Stately Home Inspiration
Few of us will ever live in a stately home, but should you have regal aspirations for your own abode, be inspired by visiting some of the nation’s best.
2 minute read
Osborne House – Cowes, Isle of Wight
Queen Victoria’s cherished palace is well worth a visit, if you want to see how a reigning monarch chose to make her house a home. Considered a private home rather than a national asset, she was personally involved in the design, architecture, décor and furnishings of this sumptuous abode.
Blenheim Palace – Woodstock, Oxfordshire
For authentic, historical, royal decoration visit Blenheim between February and September to enjoy a tour of the upstairs rooms. Four poster beds, rich with drapes, complement the stuccoed walls, famous paintings and marble sculptures of queens. You can also peek into the servants’ quarters below stairs, if your tastes are more austere.
Highclere Castle – Newbury, Berkshire
For Downton Abbey fans a visit to Highclere is a must. Visitors can loointo twelve of the bedrooms then use the stone staircase to go down to what used to be the old staff dining rooms, the cellars, sitting rooms, utility areas and kitchens. For Middle-Eastern inspiration take a look at the impressive Egyptian exhibition, full of antiquities collected by the 5th Earl of Carnarvon.
Chatsworth – Bakewell, Derbyshire
This magnificent house boasts grand staircases, historic halls, a splendid library and ceilings of gilded stucco. The extensive gardens were designed by the legendary Capability Brown and include waterfalls, colourful flowerbeds, stunning topiary and a landscaped deer park.
Castle Howard – York, Yorkshire
Your home is your castle, but if you’d like to see one on a larger scale this 18th century residence showcases stunning architecture, world-renowned collections and sumptuous décor. The grounds offer woodland and lakeside walks set in 1,000 acres of breathtaking landscape.
Fonmon Castle – Barry, Wales
A more modest home, you will nevertheless be able to travel across time via the small stone ceiling, which dates from the 13th century, portraits and paintings from the 16th century onward, the 17th century Old Kitchen, the 18thcentury gilt, the first floor library, artfully decorated with rococo plasterwork and gilded mirrors, and finally an extensive collection of mementoes from the 20thcentury.
Hopetoun – Edinburgh, Scotland
Originally designed by William Bruce, this magnificent 18th century home boasts an impressive façade and interiors which have remained virtually unchanged for three centuries. The elegance of the Georgian era can be found in the furniture, clocks, paintings and tapestries.
