Attingham Park

Built in 1785 for the 1st Lord Berwick. The property features a picture gallery by John Nash and collections of silver, Italian furniture and Grand Tour Paintings. There is a Deer Park with walks alongside the river Tern. 

For more photographs of Attingham Park click here or view on You Tube

 

Attingham Park, Shrewsbury, SY4 4TP. Tel: 01743 708123

Berrington Hall

The Berrington Estate was purchased from the Cornwall family in 1775 by Thomas Harley, a banker in the City of London. The grounds are by 'Capability Brown. Berrington Hall is set over a beautiful valley. The interior of Berrington Hall has decorated ceilings and fabulous collections of furniture, paintings and everyday items of Victorian life. There is an attractive walled garden.
 
The old saying 'death and taxes' would be quite appropriate for Berrington Hall. In 1957 the property was handed over to the treasury in payment of death duties. Presumably the Treasury, at a loss with what to do with it promptly handed it over to the National Trust. 

For photographs of Berrington Hall & grounds click here or view on You Tube
 

Berrington Hall, Nr Leominster, Herefordshire, HR6 ODW. Tel: 01568 615721

Packwood House

Packwood is well known for it's topiary garden which is breathtaking in the spring when the daffodils are up and the house and gardens look their best. Tradition has it that Charles II was given refreshment at Packwood after the defeat of his armies at Worcester in 1651. The property was donated to the National Trust in 1941 by Mr Graham Baron Ash in memory of his parents. The Ash family had spent many years restoring the property.

This really is an impressive property as a walk down the Long Gallery and through the Great Hall will reveal. What is often not known is that the Long Gallery was only built in 1931 to join up the Great Hall to the rest of the house. Some of the wonderful tapestries come from nearby Baddesley Clinton and several pieces of oak furniture date back to the sixteenth century.

Whilst the beauty of the house is impressive the garden is positively breathtaking and is what makes Packwood House so famous. The Yew Garden is entered by raised steps and a wrought iron gate. The garden slopes upwards and an avenue of trees lead the walker to a raised path which circles upwards and round until you reach a wooden seat beneath a yew tree from where you can admire the garden and its tranquility from a raised vangage point. Packwood House has a cafeteria, parking, a lake and plenty of countryside for a walk. Only two miles away is the National Trust property of Baddesley Clinton.

Packwood House, Lapworth, Solihull, B94 6AT. Tel: 01564 783294

Further information about Packwood House can be obtained by visiting their website at

www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Charlecote Park

Charlecote Park dates back to the Norman Conquest. The names of Charlecote and Lucy (Luce) come from two families who travelled across with the conquest. The first Sir Thomas Lucy constructed the current house in 1551. Queen Elizabeth was entertained here in 1572. The house is in Elizabethan Revival style. 

Shakespeare is said to have been caught poaching in the grounds of the Deer Park. The grounds are by 'Capability Brown' and make for excellent walking.

Shop, Licenced orangery restaurant and Deer Park. This is a National Trust property.

For photographs of Charlecote Park click here or view on You Tube

Charlecote Park, Warwick, CV35 9ER. Tel:01789 470277

Sunnycroft

Victorian villa and one of the few remaining gentleman's houses of the Victorian age. Intact with much of the original furnishings and trappings of the period. Interesting grounds and outhouses.

For more photographs of Sunnycroft click here

Sunnycroft,  200 Holyhead Road, Wellington, TF1 2DR. Tel:01952 242884

Little Moreton Hall

Little Moreton Hall is a National Trust property near Congleton. It is one of the most intact and important half timbered manor houses in the country. Constructed around a cobbled courtyard in 1504 the long oak gallery on top of the building has had to be shored up with a special steel frame since it was in danger of collapsing.

The Moreton family lived here for nearly 450 years until the building was gifted to the National Trust in 1938. Surrounded by a moat the house has a small formal hedge garden and lawns. There is a coffee shop and National Trust shop on site.

Little Moreton Hall, Newcastle Rd, Moreton, Congleton, Cheshire East CW12 4SD, UK

For photos of Little Moreton Hall click here or watch on You Tube

Lyme Park

Lyme Park is a large National Trust Property and Estate in Disley, Cheshire. It has formal gardens and a deer park and the mansion house is a Grade I listed building. Lyme Park is particularly popular as it was used for the BBC production Pride and Prejudice.

There are play areas for children and plenty of places to stop for a coffee, ice cream or a snack. This is an ideal location for a picnic and for families with young children. There is so much to see and do.

Lyme Park, Peak District National Park, Disley, Stockport, Cheshire East SK12 2NT, UK

For photos of Lyme Park click here or watch on You Tube

Lacock

Lacock in Wiltshire is a village situated just 3 miles from Chippenham. The Manor, Abbey and the entire village is owned by the National Trust.

The village is mentioned in the Domesday Book and the original character and structure of the village have been preserved and well attended. The village is very popular with visitors during the summer months.

Lacock has been the backdrop for several well known film productions, notably, Pride and Prejudice, Cranford and Harry Potter films.

For more photos of Lacock click here or view on You Tube

Brockhampton Estate

Handed over to the National Trust in 1947, the Brockhampton Estate in Herefordshire still operates traditional farming and has extensive areas of woodland under its control. The park and the woodland makes excellent walking for those who are feeling energetic. 

The Lower Brockhampton House is of late 14th century and a moated manor house. The ruined chapel is interesting and well worth a look round. Woods & Parkland Walks, Tea Room & NT Shop.Brockhampton Estate, Bringsty, Herefordshire. WR6 5TB. Tel:  01885 488099

For photos of Brockhampton House click here or you can view the photos on You Tube

Watersmeet House

Watersmeet House is owned by the National Trust. This is a popular place with tourists during the summer months due to its river gorge, old woodlands and stunning river scenes. Watersmeet is near Lynmouth and it has been owned by the National Trust since 1996 and is used as an information centre, tea room and shop. The building which used to be a fishing lodge was completed in 1832.

This really is a great place to go walking along the river or to explore the 2,000 acres of wildlife and waterfalls. At Watersmeet House they are known for their particularly delightful cream teas.

To view more photos of Watersmeet click here

Calke Abbey

Calke Abbey was handed over to the National Trust in 1985. The building is Grade I listed structure built on the site of an Augustine Priory from the 12th century. Calke Abbey, a stately home rather than an Abbey, was built between 1701 and 1704. It was owned for many generations by the Harpur family and is now open to the public. The first thing that you notice when you visit is that many of the rooms have a decaying and neglected look about them. This is a deliberate intention since the National Trust wish to preserve the state in which the house was handed over to them because it tells a very interesting story.

The last Baronet of Calke Abbey was a certain Sir Vauncey Harpur Crewe died in 1924 after devoting his life to the collection of natural history specimens. Visitors walk around the house with its peeling paint and abandoned areas which all go to show how houses such as this struggled in the 20th century as a result of high death duties and taxes apart from the expense of the upkeep of estates like this. The collections housed at Calke Abbey are as extensive as they are diverse. Crammed into every room are cases of birds eggs, insects, butterflies, rocks and completely random items that show the eccentricity of the family that lived here.

Calke Abbey is one of the most interesting National Trust properties in the country. The grounds of the estate are a joy to walk round and from time to time there are exhibitions and days when volunteers dress up in period costumes and the whole effect captures the spirit of a bygone era.

Calke Abbey, Derby, DE73 7LE. Tel: 01332 863 822

For more photographs of Calke Abbey click here or view the photos on You Tube

Felbrigg

Felbrigg is a small village situated south of Cromer. It takes its name from the Danish language and means ‘plank bridge’. The National Trust property Felbrigg is a 17th century house of which some 20 rooms are open to the public. This really is an interesting property which has some excellent gardens and grounds.

What makes this of particular interest is the history of the various families that have lived here. The visitor can connect more with its historic past than is possible in most other similar historic properties. This is mainly due to the fact that the furniture and the belongings of the last occupant are all here pretty much as they would have been left when it was handed over to the National Trust.

The library and Grand Tour collection here is magnificent. This is a house of contrasts and surprises. Whilst it is not one of the most impressive National Trust properties you will see in terms of size and design, it is unique and delightful in its own right.

The last occupant of Felbrigg – Robert Wyndham Ketton-Cremer wrote many books and was a well known biographer and county historian. His books can be seen in the library. He was a bachelor whose only brother was killed during the war. With no descendants he made sure that the Hall and Estate would be available for future generations by donating it to the National Trust.

The gardens include a beautiful 18th century Orangery, some fine trees and extensive woodland with a lake. The nearby 15th century church of St Margaret is where Robert Wyndham Ketton-Cremer is buried.

For more photographs of Norfolk click here or view on You Tube

 Felbrigg Hall, Norwich, Norfolk, NR11 8PR. Tel: 01263 837444

Corfe Castle

Corfe Castle, now part of the National Trust, is situated Near Wareham in Dorset. It has over a 1000 years of history and dates back to the time of William the Conqueror.

Corfe Castle was built and added to over the years. Henry I built the keep, King John the Gloriette and Henry II the south west gatehouse. The castle was destroyed purposely during the English Civil War and what you see are the damaged walls and foundations rather than the weathering of time.

Corfe Castle was the home of Bankes family who moved to Kingston Lacy House in 1646 after the castle was destroyed. The castle and Kingston Lacy Estates were handed over to the National Trust in 1981.

The award winning Swanage Steam Railway has a park and ride and takes you from the station right up to Corfe village. Corfe village is also definitely worth a good look around and has an excellent bakery and interesting buildings.

For photographs of Corfe Castle click here or view the photos on You Tube

Clevedon Court

Clevedon Court is a 14th century manor house but with much of the original building dating back to earlier times. There is a 12th century tower and a 13th century great hall. The property is set in a well landscaped 18th century terraced garden with several outbuildings and an impressive wall to the rear of the property.

This has been the home to the Elton family since 1709 and their descendants still live here at Clevedon Court. The house contains a collection of glassware and some impressive paintings and furniture.

We have visited many National Trust properties but it has to be said that the official representatives at this particular property really do make their visitors feel most welcome. Each representative talked with ease and knowledge about Clevedon Court and it was obvious that they spoke about their subject with a passion all to rare these days.

This property is open from the end of March until the end of September on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. Last admission is 30 minutes before closing time.

For photographs of Clevedon Court Click here or view the photographs on You Tube

Clevedon Court, Twickenham Road, Clevedon, Somerset, BS21 6QU, Tel: 01275 872257

Blickling Hall

Blickling Hall is situated close to the market town of Aylsham. It is a magnificent and impressive stately home in the village of Blickling that has been owned by the National Trust since 1940. It is reputed to be the birthplace of Ann Boleyn although this could be disputed. Certainly the family of Thomas Boleyn did live here but records cannot prove that Ann Boleyn was actually born here.

This Jacobean Hall was built between 1616 and 1627 and has a superb long gallery for which it is renowned. Visitors will be impressed with its imposing structure and the gardens and lake that surround the hall. The hall itself has some fine ceilings and the library holds some of the most historically important collections of books in England.

Records show that Blickling Hall in the 11th century was just a manor house but towards the end of the 14th century it had become a much larger moat house.

Throughout the year many events take place at Blickling Hall and visitors can admire the gardens and stroll around the surrounding parklands which have been developed over three centuries. During the Second World War the hall was used as an Officers Mess by the RAF. It was only opened to public in 1962.

The headless ghost of Ann Boleyn is said to haunt the home on the anniversary of her execution.
This is an extravagant property and one which has seen many important visitors over the years. It should certainly be on the list of places to visit if you are anywhere in the North Norfolk area. 

For more photographs of Norfolk click here or view on You Tube

Blickling Hall, Norwich, Norfolk, NR11 6NF. Tel: 01263 738030