Category: Stately Homes

Visiting Corsham Court with Victoria

Corsham Court is near Chippenham in Wiltshire.  The website is here.

Corsham Court, which I photographed in 2009 on a visit to Hampshire and Wiltshire, was a Royal manor in the time of Saxon Kings. The core of the present house was built in the late 16th century by Thomas Smyth. In the 1740’s, the estate was purchased by a member of the Methuen family and eventually altered to house Sir Paul Methuen’s excellent collection of paintings.  Almost two centuries later, more fine pictures were added when the family inherited the collection of a relative who had resided in Italy where he acquired many old masters.  The initial impression of the house exterior reminded me of a previous visit to the Biltmore estate in Asheville, North Carolina.

Biltmore Estate, Asheville, North Carolina

Biltmore, the home of George Vanderbilt in North Carolina, opened in 1895, the creation of architect William Morris Hunt; he based his designs on the style of three 16th C French chateaux.
A closer look at the entrance of Corsham Court.

At Corsham Court, the Elizabethan house was altered significantly several times.  In 1798, architect John Nash followed in Capability Brown’s footsteps (see below) but could not keep up!  Sadly, Nash’s work was poorly executed and needed significant repair within a few decades.  So in the 1840’s, parts of the house  were rebuilt again, giving it the look it now has by architect Thomas Bellamy. I find both the Court and Biltmore rather forbidding in appearance.  However, the interior of Corsham Court could not be more different from Biltmore.  I felt Biltmore was dark, dreary, and altogether uninviting as a place to live (to visit, quite fascinating). 

An angled view of one wing. 

 Corsham Court is lovely, beginning with a handsome hall, that I would call a combination of neo-classic and baroque, as interpreted by Bellamy in the Victorian Age.

The Picture Gallery, a triple cube room, 72 feet long, was designed by Lancelot Capability Brown in the 1760’s.  Brown is renowned for his hundreds of landscape garden designs, but he is also responsible for a number of country houses, some fully, others remodeling projects.


Brilliant works by Van Dyke, Strozzi, Dolci, Reni, del Sarto, Rosa, and others fill the walls in the state rooms – an astonishing collection, mostly still owned by the Methuen family. According to the Blue Guide to English Country Houses, “The pictures themselves, still hung much as they were in the 18C, many of them in their original frames, offer an almost unparalleled insight into 18C artistic taste.” 
 From the house guide book, “In 1765 Morris & Young of Spitalfields supplied 700 yards at 13 s. 6d. a yard, and four years later a further 478 1/2 yards at 14 s. the latter amount for covering the furniture. As time went by, the damask on the chairs got worn, and so sections were cut from behind the paintings to patch them.”
Among the most renowned paintings in the collection is Van Dyke’s Betrayal of Christ, above, now actually owned by the City of Brisol Art Gallery.

Lady Boston, nee Christiana Methuen by George Romney

I love to look at the family portraits as well as the Old Masters since knowing the stories of the families who lived in the great stately homes is a big part of the fun. Christian Methuen died in 1832.
The Cabinet Room
Almost as renowned as the art collections at Corsham Court are the gardens, some dating from the days of Capability Brown and others developed in the last decades.

I had my usual luck with peacocks.  Despite my begging, they just weren’t interested in display!

In fact, this fellow just stalked away with a haughty expression. “Don’t bother me,” he seemed to say.

This charming structure leads to the bathhouse, originally designed by Brown but altered by others to its present neo-Gothic look.

Below is another view which shows the now-empty plunge bath, once a popular feature of country houses — and probably useful too.

It must have been lovely on a warm day to soak in the bath and gaze out on the beautiful garden blooms.
Corsham Court is as great country house, well worth visiting.
For a detailed history of the house:
More information on the collections and reproductions of the paintings can be seen here:

For Sale: Bath, England

Well . . . I’ve been looking at property listings again. And I’ve found one that’s a right pip, and also offers fantastic views of the city of bath. As the property listing tells us:

Rainbow Wood House, which is unlisted, was specially designed and built in Jacobean revival style in 1897 for the Mallett family, who at the time owned most of the land around Rainbow Woods, including what is now the Bath Clinic and Rainbow Wood Farm. Rainbow Wood House, which is unlisted, is positioned in a spectacular hillside position that affords complete privacy being located a quarter of a mile from the nearest road, Widcombe Hill. Surrounded by mature trees and its own gardens, the house is so secluded that very few Bathonians know the property exists.
The Malletts were well known in Bath and London for their antique business and donated many of their properties and much of their land, including the farm which adjoins Rainbow Wood House, to the National Trust. The present owners acquired the property from the Mallett family in 1980 and are only the second family to reside at the Rainbow Wood estate.

Rainbow Wood House is constructed of Bath stone under a tiled roof and has an array of splendid features from the stone mullions to the gables and bronze, iron and steel framed windows. The reception space is exceptionally impressive having many ornate features that adorn the walls and ceilings in many of the rooms. Of particular note are the half panelled reception hall, a magnificent Edwardian staircase, the fully panelled Oak Room and numerous hand carved doors and original fireplaces. Rainbow Wood House has an interconnected North Wing, which provides substantial additional self-contained accommodation that lends itself to becoming an integral part of the main house. This wing houses the magnificent oak panelled gallery, which is currently used as a snooker and games room.

The house has a gas fired central heating system throughout, with radiators in all rooms including the workshop and attic, modern electrics, a modern alarm system and outside security lights. All main services are connected.
The estate gardens and grounds that encircle Rainbow Wood House are sensational. The extensive lawns are defined and embellished with carved stone features and balustrades and a range of herbaceous borders and mature trees. There are a number of ornamental ponds and a fountain, a central walk leading to the stone built Gothic Temple and a large, original stone walled garden having an abundance of fruit trees. On the top lawns there is a hard tennis court. There is also a two acre grass paddock with wrought iron ‘estate’ fencing..

Ancillary accommodation includes a three bedroom lodge built in the same style as the main house, and a two bedroom gardeners cottage.

The principal outlook is to the south and west overlooking its own gardens, National Trust fields and woodlands and there are far-reaching views over the city towards Bristol and the distant Welsh hills. Despite the seclusion of its position, the house is less than a 5 minute drive from the centre of Bath. In all, the estate has about 13 acres.

Guide price £5,500,000 – Freehold

For complete details, visit the Savills Bath website.

Musing About Chatsworth House

Chatsworth House, home to the Cavendish family since 1549, has been labelled the ‘Palace of the Peak’ and features more than 30 rooms, a large library and magnificent collections of paintings and sculpture. Additionally, the grounds include a 105-acre garden and a park on the banks of the river Derwent. Recently, and apropos of absolutely nothing, I was musing about Chatsworth and concluded that it remains my personal favourite when it comes to Stately Homes. There are many reasons for this:

1. Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, once lived there.

2. So did the Duke and Bess Foster.

3. When you arrive at Chatsworth House on a visit, you’re likely to be cautioned to mind the present  Duchess’s chickens, who are allowed to wander, willy nilly, in the grounds.

4.  During a visit to Chatsworth House in 1843 by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, the Orangery in the grounds (above), designed by Joseph Paxton, served as the inspiration for Prince Albert’s idea for the design of the Crystal Palace.

5.  Chatsworth House features the hands down, absolute best gift shops. Seriously good. There are six of them. All with different themes and goods. Go prepared and bring an empty carry-all with you. Trust me on this.

Copyright Chatsworth House

6. You can gaze upon the Gainesborough portrait of Georgiana (see Number 1 above), which has a long and twisted history. For the full story, click here to read a previous blog post about the theft of the painting. And by the way, you can purchase a print of the image directly from Chatsworth House by clicking here.

7.  The trompe l’oeil door and violin in the State Music Room painted by artist Jan van der Vaart circa 1723. Your first glimpse of the masterpiece will be from afar. Bear in mind that the inner door, the violin and bow and the silver knob from which they appear to be “hanging” are all an illusionist painting.

                                                          Copyright burgessbroadcast.org

                                                               Copyright pbase.com

                                                           Copyright Song on Flicker

The next time you’re in or near the Peak District, I urge you to visit Chatsworth House. If you’ve already been, make a return visit and take in all that you missed the first time around. In the meantime, you can watch a stunning slideshow of Chatsworth House images here.

400th Anniversary of the King James Bible and Hatfield House

The year 2011 marks 400 years since the Bible was translated into the English language in the Authorized Version, aka the King James Bible. After a labor of more than seven years by 47 or more scholars, this third version in English was printed and has, ever since, been one of the most influential books in the English speaking world.

So, friends, eat drink and be merry, for in the fullness of time, you may have to become my brother’s keeper, for he fell flat on his face, though he is clearly the salt of the earth and only occasionally acts holier than thou. He is as old as the hills, but has had his fall from grace due to his feet of clay and his taste for forbidden fruit. In the twinkling of an eye, the powers that be could reach the root of the matter. As we sometimes say, the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. So will you cast the first stone? Be a fly in the ointment? Or will you gird your loins, put your house in order and find your heart’s desire? Remember, we reap what we sow.

Okay, so that paragraph is a bit lame, but it illustrates how many familiar phrases — cliches really — come from the KJV.

Numerous celebrations, conferences, services, choral events and exhibitions have been going on all year. For upcoming events and more information, click here for the King James Bible Trust website with further information.  Of special interest is the website’s video on life in 1611.

King James

Images courtesy of King James Bible Online; for more, click here.

Many of the stories about the anniversary mention the coincidence of this Bible being written at roughly the same time Shakespeare’s works were performed and published.  William Shakespeare (1564-1616), the  English language’s most famous poet and playwright, must have known and seen the new bible. I wish I could find out what his reaction was, but so far I haven’t found any comments from Will.

The Chandos Portrait of Shakespeare, National Portrait Gallery
The period of the English Renaissance which brought us both the King James Bible and Shakespeare  was part of great changes in all aspects of life.  But even today, we recognize the timelessness of these great works. And celebrate them!

Another 400th anniversary marked in 2011 is for Hatfield House in Hertfordshire, home of the Marquess of Salisbury.  Here is their website.  And for my blog post on a Hatfield visit in 2010, see 8/13/10. I visited again last June (2011) and took a few more pictures.

Above is a shot I took from the staff and business entrance to the House, which is a big working enterprise. I was there to do some research in the Archive.

From near the same spot, one can gaze across the gardens to the Old Palace, where Elizabeth I lived as a child and young woman.  Just to the left of the Palace roof is the tower of the parish church, St. Etheldreda’s.
Below, the church in 2009. Here is their website.

Below, one of the handsome lamps that grace the park.

And finally, some of Lady Salisbury’s beautiful old roses.

2011 is a good year in many ways — and so apparently was 1611.

For Sale: Period Perfection in Bath

 

 
It is time once again to share with you yet another period property of perfection. Read on and weep. I know I’m sobbing as I write this. Sigh.
Set amid an idyllic valley just minutes from the heart of Bath, Widcombe Manor is an enchanting and historic residence. It is also a comfortable and peaceful family home. Constructed of Bath stone, it is a Grade I listed building, and regarded as one of the finest examples of Georgian architecture in the South West. The estate and house are immersed in history. Early records have it built on the site of a grange for the abbots of Bath. On the dissolution of the monasteries, the estate was owned by Richard Chapman, a rich clothier and Mayor of Bath. The original house was built in 1656, and was most likely to have been designed by Inigo Jones(sob). It was remodelled in 1727 for Chapman’s grandson, Philip Bennet, and the crest of the Bennet family still sits atop two pedestals at the magnificent entrance gates. Famous visitors include Henry Fielding, who wrote his classic novel Tom Jones while staying here, and, in more recent times, A-list celebrities and party-goers such as Cecil Beaton, Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon. Today, it’s a comfortable retreat in a fascinating and historic city. (Aaarrgghhhh!)

Period Features

Widcombe Manor is the finest Georgian home in Bath, and the attention to detail is second to none. The Georgian facade, with its elaborate and highly decorative stonework, is a breathtaking sight and is complemented perfectly by a bronze 15th Century Venetian-style fountain. The interior has been sensitively refurbished in recent years and retains historical features, such as an Elizabethan mahogany staircase and ornate cornices (sniff, snuffle, sniff). Panelling, oak flooring and elegant statuary are featured through the house to create the feel of an elegant yet welcoming country home that is ideal for entertaining, as well as family life. Modern touches, such as an internal water garden, create a delightful design statement.

Spacious Living – The Ground Floor

This unique residence offers the flexibility to combine family life with business enterprise. The beautiful and spacious panelled hallway leads to a number of rooms including a library with leather flooring (be still my heart!) and a spacious study/office. The large, comfortable family sitting room has a bay window which offers superb views over the landscaped gardens and woodland of surrounding Lyncombe Vale. The kitchen and breakfast room are ideal for informal entertaining and large French windows open to the sun terrace and outdoor dining area. For more formal occasions, the dining room is an intimate and atmospheric space to welcome guests. The basement has been sensitively renovated to provide a large open games room as well as a wine cellar. A further play area overlooks a courtyard which was added by the current owners and built in Bath stone with an elegant fountain. There is parking for three cars in the garage, and a utility room and plant room complete the ground floor. A staff cottage is situated close to the house and has a living room, kitchen, bedroom and bathroom. (I’m completely out of Kleenex!)

Beautiful Views – The Upper Floors

Widcombe Manor has been designed so that owners can enjoy views of its exquisite grounds from all the main reception rooms. The views are particularly superb from the magnificent drawing room, situated on the first floor, which overlooks the lakes and cascade. Decorated in tones that echo the Georgian elegance of Bath’s Assembly Rooms, the room also features elegant touches such as gilt cornicing, bay windows and a painted ceiling. South-facing, it offers views over all nine acres of the estate and the vale beyond. It is the perfect place to enjoy the everchanging colours of the seasons in the surrounding mature woodland and formal terraces. Most of the main reception rooms are south-facing over the estate and the Bath stone is particularly beautiful when bathed in gentle sunlight at dawn and dusk. The panelled landing is an elegant feature and affords views over the Venetian fountain, as does the second floor office, which has a beautiful oval window. (Howl!)

Comfort and Style – The Bedroom Suites

Widcombe Manor is a home that represents the perfect marriage of grandeur and comfort, and nowhere is that more evident than in its three exquisite bedroom suites. These spacious and beautifully designed rooms are ideal for guests or family living. The master bedroom is a light, airy room which offers beautiful views over the woodland and gardens. This leads on to a dressing area and Grecian-themed marble bathroom. A further delightful guest suite overlooks the courtyard and fountain to the front of the house, and has a large en suite bathroom with roll-top bath. Decorated in subtle tones, with delightful dressings, furnishing and cream panelling, this is a relaxing retreat.

The manor has a further guest bedroom on the first floor which overlooks the gardens and has a stylish en suite bathroom. On the second floor there are three more bedrooms and two bathrooms, which are ideal family rooms. (You can all come to stay!). Tucked away in the eaves of the house, they are characterful and intimate, yet offer the spaciousness required for family living.

Modern Luxury – The Pavilion

Amid the Georgian splendour of this residence, the modernist garden Pavilion provides an exciting departure in terms of design, and was influenced by the Mies van der Rohe-designed Barcelona Pavilion. Situated to the east of the residence, it is a large, light-filled space with kitchen and dining area, and an informal living room. Its huge glass doors slide back to reveal breathtaking views of the woodland and lakes, creating a sense of being at one with the natural world. A large heated infinity pool reflects the tones of woodland surrounding the Pavilion and offers fabulous views over the vale and gardens. A grass ‘staircase’ leads down from this perfect suntrap to the terraces and more formal areas (stop! You’re killing me!). In perfect contrast is the Georgian Summerhouse, a delightful and spacious garden room built in Bath stone. Situated along a long walk, with wellstocked herbaceous borders, it provides a formal and elegant focal point amid the terraces close to the house. It is also spacious enough to be
the ideal place to serve tea on a hot, sunny day. (Can this pile posssibly be more appealing?!)

Exquisite landscapes – Garden and Grounds

Widcombe Manor’s nine-acre gardens are a central attraction in this enchanting retreat. Terraced and landscaped in the 18th Century they were developed into their current form in the 1930s, with some further redevelopment in the 1990s, and include lakes, a cascade (wanted: one hermit for live in position), formal gardens, a croquet lawn and tennis court. The Italianate gardens near the house provide a suitably formal and architectural extension of the Georgian splendour of the house. Elegant topiary, statues, fountains and immaculate lawns are complemented by architectural plants as well as well-established perennials. The formality gives way to a vale which leads down to the lakes and cascade. Mature woodland provides perfect privacy and an everchanging panoply of colour and interest throughout the seasons. A children’s play area and a bountiful cutting garden are other features that enhance the estate’s attraction, and a boules court is another delightful addition from the current owners.

The soothing sounds of natural, flowing water from the waterfall enhance the sense of rural tranquillity in a residence that is just minutes from the many cultural attractions of Bath. (Oh, the humanity!)

Offered for sale by Savills Bath  – offers in excess of £10,000,000

Reader, I am spent.