The Stourhead House and Gardens Estate

Its the weekend and we drive about 30 minutes from Sturminster Newton north and into the County of Wiltshire to visit Stourhead House and Gardens Estate. These are part of the wonderful UK’s National Trust network of properties, acquired by the Trust and beautifully preserved for visitors to enjoy. The Estate and the grounds include the “head of the River Stour” that winds southwards until it empties into Christchurch Harbour and the English Channel.

Opened in 1740 and built in the “Palladium “ style, ie after the Italian architect Palladio, the House contains the largest collection of Chippendale antique ( priceless perhaps) furniture in the UK – and the furniture on display is just beautiful!!!

The Hoare Banking family, whose descendants can still live in the upstairs rooms, originally were successful participants in the “South Pacific Bubble” investment apparently, in itself a fascinating story, “the worlds first Ponzi scheme”? But the family’s banking fortunes built and furnished the Estate. The Hoare family were avid art collectors and whilst some pieces had to be sold in an “heirloom sale” to settle gambling debts, the downstairs rooms of the house are adorned with hundreds of paintings.

I love antique furniture, in the Library there are some exquisite pieces, in particular the “partners desk” decorated with Egyptian statues, and the library staircase on its wheels, a lovely piece of mahogany. The “Pope’s Cabinet” , see pic below, was acquired in Italy on a “Grand Tour”, originally belonging to Pope Sixtus V (1585), and was eventually delivered to Stourhead some 2 years after its purchase. An Amazon delivery of the past, perhaps?? The Cabinet has many secret drawers sits on a stand that was made locally , but overall a quite a wonderful combination of craftsmanship.

Entrance Hall with Volunteer Guides
Such a pretty chair
A Library needs stairs on wheels to access the top shelves
Chippendale!
Acquired in Italy , the Pope’s Cabinet, not the super helpful guide!
Painting on display just recovered from the USA, presumably a gambling debt payment, now tax payer funded.
Another Italian trophy – lots of secret compartments too
Chippendale Planter for the house with everything
The Library- Partners Desk centre

Whilst the House’s furniture & furnishings are beautifully presented as i hope we show a bit in the pics , the extensive grounds and lake are magnificent as we visit in mid June. Originally the vision of Henry Hoare II – known as Henry the Magnificent!! Whilst we have missed most of the best May rhododendron displays the mature beech, copper beech, lime, oak and many more trees are absolutely at their best. We find one superb Tulip Tree by the lake, which we had only previously seen an example of in Kew Gardens, the giveaway being their flower – see below..

Simple garden fencing but so beautiful
Ironwork Horse with Stables
And up to the House
Last rhododendron
Laurel embankments
Temple of Apollo
The flower names the tree?
Every Bankers Country Estate has to have a lake

An estate such as Stourhead would be incomplete if it did not have its own Temple of Apollo (see above), a Church, Public House, Tea rooms and Shop. We had a superb days visit, and thanks to our NZ Heritage Membership Cards were able to get in to the National Trust Property for free!!

So thank you so much Dorset, its been a wonderful visit and the County has been looking at its early summer best. I think that Dorset benefits from not getting the plaudits thats its neighbours Devon and near neighbour Cornwall get, and less tourist attention perhaps. A gem however we think , with so many places well worth a visit. We shall be back, so much more to see!!!