Wimpole Estate

On our way home from Southend on Sea (I'll be blogging about our time there later) we called in at Wimpole Estate, a National Trust property. It's a large estate with a cafe, restaurant, farm, bookshop and manor house.

The estate is just off Ermine Street the Roman road that runs from London to York. It is listed in the Domesday Book in 1086 with being a moated manor house. Over time the house and estate has been owned by many many families including the Chicheley's for over 250 years. It was passed on to daughters, nephews and finally Francis Agar-Robartes the 7th Viscount Clifden.

With so many occupants the house had many changes including the main domed entrance that involved making upper rooms smaller to allow the high double storey ceilings. 

George Bambridge and his wife Elsie purchased Wimpole in 1838 after being tenants for 6 years. Elsie, Rugyard Kiplings daughter, made many decorative changes to the house leaving it as it is seen today to the National Trust on her death in 1976.

There was so much to see around the house in the many rooms, the décor, furniture and objects. I was intrigued, if a little un-nerved by the beaded eyes, with the Lord Chancellor's purse. It belonged to Philip Yorke the 1st Earl of Hardwicke 1690 - 1764 and although an important item and beautiful beadwork it did look a bit macabre. 

The dining room held another superb object, a huge ice bucket/bath for wine. It would certainly hold quite a few bottles which would be needed with such a large dining table

In the final part of our tour we were very surprised to discover a sunken bath with shower. The guide informed us it was installed for the gentlemen to bath after playing sports or horse riding. It must have been quite a state of the art thing to have at one time. 

We had a great visit but we didn't see it all as it was a stop on our journey, it really needed more time to explore the farm and gardens and wooded walks. it's always good to visit a National Trust property and this is another we can now say we have enjoyed.