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The fate of one English Country House
If you are driving North on the M1 in Derbyshire, you might spot the majestic ruins of Sutton Scarsdale high up on the hill. Its roof is open to the sky, the sash windows are empty and the once fine interiors have been removed. This historic house was built between 1724 and 1729, for the 4th Earl of Scarsdale. He commissioned the architect Francis Smith to skilfully incorporate the earlier building of about 1469 within its layout. The…
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10 Portraits in Shades of Grey
After the rich colours of the festive season, January seems to call for a plainer palette. So for our first Friday Fine Art of 2024 we thought you might enjoy our selection of fabulous portraits in 10 shades of grey! We’d love to know which work is your personal favourite. 1 (Lady Charlotte Boyle, Marchioness of Hartington by George Knapton) Chatsworth House 2 (Elizabeth Sidney) The Harley Foundation 3 (William Linley by Sir Thomas Lawrence) The Dulwich Gallery…
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Skating into the New Year
How are you all feeling this morning? OK, well perhaps some fresh air will help clear away any over indulgence. Let’s get our skates on and join the Reverend Robert Walker on Duddingston Loch (our thanks to The Scottish National Gallery for this iconic Caledonian painting). Or we could head to the 17th century where throngs of people are already having fun on the ice. For many the New Year heralds a fresh start, we are hoping that…
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Chatsworth at New Year
The library at Chatsworth looked stunning this morning, with a traditional tree and stars as accents. There was a time when our English Stately Homes closed from October to March but their festive openings now bring in much needed income to keep them going. Chatsworth was thronging with visitors this morning. Tickets to the house had sold out, the gardens were busy and it was hard to find a free table in the cafes. Whilst some might feel…
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The Hunting Tower at Chatsworth
Our New Year adventure has begun with keys to the Hunting Tower at Chatsworth
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The Green Writing Room at Blenheim
As we sit down to write our thank you letters to friends and relations for all of the thoughtful gifts they sent us, this elegant writing room at Blenheim came to mind. The Blenheim Tapestry takes pride of place against green silk damask walls bearing the Churchill family’s coat of arms. The portraits include the first Sir Winston Churchill who was born in 1620 (not shown here). He was a staunch Royalist who was stripped of his home…
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6 of the best Stately Homes to visit in Norfolk!
Known for being a popular staycation tourist destination, the county of Norfolk has much to offer its visitors, including some of the grandest Stately Homes in the region. 6 of the best Norfolk stately homes to visit: Houghton Hall Blickling Hall Oxburgh Hall Holkham Hall Raynham Hall Felbrigg Hall Houghton Hall Commissioned in 1722, by the def facto first British Prime Minister, Sir Robert Walpole, Houghton Hall is a beautiful example of Neo-Palladian architecture. Built to reflect…
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Raynham Hall
Raynham Hall, in Norfolk, is still home to Lord and Lady Townshend, and recently we were lucky enough to visit! We had no idea what to expect, so drove up the sweeping drive, through the Raynham Estate, and parked up. Almost instantly, the front door opened, and out bounded two Jack Russells to welcome us into this historic home. Before the tour began, Lord Townshend provided us with an introduction to the history of Raynham Hall, its construction,…
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Houghton Hall
Houghton Hall stands as a proud testament to the achievements of the Walpole family and their descendants. Sir Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford was an extraordinary figure and the first de facto British Prime Minister. He built this house in the space of 13 years and saw it not just as a house for family living, but as a centre for sporting life, riotous political entertaining, and splendid parade. As visitors, we can now enjoy, from the…
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‘Oh, Charles, don’t be such a tourist’, exploring the real Brideshead Revisited!
Brideshead Revisited is one of our all-time favourite novels and we can just imagine how young Charles Ryder, the narrator, must have felt when he first visited the Flyte family home. The 1981 adaptation was filmed at Castle Howard, and it must have been the perfect location for Brideshead with its glorious dome and beautiful chapel. Whilst the house is called ‘Castle’, it was not built as a fortified structure and the moniker actually refers to…
