scotney Castle. This is a very clever historic site as it has both a ‘newer’ country house that is beautiful for its dark wood interiors and suitable furniture to match, plus also the castle ruins and gardens with bright colourful flowers, leaves and trees and bushes and finally the deep rolling green hills.

Its very peaceful and picturesque and you will be able to take some great pictures due to the different vistas you can take the pictures on.

The sandstone that the new house is made of is thick and very impressive and the upstairs has been left the way Elizabeth Hussey, the last resident of the house, decorated it – each bedroom is very distinctive as is the pink main bedroom and pink bathroom! Mrs Hussey also liked her cats and her pinks and flowers.

Worth the day out and much fun to be had in and outside. For those who want to buy National Trust momentos and gifts or have something to eat or drink there is a National Trust shop in the old stable and a cafe in the coaching house (an interesting way to see and experience the outbuildings of the house).

Further information:
Scotney Castle (National Trust – official site)
National Trust (official site)
Scotney Castle (Wikipedia)

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Historic place review: Sissinghurst Castle, near Cranbrook, Kent, England (National Trust)

Posted in Historic places and sites, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on May 6, 2013 | Leave a Comment »

Historic place review: Sissinghurst Castle (National Trust)
Biddenden Road, near Cranbrook, TN17 2AB
Sissinghurst Castle – map
Telephone: 01580 710700
Email: sissinghurst@nationaltrust.org.uk
OS Grid Ref:  188:TQ810380
Review by: Alexa Williamson
Date of visit: 4 May 2013
Overall rating: ***** (out of 5)
Review follows after history 

Sissinghurst Castle - Nutshell history from Wikipedia:
“Sissinghurst’s garden was created in the 1930s by Vita Sackville-West, poet and gardening writer, and her husband Harold Nicolson, author and diplomat. Sackville-West was a writer on the fringes of the Bloomsbury Group who found her greatest popularity in the weekly columns she contributed as gardening correspondent of The Observer, which incidentally—for she never touted it—made her own garden famous. The garden itself is designed as a series of “rooms”, each with a different character of colour and/or theme, the walls being high clipped hedges and many pink brick walls. The rooms and “doors” are so arranged that, as one enjoys the beauty in a given room, one suddenly discovers a new vista into another part of the garden, making a walk a series of discoveries that keeps leading one into yet another area of the garden. Nicolson spent his efforts coming up with interesting new interconnections, while Sackville-West focused on making the flowers in the interior of each room exciting.

For Sackville-West, Sissinghurst and its garden rooms came to be a poignant and romantic substitute for Knole, reputedly the largest house in Britain, which as the only child of Lionel, the 3rd Lord Sackville she would have inherited had she been a male, but which had passed to her cousin as the male heir.

The site is ancient— “hurst” is the Saxon term for “an enclosed wood”. A manorhouse with a three-armed moat was built here in the Middle Ages. By 1305, Sissinghurst was impressive enough for King Edward I to spend the night. In 1490, Thomas Baker purchased Sissinghurst. The house was given a new brick gatehouse in the 1530s by Sir John Baker, one of Henry VIII’s Privy Councillors, and hugely enlarged in the 1560s by his son Sir Richard Baker, when it became the centre of a 700-acre (2.8 km2) deer park. In 1573, Queen Elizabeth I spent three nights at Sissinghurst.

After the collapse of the Baker family in the late 17th century, the building had many uses: as a prisoner-of-war camp during the Seven Years’ War; as the workhouse for the Cranbrook Union; after which it became homes for farm labourers.

Sackville-West and Nicolson found Sissinghurst in 1930 after concern that their property Long Barn, near Sevenoaks, Kent, was close to development over which they had no control. Although Sissinghurst was derelict, they purchased the ruins and the farm around it and began constructing the garden we know today. The layout by Nicolson and planting by Sackville-West were both strongly influenced by the gardens of:

Sissinghurst was first opened to the public in 1938.”

Review commentary: The beauty of Sissinghurst Castle and garden shows the creativity of Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson as well as a big thank you and kudos to the National Trust for keeping it in excellent condition. Sissinghurst Castle and gardens is exactly what it says – a castle including an Elizabethan Tower that you can climb to admire your surroundings and the beautiful rolling hills of the countryside as well as a part-manicured, part-wild garden. Walking through the flowers, grass and trees, as well as admiring the 15th century Elizabethan buildings, is much fun. The National Trust have also been wise to place a few benches around Sissinghurst so you can sit in the countryside and watch the river, the gardens, the fields, bask in the sun and read or chat or sit quietly. Outside of the garden is a farm shop, gift shop, plant shop, small restuarant and a cafe plus ample parking and country lanes and fields that you can walk through. Much worth a day out either on its own or while also seeing Knole or Scotney Castle (which is another National Trust property nearby). Gardens are just big enough so you can enjoy them without feel overwhelmed (if they were too big) or underwhelmed (if they were too small). Very peaceful, vibrant and, again, beautiful.

Further information:
Sissinghurst Castle (National Trust – official site)
Sissinghurst Castle (Wikipedia)
National Trust (official site)
Knole (National Trust)
Scotney Castle (National Trust)
Knole House review (The London Reviewer)
Scotney Castle review (The London Reviewer)

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Historic place review: Ightham Mote (National Trust, Ivy Hatch, Kent, England)

Posted in Historic places and sites, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on April 29, 2013 | Leave a Comment »

Historic place review: Ightham Mote (National Trust)
Mote Road, Sevenoaks, TN15 0NT
Ightham Mote - map
Telephone: 01732 810378 (extension 100)
Email: ighthammote@nationaltrust.org.uk
OS Grid Ref: 188:TQ584535
Review by: Alexa Williamson
Date of visit: 28 April 2013
Overall rating: ***** (out of 5)
Review commentary follows after history

Ightham Mote - Nutshell history from Wikipedia:
“Ightham Mote (pronounced “item moat”) is a medieval moated manor house close to the village of Ightham, near Sevenoaks in Kent.

The name “mote” derives from “moot”, “meeting [place]“, rather than referring to the body of water. Ightham Mote and its gardens are owned by the National Trust (NT) and open to the public. The house is now a Grade I listed building, and parts of it are a Scheduled Ancient Monument.

Originally dating to around 1320, the building’s importance lies in the fact that successive owners effected relatively few changes to the main structure, after the completion of the quadrangle with a new chapel in the 16th century. Nikolaus Pevsner called it “the most complete small medieval manor house in the country”, and it remains an example that shows how such houses would have looked in the Middle Ages. Unlike most courtyard houses of its type, which have had a range demolished, so that the house looks outward, Nicholas Cooper observes that Ightham wholly surrounds its courtyard and looks inward, into it, offering little information externally.

There are over seventy rooms in the house, all arranged around a central courtyard. The house is surrounded on all sides by a square moat, crossed by three bridges. The earliest surviving evidence is for a house of the early 14th century, with the Great Hall, to which were attached, at the high, or dais end, the Chapel, Crypt and two Solars. The courtyard was completely enclosed by increments on its restricted moated site and the battlemented tower constructed in the 15th century. Very little of the 14th century survives on the exterior behind rebuilding and refacing of the 15th and 16th centuries.

The structures include unusual and distinctive elements, such as the porter’s squint, a narrow slit in the wall designed to enable a gatekeeper to examine a visitor’s credentials before opening the gate. An open loccia with a fifteenth-century gallery above, connects the main accommodations with the gatehouse range. A large kennel was built in the late 19th century for a St. Bernard named Dido is the only Grade I listed dog house.

Review commentary: Located out in the rambling hills and lanes of Kent (and approximately 7 miles from the town of Sevenoaks, Ightham Mote is a large, jolly home that is a delight to visit.

Dating back to the 13th century and comprising at least 70 rooms, you will have much fun here because there are so many rooms to visit, that are left open, and decorated like a house – so it feels like you are visiting where someone lives instead of a museum. Plus, the staff are nice and knowledgeable, the building feels airy and the lighting in the building is also good. With much natural lighting and the shades/curtains not drawn (some NT and other places do this to preserve furnishings and colours), the visit here is much fun and you feel like you are stepping back in time to visit the house from a bygone century. Also, the information sheets available in each room are also very good and you learn how each room was used, through the centuries, by various people in the house.

Three main owners of the house were the Selbys, who owned it for about 300 years from 1591, the Colyer-Fergussons and finally Charles Henry Robinson who bought the house and owned it from 1953 to his death in 1985. There are many memorable rooms in the house but for me, some of my favourites were: downstairs: the butler’s pantry and housekeeper’s room and Charles Henry Robinson’s bedroom and study, and upstairs: the sitting room that you enter as as you begin the tour upstairs, the Victorian bathroom, the Colyer Fergusson’s three sons’ bedrooms, the chapel (which is upstairs and surprisingly sunny), and the parlour with the Chinese silk screen wallpaper.

So that’s Ightham Mote for you – inside. The outside is also exciting due to the mote and the rolling hills and nice grass gardens around it. Adorned with flowers, the grounds beckon if you want to take a quick stroll or sit and chat with you rfriends or family or maybe read a book. The café is also exceptionally nice and has good seating and large sunny windows and outside tables – with good food, tea and beverages for those who want something to eat or drink. And, there are picnic tables at the entrance if you bring your own food and drinks or want a rest before entering the property. Two other, interesting, last facts about Ightham Mote: writer Henry James once stayed here and it also has (as noted above in the history) the only Grade 1 listed Victorian dog house in the country. A great day out!

Further information:
Ightham Mote (National Trust – official site)
National Trust (official site)
Ightham Mote (Wikipedia)

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Historic place review: Knole House (National Trust, Sevenoaks, Kent, England)

Posted in Historic places and sites, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , on April 28, 2013 | 3 Comments »

Historic place review: Knole House (National Trust)
Sevenoaks, Kent TN15 0RP (use postcode TN13 1HU to get a map to where to enter the park)
Knole House/Park  - map
Telephone: 01732 462 100
Email: knole@nationaltrust.org.uk
OS Grid Ref: 188:TQ532543
Review by: Alexa Williamson
Date of visit: 28 April 2013
Overall rating: ***** (out of 5)
* REVIEW COMMENTARY follows after history
Notes on overall rating: Knole gets five stars because it is beautiful and historic. Unfortunately, quite a bit of the house is closed off. The grounds, gardens, historical introductory movie, staff and its history including what life was like in the time of Vita Sackville-West are, however, all wonderful and very interesting points!
The catering facilities could be a bit better, but they try with what they’ve got. Perhaps bring your own picnic. The grounds are beautiful so even to eat something near your car is lovely as you can see both the historic house and deer park surrounding you.

Knole (house and park) - Nutshell history from Wikipedia:
“Knole is an English country house in the town of Sevenoaks in west Kent, surrounded by a 1,000-acre (4.0 km2) deer park. One of England’s largest houses, it is reputed to be a calendar house, having 365 rooms, 52 staircases, 12 entrances and 7 courtyards. It is known for the degree to which its early 17th-century appearance is preserved, particularly in the case of the state rooms: the exteriors and interiors of many houses of this period, such as Clandon Park in Surrey, were dramatically altered later on. The surrounding deer park has also survived with little having changed over the past 400 years except for the loss of over 70% of its trees in the Great Storm of 1987.[2]

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The house was built by Thomas Bourchier, Archbishop of Canterbury, between 1456 and 1486, on the site of an earlier house belonging to James Fiennes, the Lord Say and Sele who was executed after the victory of Jack Cade‘s rebels at the Battle of Solefields. On Bourchier’s death, the house was bequeathed to the See of Canterbury — Sir Thomas More appeared in revels there at the court of John Morton — and in subsequent years it continued to be enlarged, with the addition of a new large courtyard, now known as Green Court, and a new entrance tower. In 1538 the house was taken from Archbishop Thomas Cranmer by King Henry VIII along with Otford Palace.

In 1566, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, it came into the possession of her cousin Thomas Sackville whose descendants the Earls and Dukes of Dorset and Barons Sackville have lived there since 1603.

The first lease was made on 1 February 1566, between Robert Earl of Leicester and Thomas Rolf. By this lease the manor and mansion-house of Knole and the park, with the deer, and also Panthurst Park and other lands, were demised to the latter for the term of ninety-nine years at a rent of 200£ The landlord was to do all repairs, and reserved the very remarkable right to himself and his heirs of occupying the mansion-house as often as he or they chose to do so, but this right did not extend to the gate-house, nor to certain other premises. The tenant was given power to alter or rebuild the mansion-house at his pleasure. As Mr Rolf died very soon after this lease, it was transferred to John Lennard and his son Samson, Lord Dacre’s son-in-law.

Most notably, among the Sackville descendants, these include writer Vita Sackville-West (her Knole and the Sackvilles, published 1922, is regarded as a classic in the literature of English country houses); her friend and lover Virginia Woolf wrote the novel Orlando drawing on the history of the house and Sackville-West’s ancestors. The Sackville family custom of following the Salic rules of primogeniture prevented Sackville-West herself from inheriting Knole upon the death of her father Lionel (1867–1930), the 3rd Lord Sackville, and her father bequeathed the estate to his brother Charles (1870–1962).

Review commentary: Set in the sweeping grassy hills of a deer park in Sevenoaks, Kent, Knole House (and park) is for the brave! Well, everyone is welcome there but it is a huge house that is very cold even in warm weather. Nowadays, thanks to double glazing and other alterations, most houses retain warmth. However, Knole retains extremely cold temperatures.

Knole is a gorgeous house and grounds. The deer park is lovely and you can have a wonderful day out here – walking and visiting the house. There is so much history here and so many rooms, it is doubtful that you will ever get bored. Interestingly, this house reminds me of a palace and seems, sort of, like a copy of Hampton Court Palace due to all of the courtyards. Henry VIII did indeed stay here and his picture, as well as his daughter Queen Mary I‘s and other royals and peoples pictures can be found here. And, quite a few of the paintings from the Hampton Court Palace 2012 exhibition The Wild, The Beautiful and The Damned came from Knole.

Apparently, Knole also houses the largest collection of Stuart period furniture anywhere. This happened because when a monarch decided to refurbish their residence either the steward families that lived at Knole took their old furniture or it get destroyed, so they took it, instead. Therefore, not only is Knole an imposing, beautiful and exciting property, but the furniture is also elegant. Maybe the building seems gorgeous due to all of the carved stone, masses of lovely carved wood floors, staircases, fireplaces, walls and more, the furnishings and the amazing heraldry painted on to the glass windows. Outside, you also have the rolling, short-grass hills and deer running about. Knole is a nature lover’s and historian’s paradise as it is very well preserved and exudes mystery, shadows, ruggedness and elegance. (NB: Knole and many other UK stately homes had to survive freezing temperatures and much rain, mud and more!)

Author, poet and gardener Vita (Victoria) Sackville-West is also one of the former residents of Knole House, having been born and raised here. There are some Victorian elements of the house still palpable. But mainly, the house retains its 15th century charm. This is, overall, a wonderful day out for the nature and history elements – the house, grounds and everyone who works to make Knole what is get 5 stars. The introductory film about the house gets 4 stars and the National Trust shop gets 3 stars.

Knole is a pleasant, rugged, large and peaceful treasure house of history and beautiful grandness. Come and enjoy it – so many of the centuries worth of residents and visitors also loved it. In fact, one thing you learn at the house was that the residents of Sevenoaks loved the deer park so much, that when one of the residents locked the gates to the park and tried to keep the middle class public out of the deer park, they got so angry they staged a riot, ripped the gates off the entrance, smashed the windows of the house and threw the gates on to the grounds. They told the owner not to do that again and he never did.

Further information:
Knole House (National Trust – official site)
National Trust (official site)
Knole House (Wikipedia)

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Historic place review: Polesden Lacey (National Trust site, Great Bookham, RH5, Surrey)

Posted in Historic places and sites, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on April 26, 2013 | Leave a Comment »

Historic place review: Polesden Lacey
Great Bookham, near Dorking, RH5 6BD
Polesden Lacey – map
Telephone: 01372 452048
Email: polesdenlacey@nationaltrust.org.uk
OS Grid Ref: 187:TQ136522
Review by: Alexa Williamson
Overall rating: ***** (out of 5)

Polesden Lacey – Nutshell history from Wikipedia: ‘Polesden Lacey is an Edwardian house (expanded from an earlier building) and estate. It is located on the North Downs at Great Bookham, near Dorking, Surrey, England. It  is owned and run by the National Trust and is one of the Trust’s most popular properties.

This Regency house was extensively remodelled in 1906 by Margaret Greville  (1863–1942), a well-known Edwardian hostess – and the heiress to the McEwan’s Ale (Scottish ale and beer company) fortune, which was left to her by her father William McEwan.

Mrs Greville’s collection of fine paintings, furniture, porcelain and silver is displayed in the reception rooms and galleries, as it was at the time of her celebrated house parties. The money to purchase and decorate the house was also given to her by her father. The two had a good relationship and she loved and missed him very much when he died.

There are extensive grounds, a walled rose garden, lawns and landscape walks through part of the estate of 1,400 acres (5.6 square kilometres).

The future King George VI and Queen Elizabeth spent part of their honeymoon here in from 26 April to 6 May 1923. Upon her death in 1942, Mrs Ronnie – as Margaret Greville was also known – left Polesden Lacey to the National Trust. She did this in memory of her father, William McEwan (she was his illegitimate daughter and sole heir) and also so that the public could enjoy coming to the house.’

Review commentary: Polesden Lacey is a delightul day out! The house and grounds are beautiful and don’t cost very much as it is run for public entry by the National Trust – and at times you can even enter the house and grounds for free!

Here are the fun things to know… I highly recommend this as a day out for the following reasons:

* Beautiful lawns and gardens. You can sit for hours and hours on the front lawn and bask in glorious sunshine. The front lawn, in particular, is a peaceful area to read your book, soak in the sun, and watch (and hear) the sheep in the rolling hills in front of you. Sun-lounger chairs are provided for free as part of your admission price!

* About the house: The Polesden Lacey House, inside and out, is beautiful. There are upstairs and downstairs rooms to explore and there are just enough – ie not too many so that you forget what you have seen and get tired or too little so that you feel it was a rip-off or not worth your time. The Gold Room, in particular, is beautiful and has been decorated, in Italian Style, and in 22 Carat Gold Leaf as it was used by Mrs Greville to entertain maharajahs from India and other important people. Mrs Greville thought that that is what they expected. Other rooms in the house worth noting include: the dining room, library, study, smoking room (has a fun billiards table to play at), Mrs Greville’s private apartments upstairs (have great views and are very sunny too – her bathroom even has silver plating!) and others. Polesden Lacy had 15 guest rooms and 9 of them were ensuite.

* The estate, as a whole, has extensive grounds including: a walled rose garden, lawns and landscape, and walks through parts of the estate (including the hills) which is a total of 1,400 acres (5.6 square kilometres).

* Tours of the estate: most of the house and grounds are encouraged to be viewed on your own, but there are short house tours and also gardens tours.

* Polesden Lacey has (but is not limited to) quite a few attractions within the estate! The following is just a few highlights: a fun gift shop, inexpensive secondhand bookshop you can browse in at a leisurely pace, two outdoor cafes right near the house, a farm shop and a big cafe right near the entry and parking lot. Food at the big cafe near the entrance is traditional and freshly prepared English fare – from hot and cold meals to baked goods and other refreshments – all at reasonable prices. A full-plate hot lunch, which was freshly prepared, cost about £8.95 (this was in April 2013) but you could also get other excellent food at much cheaper prices.

* Besides being a tranquil place that is much fun, discovery and a chill out zone for literally all ages, Polesden Lacy also has a great arts and activities calendar – which can include outdoor theatre and film besides, when appropriate book readings, croquet, gardening and bicycling events, a visit from the BBC’s Antique’s Roadshow (free on the day although the house is closed), free jazz afternoons on a Sunday (as part of admission).

* Polesden Lacey is not only a relaxing spot in the sun, they also maintain everything to a high standard, have kind, enthusiastic and knowledgeable staff and a great events calendar.

Hooray for the National Trust and Polesden Lacey. Fun, learning, exploring, adventures, the arts and best of all relaxation are all encouraged here!

Yes, this is a great place to enjoy life – it is either a great spot for value for money and even better, at times, for free!

Further information:
Polesden Lacey (National Trust – official site)
National Trust (official site)
Polesden Lacey (Wikipedia)
Margaret Greville (Wikipedia)

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