Unusually for a stately home, the faade is largely painted white, and has been designed in the Georgian Gothic revival style. 10 of the UK's best stately homes. King Charles plans new greenhouse for Highgrove - BBC News Along with the magnificent building it also has an amazing garden with golf and a lake for fishing too. As a result of the aristocratic habit of only marrying within the aristocracy, and whenever possible to a sole heiress, many owners of country houses owned several country mansions,[13] and would visit each according to the season: Grouse shooting in Scotland, pheasant shooting and fox hunting in England. Gothic-style stately home of Scottish author Sir Walter Scott. All rights reserved. Vanbrugh the original architects vision of a house of two identical wings capped with a central dome did not quite come to fruition: changing tastes over the centuries meant that east wing was built in flamboyant baroque style, while the later west wing is all restrained Palladian elegance. Stately Homes make for excellent days out for Grandparents see more here! For more sneak peaks at the interiors of Strawberry Hill, take a look at this article from the House & Garden archive. Generally though, theyre more often referred to as stately homes, rather than mansions of England. Please contact us for any not listed. Wealthy and influential people, often bored with their formal duties, go to the country in order to get out of London, the ugliest and most uncomfortable city in the world; they invented the long week-end to stay away as long as possible. Chequers still fulfills that need today as do both Chevening House and Dorneywood, donated for sole use of high-ranking ministers of the Crown. Yorkshire is home to some of the most beautiful landscapes in the country as well as a wonderfully rich and fascinating heritage. The impressive stately homes in England have been around for years, and the biggest and best will have whole teams to ensure they stay this way forever. In the second of our series on the most stunning historic houses in Britain, we visit the best in the North of England and talk to an expert guide about the charm you'll discover in these majestic buildings and their gardens. Youll recognise Highclere Castle as the real Downton Abbey but did you know that it also holds fancy dress events, star-studded festivals, afternoon teas, and has its very own gin? From Alnwick Castle - as also seen in the Harry Potter franchise, to Raby Castle, Brancepeth Castle and Chipchase Castle, among others, the North East of England is the perfect day out for lovers of historic houses and gardens. Such houses were often owned by individuals who also owned a town house. The best places to eat in London: The 2023 hotlist, The British pie 10 fun facts you didnt know. The interiors boast baroque ceiling murals by Antonio Verrio, rare damask hangings and a gilded staircase. . However, whether the owner of a "power house" or a small manor, the inhabitants of the English country house have become collectively referred to as the ruling class, because this is exactly what they did in varying degrees, whether by having high political influence and power in national government, or in the day-to-day running of their own localities or "county" in such offices as lord/deputy lieutenant, magistrates, or occasionally even clergy.[15]. The house was built in the 16th century and sits on 900 acres of land, which include a maze, a habitat for red pandas and one for penguins, and an extensive safari park with cheetahs, lions, tigers, elephants and more. 3. The historic residence of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, the heads of the Cavendish family, since 1549, its notable members have included wild child Duchess Georgina Spencer, great-great-great-great aunt of Princess Diana (portrayed in The Duchess by Keira Knightley). In turn, until the agricultural depressions of the 1870s, the estates, of which country houses were the hub, provided their owners with incomes. Wilton House, one of England's grandest houses, is in a remarkably similar vein; although, while the Drydens, mere squires, at Canons Ashby employed a local architect, at Wilton the mighty Earls of Pembroke employed the finest architects of the day: first Holbein, 150 years later Inigo Jones, and then Wyatt followed by Chambers. Visitors can dress up in period costume, take a peek at Truelove the butlers rooms, and browse in the library, where the Lyme Missal prayer book is conserved. Britain's stately homes sit in some special locations such as Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire's glorious Woodstock, or Mount Stuart on Scotland's peaceful Isle of Bute. Woburn Abbey, Forde Abbey and many other mansions with abbey or priory in their name became private houses during this period. Theres also the option for fine dining at Chatsworth House. Address: Highclere Park, Highclere, Newbury RG20 9RN, How to Save Money on Day Trips for Students. If you enjoy finding out more about our countrys rich history, then youll love BRITAIN magazine the official magazine for VisitBritain. listeners: [], [citation needed] Nothing shines a brighter light in the image of Britishness than a stately home. In 1946 Knole was gifted to the National Trust to be opened to the public. The Northumberland coastline covers over forty miles of the best walking and cycle routes, with, When summer hits, its all about making the most of the few months of the year where everyone. Attingham Park was initially built in the 18th century, by George Steuart for Noel Hill, 1st Lord Berwick. The rooms in the LutonHoo House are huge and very comfortable. Awash with glittering midnight blue lakes, jagged fells and lush valleys, we are transported into a bucolic abundance of natural beauty. These varying "improvements", often criticised at the time, today are the qualities that make English country houses unique. 10 of the UK's best stately homes - London Planner Stately Homes & Manor Houses To Visit In The North Of England When planning your visit, why not extend your stay at a nearby town or village, and bask in its beautiful surroundings. It was built in the 13th century by King John as part of a network of castles to defend England from invasion by France. Inside the focal point is certainly The Dome, which, 70ft high is adorned with a fresco representing the four elements. This allowed them to spend time in the country and in the cityhence, for these people, the term distinguished between town and country. [citation needed] Therefore, for ease or explanation, Britain's country houses can be categorised according to the circumstances of their creation. Chatsworth has been home to the Cavendish family since 1549, but many of its grand rooms are open to the public. Learn More Homes of Edinburgh's Landed Gentry Explore the hidden tunnel, laundry rooms and the basement space they operated in. This enables the former owners to offset tax, the payment of which would otherwise have necessitated the private sale of the art works. This is another stately home looked after by the National Trust. The houses towering turrets bear her initials, and her influence can be felt in every aspect of the extraordinary house, from the huge windows revolutionary at the time to the world-class textile collection, mostly collected by Bess in the late sixteenth century. Hoveton Hall Estate. It was built in the early 19th century as the seaside pleasure palace of the Prince Regent (then King George IV). But their connections to slavery and colonialism are forcing visitors to reckon with myths. Grand Historic Tours - Exclusive and unforgettable journeys to the The castle has a three-story stone keep, two moated baileys, and a Domus Regis or king's house. Theres also a wonderful shop, and a cafe to eat in too. By the 1850s, with the English economy booming, new mansions were built in one of the many revivalist architectural styles popular throughout the 19th century. It was during the second half of the reign of Elizabeth I, and under her successor, James I, that the first architect-designed mansions, thought of today as epitomising the English country house, began to make their appearance. The gardens are open between April and October and are a must-visit location. Inside, seek out the Rainbow Portrait, an atypically vibrant Tudor portrait of steely-eyed Queen Elizabeth marvellously clad in a coppery cloak, and holding a rainbow. List of country houses in the United Kingdom - Wikipedia Private car/minibus | 6 HOURS - 9 HOURS TOUR PRICES 6 HRS BOOK NOW PRICES INCLUDE: The slow decline of the English country house coincided with the rise not just of taxation, but also of modern industry, along with the agricultural depression of the 1870s. While the latter two are ducal palaces, Montacute, although built by a Master of the Rolls to Queen Elizabeth I, was occupied for the next 400 years by his descendants, who were gentry without a London townhouse, rather than aristocracy. Allerton Castle is a beautifully preserved relic of the early modern aristocracy and a stunning venue for weddings and events as well as a dramatic TV and film location. Many estate owners, having lost their heirs, if not in the immediately preceding war then in World War I, were now paying far higher rates of tax, and agricultural incomes had dropped. From Blenheim to Brighton Pavilion, here are the most show-stopping stately homes you can't miss, The most unrealistic apartments in film and television, a deep dive, The pure, light-filled spaces of a Cornish house by Marion Lichtig, Things I wish I'd known before I started my kitchen renovation, An interior designer's perfect chocolate-box cottage in the Cotswolds, Glorious Scottish castles to rent for holidays. Some visitors even report catching a waft of the Dukes Sweet Virginia pipe tobacco in the Dining Room. Go on an escorted tour of Britain's beautiful historic estates with JustGo! Unlike many of their contemporaries prior to the 20th century, they slept in proper beds, wore well-made adequate clothes and received three proper meals a day, plus a small wage. Spend the day enjoying the gardens, testing your golf skills and entertaining the kids at Walton Hall and Gardens. Wander through the gilded rooms and Romantic gardens, and for a moment imagine they are yours. The King has applied for planning permission to build the structure at Highgrove House - his main . The final blow for many country houses came following World War II; having been requisitioned during the war, they were returned to the owners in poor repair. The 20 Best Stately Homes and Gardens in Yorkshire Tenure: Freehold. List of National Trust properties in England - Wikipedia We learn more about the intriguing stories behind the powerful castles that dominate the landscape, Scotlands vibrant capital city of Edinburgh is surrounded by important estates and fine houses, owned by the landed gentry of generations past who often had connections to royalty or the politics of their day. The colonial secrets of Britain's stately homes They're the very epitome of the English rural idyll. Sitting on the banks of the River Thames in Richmond, Ham House is a 17th-century treasure, full of precious paintings, furniture and textiles. Maxstoke Castle is a privately owned moated castle in Warwickshire. Hughenden Manor is one of the best days out in Buckinghamshire. Although Downton is set in Yorkshire, This . Bedfordshire [ edit ] Thus, the solution for many was to hold contents auctions and then demolish the house and sell its stone, fireplaces, and panelling. Despite this slow decline, so necessary was the country house for entertaining and prestige that in 1917 Viscount Lee of Fareham donated his country house Chequers to the nation for the use of a prime minister who might not possess one of his own.