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

Chateau Impney

Quite how this could be described as an ugly building or even the second most ugly building in Britain does somewhat defy belief but there are some that think this building is anything but delightful.

The history behind this mansion is one of romance and shattered dreams. John Corbett, known as the 'Salt King' and the builder of this magnificent chateau fell in love with a French lady, or perhaps it is more appropriate to say French educated, as her name was - Ann Eliza O'Meara.

A condition of his marriage to her involved the building of a French Chateau - the Chateau Impney you see today. The marriage did not last long but the building remains as a reminder of that once romantic gesture that was responsible for its creation.

The Chateau is built in the style of Louis XIII and was completed in 1875. The Salt Industry of Droitwich was once the towns main income and John Corbett was a prominent figure in Drotiwich history. Born in 1817 he was the son of a Black Country barge owner.

The Chateau Impney stands in 130 acres of parkland and is now a hotel which provides modern and luxury accommodation and conference services. Considerable effort once went into the landscaped parkland which include lakes, waterfalls, tropical gardens and an extensive variety of trees and shrubs.

Chateau Impney is a well known local landmark near Droitwich and anyone entering from the North or from Junction 5 of the M5 motorway will pass by it. The website for the Chateau Impney can be found at: www.chateau-impney.com/