After enjoying my National Trust membership in 2023, I decided I would rejoin the Trust for 2025.
I’ve only really done National Trust visits in the last ten years, I did visit Fountains Abbey in the early 1990s, and joined the National Trust, but don’t think I went to any other property that year. Most of my visits to properties have entered around the South West, the Midlands, and the Thames Valley. My plan for this year is to visit properties that I haven’t been to before and ones that are in other parts of the country.
On a recent visit to Cambridgeshire I decided I would make what I thought would be a quick visit to Anglesey Abbey.
Anglesey Abbey
A Jacobean-style house full of rich history, from a monastic priory to 20th-century home.
Current saving £73.30
One adult £18.00
Parking – Free
Total saving £18.00
Cumulative saving £182.50
Membership cost £91.20
Net cumulative saving £91.30
Though I grew up in Cambridge, when I was there I never went to Anglesey Abbey and I don’t recall even hearing about it back then. However back then I wasn’t really into visiting country houses or ruins.
I parked my car, and put it on charge, I liked how there were EV chargers in the car park. After scanning my card at reception I headed out to walk to the house. At this point I bumped into an old colleague, so we chatted for a while.
I did think the house was a little TARDIS like. I honestly thought we would see a few rooms on the ground floor and then a few rooms on the first floor. However the house appeared to go on and on. You could virtually see all the rooms in the house. A couple of times I was completely thrown, as I walked around the house been surprised by various rooms. I walked into the library and was not expecting the huge open space of the library. It was a similar experience to the gallery spaces as well. As for the dungeon like experience of the dining room, another kind of space I wasn’t expecting. Then there was the bank like vault in the pantry!
I really enjoyed walking around the house and seeing all the different rooms and furniture. As with most National Trust visits, the volunteers were friendly, forthcoming and very knowledgeable. The house itself has a fascinating history and it was a wonderful place to visit.
As well as the house there are some lovely grounds to walk around and an old mill as well. It’s certainly a place I would like to visit again.