uk treasurehouses
15. Beaulieu (Bulee) Palace House and Abbey:
This magnificent family estate is located in the New Forest, just westof Southampton and has been the home of Lord Montagu and family since the 1536. The present Lord lives there today with his family. The estate is 7,500 acres and includes magnificent gardens: the Victorian Garden, theWilderness Garden and the Mill Pond Walk. Historic Beaulieu Abbey remainson site, the evidence of a Cistercian monastery built in 1204 upon a gift of landby King John. The Cloisters are still there to see.
With the Dissolution of the Monasteries by Henry VIIII in the 1530’s it was purchased by Sir Thomas Wriotheslay, 1st Earl of Southampton. It was expanded in the 1870’s and in this century with the appearance of the dreaded inheritance taxes, the estate was quick to develop attractions for the public to fund its own maintenance.
The present Lord Montagu regularly occupies his seat in the House of Lords, and lives in a wing of the Palace. Unlike most estate houses the publicis invited to tour the Private Apartments when the family is not in residence fora small fee. He is also an avid car collector and has a separate building devoted to his vast collection which includes many modern race cars – e.g. Ferraris,Lamborginis , McLarens. My wife, myself and my 93 years old Aunt M visited Beaulieu in June 2007 and on the tour of the Private Apartment. M spied an Atmos Clock on a mantel in the living room, just like she had at home! The formally dressed guide-gentleman was most astonished she had one! In a regal manner she informed him how it worked and that she had it for many years!
In WWII Beaulieu played a vital role in the war effort. It housed the‘Finishing School’ of the Special Operations Executive (SOE) where Britishe spionage agents were trained in survival, assassination, communications…and otherskills needed before they were dropped by parachute behind enemy lines. Manynever returned. Notable trainees was Kim Philby, who later in the Cold War defected to the Russians and was a very damaging spy in England, very close tothe Sovereign due to his role as Art curator. There is a permanent exhibition onthe Estate commemorating is effort. Not even the present Duke, while at Eaton, knew what was going on at his home. A must see!
Beaulieu is open from October 1 – May 25 from 10 A.M. – 5 P.M.
And from May 26 to September 30 from 10 A.M. to 6 P.M. Contacts:telephone: 1 – 0159061235; website: http://www.beaulieu.co.uk/ A must see!
Posted by D at 07:29:20 Permanent Link Comments (0)
uk treasurehouses
14. Basingstoke-Hackwood:
This magnificent Palladian house and estate is in Hampshire. It is connected with the great Lord George Curzon, 1st Marquis of Kedleston (1859-1925), who as a hereditary Lord from his father Lord Scarsdale, grew up at beautiful Kedleston Manor in Derbyshire (See later).
Lord Curzon rose to important and major positions in the British government in the late 19th and early 20th Century. He was a strong defender of preserving Britain’s empire and the cultural benefits component states derived from that membership, even after many had seen it’s star was sinking.
His first major appointment was a Viceroy of India from 1899-1905, and then later in the David Lloyd George governments, a member of the World War I War Cabinet and Foreign Secretary. He was imperial in demeanor, some have said arrogant and withdrawn, but to those who really looked at him in an unbiased way, extremely intelligent, very sensitive, hardworking to the point of driven and usually right in the views he so eloquently expressed in and out the House of Lords in Ciceronian prose.
The important part of Lord George Curzon that relates to this work, besides his own ancestral home of Keddleton Manor, is that later in life he began to pursue a life-long interest - not so very different from the purpose of this Blog – to restore decaying Treasure Houses for posterity. It tore him up to see this happening. To this end, he spent thousands and thousands of pounds of his own funds on Basingstoke-Hackwood Manor, even though he initially was only leasing it. He then heard that Montacute Manor (see later) had been bought by an American salvage company and was systematically dismantling it. He went to the site in Somerset, made them a higher offer than they paid, saved it from destruction and restored it to be viewed today. He did the same with Tattershall Castle in Lincolnshire (see later) and Bodiam Castle (see later), which he also purchased.
It can most fairly be said, that no English Lord or anyone else has done more to preserve Treasure Houses, to buy them, totally and beautifully restore them, and then in 1925 in his Will, pass them on to the National Trust for all of us to enjoy for generations to come. My sincere homage and thank you is here publicly proclaimed to Lord George Curzon.
With respect to Basingstoke-Hackwood estate, it is located near Basingstoke in Hampshire. Curzon not only restored the interior to its original splendor, but made major garden and landscape modifications to return to 18th and early 19th century views to those who visited it. A real must. It is located in Hampshire off the M3, the road from London to Southampton, exiting at Basingstoke.
This magnificent Palladian house and estate is in Hampshire. It is connected with the great Lord George Curzon, 1st Marquis of Kedleston (1859-1925), who as a hereditary Lord from his father Lord Scarsdale, grew up at beautiful Kedleston Manor in Derbyshire (See later).
Lord Curzon rose to important and major positions in the British government in the late 19th and early 20th Century. He was a strong defender of preserving Britain’s empire and the cultural benefits component states derived from that membership, even after many had seen it’s star was sinking.
His first major appointment was a Viceroy of India from 1899-1905, and then later in the David Lloyd George governments, a member of the World War I War Cabinet and Foreign Secretary. He was imperial in demeanor, some have said arrogant and withdrawn, but to those who really looked at him in an unbiased way, extremely intelligent, very sensitive, hardworking to the point of driven and usually right in the views he so eloquently expressed in and out the House of Lords in Ciceronian prose.
The important part of Lord George Curzon that relates to this work, besides his own ancestral home of Keddleton Manor, is that later in life he began to pursue a life-long interest - not so very different from the purpose of this Blog – to restore decaying Treasure Houses for posterity. It tore him up to see this happening. To this end, he spent thousands and thousands of pounds of his own funds on Basingstoke-Hackwood Manor, even though he initially was only leasing it. He then heard that Montacute Manor (see later) had been bought by an American salvage company and was systematically dismantling it. He went to the site in Somerset, made them a higher offer than they paid, saved it from destruction and restored it to be viewed today. He did the same with Tattershall Castle in Lincolnshire (see later) and Bodiam Castle (see later), which he also purchased.
It can most fairly be said, that no English Lord or anyone else has done more to preserve Treasure Houses, to buy them, totally and beautifully restore them, and then in 1925 in his Will, pass them on to the National Trust for all of us to enjoy for generations to come. My sincere homage and thank you is here publicly proclaimed to Lord George Curzon.
With respect to Basingstoke-Hackwood estate, it is located near Basingstoke in Hampshire. Curzon not only restored the interior to its original splendor, but made major garden and landscape modifications to return to 18th and early 19th century views to those who visited it. A real must. It is located in Hampshire off the M3, the road from London to Southampton, exiting at Basingstoke.
13. The Banqueting House:
This white building is located in Whitehall, near Trafalgar Square, and faces the street immediately across from the Admiralty. It is the only remaining part of London’s oldest Palace, the Palace ofWhitehall. The Banqueting House was created by Indigo Jones for James I. His son, Charles I had Rubens paint the vast ceiling panels depicting a celebration of the Stuart Kings. Today it is protected as a Grade 1 Listed Building.
It is from the room with the large windows on the 2nd floor facing the street and Admiralty Arch that Charles I stepped outo to be executed on a scaffold built there on January 30, 1649. In 1689 William of Orange went to the Banquet Hall to accept the crown after coming over from Protestant Low Countries, along with his British wife Mary II. Seeen.wikipedia.org/uk/Banqueting-House for directions and more information.
Posted by D at 07:11:13 Permanent Link Comments (0)
uk treasurehouses
12. Balmoral Castle & Royal Estate:
Balmoral is in Aberdeenshire, Scotland and is a private home of the Sovereign. The original castle and lands were purchased in 1390 by Sir William Drummond from the Scottish Royal house. It had formally been ahunting lodge location for the Scottish king Robert II. It was purchased by Prince Albert and Queen Victoria in 1852 after renting it for a few years starting in 1848. They loved it, and monarchs have stayed there for the rustic beauty and the hunting every August and September each year since. Albert paid 30,000 lbs at the time and then immediately drew up plans for a new Castle, 100,000 yards away from the old one. The cornerstone was laid by Queen Victoria and in it is a parchment signed by her commemorating the event. It can still be seen at the foot of the wall adjacent to the West face of the Entrance porch.
Balmoral is a working estate, employing 50 locals full time and manypart time staff. Over the years the estate has been expanded to increase agricultural area and to acquire priceless pine tree forest areas that are nowprotected. There are 50,000 acres in all.
Because it is a private residence and estate of the Royal Family a problem arose with the abdication of Edward VIII in 1938. In order to keep it for future Royals, George VI had to pay his brother Edward for Balmoral, and for Sandringham, another private royal holding. Balmoral, with its isolation, is rumored to be the site of Sovereign protection in case of nuclear or other serious attack on the nation. The other residences are deemed to be too exposed and vulnerable.
It is open to the public from early April to the end of July each year, at which time the Royals arrive for the months of August and September. The public can see the magnificent Ballroom with is priceless art and porcelain displays,as well as royal regalia and Royal Ball gowns. There is a carriage house with many carriages used by monarchs since 1852. There is a coffee and souvenir shop. Nearby is the parish church of Grathie, where the royals worship on Sundays when they are in residence. In recent years various improvements have been made to assist those with ambulatory difficulties fully enjoy their visit.Contacts: The Estate Office, Balmoral Estate: telephone: +44 (0) 1339 742-534 and e-mail: info@balmoralcastle.comand website: www.balmoralcastle.com
Posted by D at 07:05:14 Permanent Link Comments (0)
Saturday August 23, 2008
UK treasurehouses
11. Bagshot Park:
This is the home of Prince Edward and Princess Sophie, the presentthe Duke and Duchess of Wessex. It is just 11 miles south of Windsor andvery close to Sunninghill Park, the previous home of Prince Andrew andPrincess Sarah, the Duke and Duchess of York. It lies in the 50 mile squareBagshot Park. Edward rents it for 50,000 pounds per year from the Queen’s Crown Estates Office. It was also the location of his film company, ArdentProductions, before it failed.
Originally it was built by Indigo Jones for James I in1631-1632, and then remodeled for William IV who lived in it from 1798-1816. More recently in 1875 Queen Victoria had it thoroughly renovated for her son Arthur, Duke of Connaught, and he lived in it from 1879 until his death in 1942, except for a period from 1911-1916 when he was Governor General of Canada. From 1942 until Prince Edward took it over in the 1990’s it was occupied by the military.
Edward and Sophie's renovations have cost over 2 million pounds to date, all paid for by the taxpayer. It has 56 rooms and is the largest private residence currently occupied by a Royal, even though he and Sophie only spend 2 nights together there per week. It has a marvelous billiard room modeled on the Dunbar roomat Osborne House on the Isle of Wight. There is an equerry and 26 servants to help Edward and Sophie.
See www.bagshotvillage.org.uk/bpark/index.htm for directions and more information.
Posted by D at 14:59:10 Permanent Link Comments (1)
10
. Aske Hall:
This manor and estate is truly magnificent. It is 1.5 miles north of Richmond, North Yorkshire. An existent house and lands were bought by Thomas Dundas, 1st Baron Dundas (1741-1820) in 1763 from SirConyers Darcy for 45,000 pounds. Baron Dundas was a tremendously important and powerful political figure in England. He was called the‘Habob of the North’. He decided to renovate the estate and make Aske Hall one of the greatest 18th Century houses in the North, as would bebefitting to his station and political and social ambitions. Baron Lord Dundas was a very powerful member of the Cabinet of William Pitt the Younger. A major street in Toronto Canada, Dundas Street, is named after him. The house is called a ‘Georgian Treasure’. It passed out of the Dundas family and is now owned by the Marquis of Zetland. It has an immense collection of 18th Century art (Gainsborough, for example), porcelain, a landscape dotted with follies, lakes and a 3 tiered garden. It is open all year. See www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aske_Hall for directions and more information.
Posted by D at 14:46:37 Permanent Link Comments (0)
UK treasurehouses
9. Ascott House:
This is a Jacobean (i.e. French influence) home of the Rothschild family in Buckinghamshire, 2 miles southwest of Leighton Buzzard on A418. Compared to their other homes, e.g. Waddensdon Manor (see later in this Blog), it is an elegant tutor appearing cottage, but still worth the visit if you are in the area. It was bought in 1873 byBaron Mayer de Rothschild. Mary, daughter of Prime Minister William Gladstone referred to it as: "a palace like cottage, the most luxurious and lovely thing I ever saw”. It stands on 261 acres. It contains marvelous art and a collection of 40 pieces of Chinese ceramics, one of the foremost in the world. In 1949 the House, the estate and an endowment were given to the National Trust by Anthony de Rothschild, which administers it today. For maps, open times, more information and tickets contact: http://www.ascottestate.co.uk/
Posted by D at 14:35:34 Permanent Link Comments (0)
UK treasurehouses
8. Arundel Castle:
This estate is the home seat of the Howard family, the Dukes and Duchesses of Norfolk, and only one of their many homes (e.g. Castle Howard is another). The land has a historical past stretching back 1,000 years; located on the River Arn in West Sussex;; the present Castle was built in the late 11th Century by the Earl of Arundel and it has been the continuous home seat of the Howard family for over 850 years! – the 16th Duke of Norfolk and his family live there today; the Howards have a major historical position in England: e.g. the 3rd Duke of Norfolk (1473-1554) was the uncle of both Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard, 2 of Henry VIII’s wives; the 4th Duke of Norfolk(1536-1572) was beheaded for being involved in a plot to marry MaryQueen of Scots.
Thomas Howard, the 14th Earl of Arundel (1585-1646) was the 1st of the great English art collectors; he also made sure to work hard to retrieve the lost family estates, titles and honors after the disasters of ther eligious wars of the century before. The family owes him a lot for this.
The Castle has a magnificent collection of clocks, tapestries and paintings by Van Dyke, Gainsborough, Myles, Lawrence, Reynolds, and possessions of Mary Queen of Scots; Queen Victoria and Prince Albertv isited Arundel Castle for 3 days in 1846 and the 13th Duke commissioned the wonderful portrait of Victoria by William Fowler; in 1900 there was another complete restoration of the interior, including the first installation of electricity in any country home, service lifts, fire safety equipment and central heating. There are tremendous gardens to be seen.
Of all the Dukes in the heraldry of England, the Duke of Norfolk is the ‘Premier Duke’. This honor was confirmed on Sir John Howard in 1483 by King Richard II. It means he is the ‘Earl Marshall of England’, in charge of state ceremonies such as all coronations, royal funerals, investitures ofthe Prince of Wales…
All Dukes of Norfolk, their wives and families are buried on the grounds in the Fitzalen Chapel, built in 1390, a Chapel with a breathtaking wooden vaulted Gothic ceiling of immense size and large stained glass windows. The Estate has tremendous gardens to see and enjoy. A must see. For maps,tickets and times see: http://www.arundelcastle.org/.
Posted by D at 14:25:37 Permanent Link Comments (0)
Friday August 22, 2008
UK Treasure Houses
7. Arley Hall and Gardens:
This much cherished family estate is the home of the Warburton family, Lord and Lady Ashbrooke, from middle of 15th Century (!) who have lived there continuously downthrough the generations are still reside there today. Their first home was built on the same location in 1469. It is a classic example of a Victorian country house in the Elizabethan style, with a magnificent Library, Long Gallery, Grand Staircase and historic bedrooms. To sight one example, French Emperor Napoleon III stayed here in the winter of1847-48 and did a lot of hunting. The upstairs bedroom,‘The Emperor’s Room’ is where he stayed and is as he left it. It has also been the site of television and movie shoots. Wedding scenes for the TV series ‘ Coronation Street’ have been shot here. It was selected in 2008 as having one of the ‘Gardens of Distinction’, including a red brickwalled garden. It is located in Cheshire, 6 miles from Knutsford and Northwich, off M6 & M56.Contact: arleyhallandgardens.com for more information and directions.
Posted by D at 16:58:59 Permanent Link Comments (0)
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Posted by D at 14:59:10 Permanent Link Comments (1)
10
. Aske Hall:
This manor and estate is truly magnificent. It is 1.5 miles north of Richmond, North Yorkshire. An existent house and lands were bought by Thomas Dundas, 1st Baron Dundas (1741-1820) in 1763 from SirConyers Darcy for 45,000 pounds. Baron Dundas was a tremendously important and powerful political figure in England. He was called the‘Habob of the North’. He decided to renovate the estate and make Aske Hall one of the greatest 18th Century houses in the North, as would bebefitting to his station and political and social ambitions. Baron Lord Dundas was a very powerful member of the Cabinet of William Pitt the Younger. A major street in Toronto Canada, Dundas Street, is named after him. The house is called a ‘Georgian Treasure’. It passed out of the Dundas family and is now owned by the Marquis of Zetland. It has an immense collection of 18th Century art (Gainsborough, for example), porcelain, a landscape dotted with follies, lakes and a 3 tiered garden. It is open all year. See www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aske_Hall for directions and more information.
Posted by D at 14:46:37 Permanent Link Comments (0)
UK treasurehouses
9. Ascott House:
This is a Jacobean (i.e. French influence) home of the Rothschild family in Buckinghamshire, 2 miles southwest of Leighton Buzzard on A418. Compared to their other homes, e.g. Waddensdon Manor (see later in this Blog), it is an elegant tutor appearing cottage, but still worth the visit if you are in the area. It was bought in 1873 byBaron Mayer de Rothschild. Mary, daughter of Prime Minister William Gladstone referred to it as: "a palace like cottage, the most luxurious and lovely thing I ever saw”. It stands on 261 acres. It contains marvelous art and a collection of 40 pieces of Chinese ceramics, one of the foremost in the world. In 1949 the House, the estate and an endowment were given to the National Trust by Anthony de Rothschild, which administers it today. For maps, open times, more information and tickets contact: http://www.ascottestate.co.uk/
Posted by D at 14:35:34 Permanent Link Comments (0)
UK treasurehouses
8. Arundel Castle:
This estate is the home seat of the Howard family, the Dukes and Duchesses of Norfolk, and only one of their many homes (e.g. Castle Howard is another). The land has a historical past stretching back 1,000 years; located on the River Arn in West Sussex;; the present Castle was built in the late 11th Century by the Earl of Arundel and it has been the continuous home seat of the Howard family for over 850 years! – the 16th Duke of Norfolk and his family live there today; the Howards have a major historical position in England: e.g. the 3rd Duke of Norfolk (1473-1554) was the uncle of both Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard, 2 of Henry VIII’s wives; the 4th Duke of Norfolk(1536-1572) was beheaded for being involved in a plot to marry MaryQueen of Scots.
Thomas Howard, the 14th Earl of Arundel (1585-1646) was the 1st of the great English art collectors; he also made sure to work hard to retrieve the lost family estates, titles and honors after the disasters of ther eligious wars of the century before. The family owes him a lot for this.
The Castle has a magnificent collection of clocks, tapestries and paintings by Van Dyke, Gainsborough, Myles, Lawrence, Reynolds, and possessions of Mary Queen of Scots; Queen Victoria and Prince Albertv isited Arundel Castle for 3 days in 1846 and the 13th Duke commissioned the wonderful portrait of Victoria by William Fowler; in 1900 there was another complete restoration of the interior, including the first installation of electricity in any country home, service lifts, fire safety equipment and central heating. There are tremendous gardens to be seen.
Of all the Dukes in the heraldry of England, the Duke of Norfolk is the ‘Premier Duke’. This honor was confirmed on Sir John Howard in 1483 by King Richard II. It means he is the ‘Earl Marshall of England’, in charge of state ceremonies such as all coronations, royal funerals, investitures ofthe Prince of Wales…
All Dukes of Norfolk, their wives and families are buried on the grounds in the Fitzalen Chapel, built in 1390, a Chapel with a breathtaking wooden vaulted Gothic ceiling of immense size and large stained glass windows. The Estate has tremendous gardens to see and enjoy. A must see. For maps,tickets and times see: http://www.arundelcastle.org/.
Posted by D at 14:25:37 Permanent Link Comments (0)
Friday August 22, 2008
UK Treasure Houses
7. Arley Hall and Gardens:
This much cherished family estate is the home of the Warburton family, Lord and Lady Ashbrooke, from middle of 15th Century (!) who have lived there continuously downthrough the generations are still reside there today. Their first home was built on the same location in 1469. It is a classic example of a Victorian country house in the Elizabethan style, with a magnificent Library, Long Gallery, Grand Staircase and historic bedrooms. To sight one example, French Emperor Napoleon III stayed here in the winter of1847-48 and did a lot of hunting. The upstairs bedroom,‘The Emperor’s Room’ is where he stayed and is as he left it. It has also been the site of television and movie shoots. Wedding scenes for the TV series ‘ Coronation Street’ have been shot here. It was selected in 2008 as having one of the ‘Gardens of Distinction’, including a red brickwalled garden. It is located in Cheshire, 6 miles from Knutsford and Northwich, off M6 & M56.Contact: arleyhallandgardens.com for more information and directions.
Posted by D at 16:58:59 Permanent Link Comments (0)
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