Now we're not misers, but last year we drove to Brodsworth and presented Donna's corporate English Heritage access card only to be told it isn't allowed on event days, not that we knew it was an event day, so we turned around and went somewhere else. So today we checked beforehand and thankfully no events planned so we hit the road and headed the 22 miles north; just to the west of Doncaster.
As you arrive you get a sense of the grandeur that would be offered up, you drive up an impressive approach road lined by trees and rolling fields, then as you walk from the car-park up the path to the house it is lined by manicured lawns, well looked after shrubs and trees, and alabaster statues looking on with pride.
Open access to the house doesn't start until 1pm, for the two hours prior to that time they have guided tours; not something we're really bothered about as we like to just meander around and look at what we want to look at and all at our own pace. So, we headed off around the grounds as the weather was warm and fairly sunny so we wanted to take advantage of that. That said, large threatening grey clouds were always waiting there in the distance, ready to pounce should the mood take them.
What we really liked about the grounds was the diversity of flora, there are very manicured 'Italian style' formal gardens, lovely little hidden grotto's, water features, sweet smelling rose gardens, numerous ornamental folly's and in the grounds an atmospheric old church. There really is something for everyone, even a large play area for the kids. As long as you're 7 and under that is.
We had taken a packed lunch so sat and dined under the warm sun and looking out over the multi-coloured gardens, a perfect place to eat. Then about 5 minutes later, and as we were ready to start our tour of the house those threatening skies started to test us with a light shower. So, we headed into the cafe and took in afternoon tea, lovely scones, clotted cream and Donna had Blackberry jam, and for me Raspberry. Now on to the interior of the house.
And it didn't disappoint. Yes a large portion of it is hidden behind wooden panels (particularly the ground floor) whilst they undertake substantial refurbishment, but in a way that just adds to the rawness of the building. Yes there are some stunning rooms, but there are also lots of rooms that just looked lived in, and in a way ordinary. Some have commented that in places it looks a little 'tatty', but that's the rawness as English Heritage spend millions in bringing much of it back to it's former glory. We loved it.
After four and a half hours it was time to leave, but as we headed out we spent £20 on a few plants from the small garden centre as we just could resist. Yes having them at the exit is like having sweets next to the tills in the supermarket, but who cares.
As you arrive you get a sense of the grandeur that would be offered up, you drive up an impressive approach road lined by trees and rolling fields, then as you walk from the car-park up the path to the house it is lined by manicured lawns, well looked after shrubs and trees, and alabaster statues looking on with pride.
Open access to the house doesn't start until 1pm, for the two hours prior to that time they have guided tours; not something we're really bothered about as we like to just meander around and look at what we want to look at and all at our own pace. So, we headed off around the grounds as the weather was warm and fairly sunny so we wanted to take advantage of that. That said, large threatening grey clouds were always waiting there in the distance, ready to pounce should the mood take them.
What we really liked about the grounds was the diversity of flora, there are very manicured 'Italian style' formal gardens, lovely little hidden grotto's, water features, sweet smelling rose gardens, numerous ornamental folly's and in the grounds an atmospheric old church. There really is something for everyone, even a large play area for the kids. As long as you're 7 and under that is.
We had taken a packed lunch so sat and dined under the warm sun and looking out over the multi-coloured gardens, a perfect place to eat. Then about 5 minutes later, and as we were ready to start our tour of the house those threatening skies started to test us with a light shower. So, we headed into the cafe and took in afternoon tea, lovely scones, clotted cream and Donna had Blackberry jam, and for me Raspberry. Now on to the interior of the house.
And it didn't disappoint. Yes a large portion of it is hidden behind wooden panels (particularly the ground floor) whilst they undertake substantial refurbishment, but in a way that just adds to the rawness of the building. Yes there are some stunning rooms, but there are also lots of rooms that just looked lived in, and in a way ordinary. Some have commented that in places it looks a little 'tatty', but that's the rawness as English Heritage spend millions in bringing much of it back to it's former glory. We loved it.
After four and a half hours it was time to leave, but as we headed out we spent £20 on a few plants from the small garden centre as we just could resist. Yes having them at the exit is like having sweets next to the tills in the supermarket, but who cares.
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