Return to Packwood House during July 2020

The second National Trust we booked to go back to was Packwood House. This was near the end of July 2020. This time though, we were able to go inside of the house. But the entrance was moved to the back. And only a limited number of people inside at one time. Some parts of the garden wasn't open. But you could go all the way around the lake, and have a picnic on the lawn.

This visit to Packwood House was booked for the 20th July 2020 for around 12pm. As before you go to the National Trust website, and book the tickets in the EventBrite app. The way into the grounds from the car park had changed. You still go through the Barnyard, but a different gate was opened near the house.

You could get in the queue to go into the house, which had only just reopened (many other National Trust properties around the country, the inside of properties were not open). Use the hand sanitiser and put your face mask on. Only the ground floor was open this time. The door at the back was the way in. And you exit via the Great Hall.

One reason to go back was to go all the way around the lake. As back in 2018 they were restoring a path. This time though the path was open, and you could go through gates to the field at the back.

 

Heading from the car park to the Barnyard, saw these social distancing signs. Please keep 2 metres apart.

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In the Barnyard saw Fergie the tractor. It is over 70 years old.

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The Yew Garden was closed. Saw this view from the back of the house.

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Queuing to go into Packwood House. There was hand sanitiser and buckets to bin your paper towels.

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Bit weird having the rooms to just your household bubble. This was the Drawing Room.

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In the Long Gallery. Was the odd National Trust volunteer around.

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Now in the Great Hall. The long table and chairs had been moved. The door to the far right was the way back outside.

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Checking out the lake, was gulls taking off and landing all the time.

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View of the back of the house. This was The West Front, and last summer it was the way to queue to go into the house. First up it was time to have a sandwich on the lawn to the right.

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After having a sandwich, we continued the walk. Now heading around the lake.

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Quite a lot of Canada geese and ducks around as you would expect with a lake like this.

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The gate from the Packwood Causeway leads into the Pool Tail Copse.

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A woodland to walk through. Tall trees, lush and green in the height of summer.

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There was an Orchard on the way back towards the gardens with a view of the lake.

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Glimpses of the Carolean Garden. Most of the garden was roped off, and you couldn't go any further. This was one of the brick Gazebos.

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Another one of the Gazebos near the South Front of the house.

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A wheelbarrow and rope. You couldn't go any further in the Carolean Garden.

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The East Front of Packwood House used to be the main entrance to go into the house. But not during the pandemic. This door was closed. And now this garden was the way out. The Sundial Gift Shop in the outbuildings to the right was also closed.

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Some of the flowers and plants in the garden near The East Front of Packwood House.

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On the way out, saw that The Barnyard Cafe was closed. But instead, you could get a coffee in the Barnyard from a trailer. The Kitchen Garden was also closed (I think, might have missed the entrance to it this time). The extensive grounds were open for people to walk around if they wanted to.

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See also my post on the return to Baddesley Clinton in July 2020.

 

Photos taken by Elliott Brown. Can be found on Twitter: ellrbrown