Monday 24 September 2018

Charlecote Park

Last week Hubby and I decided to visit another National Trust property, Charlecote Park is the nearest to us and surprisingly somewhere we have not visited before. In the district of Stratford-upon-Avon it lies on the said river next to the village of Hampton Lucy. As well as a 16th century country house Charlecote has 185 acres of parkland with deer freely roaming over land owned by Lucy family since the 1200s.

It was such an interesting house which had a wonderful feeling of peace and comfort. My photos don't really do it justice, it really was a beautiful place.

Beautiful gateway with Tudor towers
What a stunning house 


This porch at the main entrance was built for Queen Elizabth I's visit 
Clock tower
The stain glass panel windows show the development
of the family coat of arms.
I loved this table - such skill to create this stunning design
It was perfectly symmetrical 
Dinner is served - such grandeur
Not everyone's favourite piece and it was quite large
but I was very taken with the carvings depicting
many farming scenes
I have always wanted to play the harp,
this was a beautiful instrument quite unique
with two sets of pedals 
There are volunteer guides in every room in the house, all with snippets of information. The one I loved the most on this visit was in the bedchamber where the bed was so big there was a double step stool for climbing up. The top step of the stool was liftable to reveal a chamber pot. The saying 'put your foot in it' could have originated from someone forgetting to put the lid down and stepping into something most unpleasant ! 

As well as the house we explored the kitchen, scullery, stable block and grounds. All these rooms gave a insight into life days gone by,  especially the kitchen where dressed in period costumes ladies were baking herb cakes from an old recipe. 

Good to see they had their priorities right
Butter pats 
I'm so glad washing is not like this anymore 
Such well laid gardens - very striking
It must have been very bumpy and cold too in the wind 
Even more exposed in this carriage
Charlecote Park was a real surprise and I'm sure we'll visit again if only to take a picnic in it's beautiful parkland with deer running by. William Shakespeare was caught poaching deer, not quite the image we have of the famous playwright

Will caught poaching 
The River Avon and Charlecote Park 

1 comment:

Julie said...

It looks a nice place to visit, not somewhere I have been to.