National Trust properties around the Midlands (Spring and Summer 2019)
On my National Trust membership card, been to many National Trust properties around the shire counties in the spring and summer of 2019. I was thinking about doing a post on the Cotswolds properties I went to, but here will stick to the Midlands (for now). Croome Court in Worcestershire. Canons Ashby in Northamptonshire. Farnborough Hall in Warwickshire. Berrington Hall in Herefordshire.
Previous National Trust posts here:
Croome Court
A visit to Croome Court during April 2019. This visit was near the end of the month. Located not far from Pershore in south Worcestershire at Croome D'Abitot. Croome Court is a mid-18th-century Neo-Palladian mansion. It is surrounded by parkland designed by Lancelot "Capability" Brown for the 6th Earl of Coventry. Some of the rooms were designed by Robert Adam. The house was built in 1751 - 52.
dndimg alt="Croome Court" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/NT Croome (Apr 2019) (1) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />
A look at some of the rooms inside. This was the Long Gallery. Most of the fixtures and fittings were sold in the 1940s, so most rooms are now used for temporary exhibitions. At the time was no exhibition in this room, but one was scheduled called "Can't see the trees for the wood". The interiors were done in about 1760.
dndimg alt="Croome Court" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/NT Croome (Apr 2019) (2) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />
This is The Golden Box in the Dining Room at Croome Court. There was A stunning display of Croome's porcelain by artist Bouke de Vries.
dndimg alt="Croome Court" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/NT Croome (Apr 2019) (3) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />
Back outside, and now on the path to the Chinese Bridge. Would soon cross over the Croome River.
dndimg alt="Croome Court" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/NT Croome (Apr 2019) (4) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />
Lakeside view of Croome Court. National Trust deckchairs to the right where you can sit and relax near the lake. Also an urn to the left of the deckchairs.
dndimg alt="Croome Court" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/NT Croome (Apr 2019) (5) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />
Distance from Birmingham: about 36 miles via the M5. Journey time in a car about 54 minutes. Postcode for SatNav: WR8 9DW. Rebecca Road, High Green.
Canons Ashby
On the May Day Bank Holiday Monday in early May 2019, we went to Canons Ashby House in Northamptonshire. It is a Grade I listed Elizabethan manor house located in the village of Canons Ashby. About 11 miles south of the town of Daventry. It has been owned by the National Trust since 1981, who have since restored it and done up the gardens. The house dates to the mid 16th century. It was the home of the Dryden family for many centuries.
dndimg alt="Canons Ashby" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Canons Ashby NT (May 2019) (1) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />
A look inside Canons Ashby House. Photography was fine, as long as without a tripod or flash. The book room or Library. A pair of globes sitting on tables near the desk in the middle of the room.
dndimg alt="Canons Ashby" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Canons Ashby NT (May 2019) (2) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />
This room was the Servants' Hall. With a long table and chairs in the middle. One of the rooms on the landing as we headed back downstairs.
dndimg alt="Canons Ashby" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Canons Ashby NT (May 2019) (3) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />
Now back outside in the gardens. From the Top Terrace. Stunning flowerbeds with a multitude of colours. Spring is the perfect time to see colourful displays like this. May have been tulips out at that time of the year.
dndimg alt="Canons Ashby" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Canons Ashby NT (May 2019) (4) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />
Further out in the gardens. Now on the Mulberry Lawn. The house having originally been built around 1550, was extended in 1590. It was embelished in 1632. The south front was remodelled in 1708 to 1710. The west range to the Green Court with the entrane dates to 1840.
dndimg alt="Canons Ashby" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Canons Ashby NT (May 2019) (5) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />
Distance from Birmingham: about 61 miles via the M6 in a car. Should take just over an hour to get there. Postcode for SatNav: NN11 3SD. Canons Ashby, Daventry.
Farnborough Hall
A private residence, could not take interior photos, so only got the exteriors. Only open on Saturday and Wednesday afternoons on Bank Holidays. This visit on the way back home from Canons Ashby, during the early May Bank Holiday Monday back in May 2019. Farnborough Hall is a country house just within the border of Warwickshire, not far from Banbury (which is in Oxfordshire). It has been owned by the National Trust since 1960. Home of the Holbech family from 1684, although they first moved in around 1692. During WW1 and WW2 the hall was used as a auxiliary hospital. The main entrance into the hall was through that open door.
dndimg alt="Farnborough Hall" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Farnborough Hall NT (May 2019) (1) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />
View of the drive a bit further back. The Clock Court is to the right. The hall is Grade I listed, while the Clock Court is Grade II listed. The way in from the car park is near the Clock Court. It was a Stableblock dating to the 18th century. Was remodelled in 1815 - 1816 by Henry Hakewill for William Holbech.
dndimg alt="Farnborough Hall" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Farnborough Hall NT (May 2019) (2) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />
After a look around the house (I was unable to take photos inside as it was not allowed due to being a private residence). Went around the gardens having a look around.
dndimg alt="Farnborough Hall" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Farnborough Hall NT (May 2019) (3) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />
From the lawn a bit further back looking at this side of the hall.
dndimg alt="Farnborough Hall" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Farnborough Hall NT (May 2019) (4) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />
Further back after a walk down a path to a garden. Another look at the hall behind this field. Got to be careful of low lying tree branches, as I didn't see it one way, and hit my head (ouch). Even with a hat on (need a hard hat). Some places have low ceilings or door frames so have to be careful where I go on my travels.
dndimg alt="Farnborough Hall" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Farnborough Hall NT (May 2019) (5) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />
Distance from Birmingham: about 48 miles along the M40 in a car. Journey would take around 52 minutes. From Canons Ashby it was about 13 miles along the A423, a journey time in the car of 26 minutes. Postcode for SatNav: OX17 1DU. Farnborough, Banbury.
Berrington Hall
In an August 2019 visit to Berrington Hall. It is a country house located about 3 miles north of Leominster in Herefordshire. There was scaffolding on part of the hall due to the on going work to restore the dome. So when you head up the main staircase inside the hall, you see the scaffolding and wraps. Some light fittings had to be taken down at the time. It is a neoclassical country house building that Henry Holland designed in 1778-81 for Thomas Harley.
dndimg alt="Berrington Hall" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Berrington Hall NT (August 2019) (1) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />
Heading to the main entrance for a look around the hall, through the big door, up the steps behind the four columns. Scaffolding to the right. Berrington features Capability Brown's last landscape design. You can head down the field through gates past sheep to the Berrington Hall. Best to do that after you have had a look around the hall first. Berrington has been in possession of the Cornewall family since 1386, but was taken over by the Harley family in 1775 who lived here for 95 years. In 1901 a Manchester businessman, Frederick Cawley MP, later Baron Cawley, purchased the estate. In 1957, the 3rd Lord Cawley transferred it to the Treasury, who in turn passed it onto the National Trust. Lady Cawley was allowed to live here until her death in 1978. A Grade I listed building since 1959.
dndimg alt="Berrington Hall" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Berrington Hall NT (August 2019) (2) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />
A look around the interior of the hall. This was in the Library. To the left of the fireplace was a chessboard.
dndimg alt="Berrington Hall" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Berrington Hall NT (August 2019) (3) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />
This is the Drawing Room. Chairs around the wall near a fireplace with a couple of mirrors in the room.
dndimg alt="Berrington Hall" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Berrington Hall NT (August 2019) (4) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />
Back outside into the Courtyard. There was a tea room to the right and I think if I recall correctly the gift shop was to the left. Through the entrance way straight ahead was a former stables. One of which where you could buy an ice cream, or get a coffee. We later went to the Old Servants' Hall tea room (in the building to the right) down the basement for a coffee and slice of cake. After that, got an ice cream from the Stables cafe.
dndimg alt="Berrington Hall" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Berrington Hall NT (August 2019) (5) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />
Distance from Birmingham: about 46 miles in the car taking 1 and a half hours via the A456. Postcode for the SatNav: HR6 0DW. Leominster.
Photos taken by Elliott Brown.
Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown.