Waddesdon Manor
- At June 14, 2010
- By Rachael
- In Village life
12
I met up with my friend Sarah on Sunday for a very grown up afternoon in the sunshine at Waddesdon Manor. Once upon a time we used to meet and shop and drink coffee in Starbucks. Now we’re hanging out in National Trust houses and eating cake.
Waddesdon Manor is slightly mad, but very beautiful, like all the best English houses. Built between 1874 and 1879 in the style of a 16th century French chateau, it stands in gorgeous, landscaped grounds. We live very close by, so it’s easy to take such beauty for granted; most of my visits are to rampage round the 5000 acre gardens with the children and a picnic, rather than taking the time to appreciate the beauty of the Waddesdon itself.
There were so many beautiful paintings in Waddesdon. Probably fortunate for all of you that I didn’t realise until the end of the tour that we were allowed to take photographs. But isn’t this gorgeous?
If you want to know more about art and French history, I’d recommend a visit to my friend Melanie’s blog. It’s one of those places that’s lovely to visit with a cup of tea, and she also happens to be a very talented writer who has just published her second book.
The Rose Garden is my favourite place at Waddesdon in summer. 600 David Austin roses fill the air with perfume. These are some of my favourites.
There are only a couple of days left before the winner of the signed copy of The Bridesmaid Pact is announced. If you haven’t left a comment to enter, do!
Tanya (Bump2Basics)
I just found your blog and had to laugh as I recently posted about a trip to Waddesdon Manor myself. Sadly I missed the roses as it was the autumn when I went. I like NT properties and eating cake so it seems we have a bit in common!
Rachael
Hello, lovely to see you here. Any friend of cake is a friend of mine!
Rachael
Christmas girly day out? Shall we?!
Rachael
It's heaven. Even on a dull, rainy day the grounds are so beautiful.
Rachael
That's a gorgeous present. I love roses, and am collecting them, slowly. My grandfather had a beautiful rose garden, and I'd like to do the same.
Rachael
Waddesdon is amazing. Completely overblown, mad and exactly what a NT house should be. You'd love it!
jfb57
Not sure if I've said this before but we go to NT site regularly. You've done what I've promised myself I would do & that is post about them! Waddesdon looks grand!
Rachael
Oh, the heart-stopping woodland playground! I always seem to lose at least one child when I'm there. But it's lovely, isn't it?
Angelfeet
Oo, we went to Waddesdon on our way back from Shakespeare Country last Bank Holiday Monday. We couldn't get into the house as all the tickets were allocated, but we did have a lovely cream tea. The girls also had great fun in the Woodland Playground.
deerbaby
What a gorgeous place. I've never even heard of it – and me a National Trust fully paid up member. I always buy my Mum a rose for her garden from David Austin's catalogue. Lucky you living near there. Beautiful.
Teresa Schoellkopf
I could spend every day there – and forget my 'other' life. How could such peace ever bother me?
EnglishMum
Gorgeous. I love Waddesdon x