Category: national trust

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Clevedon Court

Clevedon Court

After enjoying my National Trust membership in 2023, I decided I would rejoin the Trust for 2025. 

I have been to Clevedon Court a number of times over the years. It’s only open for six months of the year and only a few times a week. I made a visit there in April of this year.

Clevedon Court

Medieval manor house and 18th-century terraced garden with wide views of the Mendip Hills. Clevedon Court is an outstanding 14th-century manor house. Purchased by Abraham Elton in 1709, this remarkable survivor from the medieval period has been the ancestral home of the Elton family ever since.

Current saving £205.90
One adult £12.00
Parking – Free
Total saving £12.00
Cumulative saving £309.10
Membership cost £91.20
Net cumulative saving £217.90

One interesting aspect of the house was that the Victorian facade which was added in the 1880s was removed in the early 1950s by the National Trust. When the National Trust agreed to take on the house, the Victorian west wing (but not its Elizabethan south front) were demolished as were a plethora of minor 18th- and 19th-century buildings at the rear.

While much of the house is now open to the public, some parts remain private. This is because the Elton family still uses the house, and they continue to stay there.

The gardens are also a highlight and are well worth exploring.

This year I have planned to visit fifty places, however I have already visited Clevedon Court as part of that series of blog posts.

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Visiting Tyntesfield once more

Tyntesfield House

After enjoying my National Trust membership in 2023, I decided I would rejoin the Trust for 2025.

I visited Tyntesfield back in February so decided it was time to visit it again on a lovely sunny day in August.

As Tyntesfield is one of the closest National Trust properties to me (and is open nearly all year round) I have been a fair few times to this lovely house and gardens.

Tyntesfield

An ornate Victorian Gothic Revival house with extensive garden and parkland, just a stone’s throw from Bristol

Current saving £180.90
One adult £20.00
Parking £5.00
Total saving £25.00
Cumulative saving £297.10
Membership cost £91.20
Net cumulative saving £205.90

Tyntesfield is a spectacular Gothic Revival mansion in Wraxall, North Somerset, built in the late 19th century for the wealthy Gibbs family. This architectural gem showcases a blend of Gothic Revival, Jacobean, and Victorian styles, all set within expansive, beautifully maintained grounds. Now a popular tourist spot owned by the National Trust, Tyntesfield invites visitors to step back in time, explore its stunning interiors and gardens, and uncover the rich history of the family who once lived there.

Having parked in the car park (free for National Trust members) I walked through the National Trust entrance and headed to the house though the grounds. I went the back way to the house, in the main so I could walk in the shade.

I had a great time exploring and walking around the house. The drawing room was closed for cleaning. All the carpets and rugs were up, and all the furniture had been taken out.

When the National Trust took over Tyntesfield, they faced a major challenge: an enormous collection of items. The agreement was that nothing could be added to or removed from the house. This was complicated by the fact that the Gibbs family were avid hoarders, keeping everything—even broken items that had been replaced.

I walked back to the car park through the gardens. I think if it had been cooler, I might have gone for a longer walk in the grounds.

This year I have planned to visit fifty places, however I have already visited Tyntesfield as part of that series of blog posts. I am planning to visit again at least once more at Christmas time, though I also want to go for a longer walk in the ground on  day which is not as hot as this one was.

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Newark Park #50places2025

After enjoying my National Trust membership in 2023, I decided I would rejoin the Trust for 2025. 

My last (proper) visit to a National Trust property was back in May. I did try and visit Westwood Manor in July, however, I couldn’t find any parking.

There have been lots of reasons for not visiting, in the main as I have been travelling going to University Open Days, throw in a holiday to France, various work trips, and let’s not forget the weather! I realised that if I was going to continue to take advantage of my membership I would need to make a bit of an effort. So with a nice day forecast I headed up to Gloucestershire to visit Newark Park.

I had visited the property before in May 2018 however when we went, the house was closed to visitors. We did have an enjoyable walk in the grounds, but it was a pity to miss the inside of the house.

This time not only was the house open, but there was also a basement tour which I managed the snaffle the final ticket for.

The house started off as a Tudor hunting lodge, before being converted into a Georgian mansion. It fell into disrepair before being leased to a Texan who brought the house back from potential ruin.

Newark Park

A secluded estate with glorious views, providing country house hospitality, garden strolls and woodland walks

Current saving £163.90
One adult £14.00
Parking £3.00
Total saving £17.00
Cumulative saving £272.10
Membership cost £91.20
Net cumulative saving £180.90

It’s a lovely house with some nice walks around the estate. There are some incredible views as well.

I really enjoyed my time at Newark Park and I am planning to ensure that there isn’t such a huge gap between this visit and my next visit to a National Trust property.

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Westwood Manor – didn’t quite go to plan

After enjoying my National Trust membership in 2023, I decided I would rejoin the Trust for 2025.

Some things just don’t go to plan. Having spent a lot of weekends attending university open days and going on holiday, despite travelling a lot I’ve not had the chance or the time to visit any National Trust properties.

So, having dropped of my daughter at a camp site in Wiltshire and having some time, I wanted to visit a National Trust property in the area, and chose Westwood Manor.

However, upon arrival, it was obvious that I was not the only one to make that choice, and the car park (and the overflow car park) were both full and lots of cars were parked on the side of the quite narrow road.

So after waiting a while I headed home. I will attempt to visit again sometime this year.

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Killerton #50places2025

After enjoying my National Trust membership in 2023, I decided I would rejoin the Trust for 2025. 

Killerton

A family home and a great estate. Glorious landscape garden surrounded by parkland with fine 18th-century house.

Current saving £142.10
One adult £17.00
Parking £4.80
Total saving £21.80
Cumulative saving £255.10
Membership cost £91.20
Net cumulative saving £163.90

I visited Killerton back in June 2023. Having just visited Knighthayes down the road, it was a short drive to Killerton for a return visit. 

I was pleased to see they had EV chargers in the car park, so I put the Funky Cat on charge.

They had dressed the house as a 1920s summer party with music and “dancing”. It was a lovely house and lots of rooms to explore. The first floor is more of a museum to a collection of dresses and clothes that were left to the National Trust.

The grounds and gardens are really nice as well.

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Knightshayes Court #50places2025

After enjoying my National Trust membership in 2023, I decided I would rejoin the Trust for 2025.

Knightshayes Court

A great post-war garden,19th-century parkland and grand Gothic Revival architecture by Victorian visionary William Burges.

Current saving £120.30
One adult £17.00
Parking £4.80
Total saving £21.80
Cumulative saving £233.30
Membership cost £91.20
Net cumulative saving £142.10

I visited Knightshayes Court back in January 2023 and enjoyed the visit. We rushed the house back then, so on my return visit in May I took a lot more time exploring the house. This was very much a gothic mansion and some really interesting painted ceilings.

There are some beautiful gardens and grounds to explore as well.

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Hanbury Hall #50places2025

After enjoying my National Trust membership in 2023, I decided I would rejoin the Trust for 2025. 

I visited Hanbury Hall in 2023 in a flying visit and had always intended to return. Something I didn’t do with my last membership.

Hanbury Hall

A country retreat in the heart of Worcestershire. The William and Mary-style country house and garden, originally a stage-set for summer parties, offer a glimpse into life at the turn of the 18th century.

Current saving £103.30
One adult £17.00
Parking free
Total saving £17.00
Cumulative saving £211.50
Membership cost £91.20
Net cumulative saving £120.30

So with time to spare I made a return trip to Hanbury Hall. The sat nav sent me down narrow lanes, but I arrived and parked the car. Despite it been a quieter day, the car park was very busy.

Having had my membership card scanned I made my way to the house.

I really love the walk up to the house, the impressive entrance and front lawns.

I really enjoyed exploring the house and the murals are a real highlight of the entrance hall and staircase. I also liked the concept of the green room, where you are able to sit and read for a while.

After exploring the house, I stopped for a coffee in the Stables Cafe, and it was warm enough to sit outside.

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Clevedon Court #50places2025

After enjoying my National Trust membership in 2023, I decided I would rejoin the Trust for 2025. 

I have been to Clevedon Court a number of times over the years. It’s only open for six months of the year and only a few times a week. 

Clevedon Court

Medieval manor house and 18th-century terraced garden with wide views of the Mendip Hills. Clevedon Court is an outstanding 14th-century manor house. Purchased by Abraham Elton in 1709, this remarkable survivor from the medieval period has been the ancestral home of the Elton family ever since.

Current saving £73.30
One adult £12.00
Parking – Free
Total saving £12.00
Cumulative saving £194.50
Membership cost £91.20
Net cumulative saving £103.30

I enjoyed my visit to the house and had some interesting conversations with the volunteers.

One interesting aspect of the house was that the Victorian facade which was added in the 1880s was removed in the early 1950s by the National Trust.

When the National Trust agreed to take on the house, the Victorian west wing (but not its Elizabethan south front) were demolished as were a plethora of minor 18th- and 19th-century buildings at the rear.

The Elton family still go and stay there, so though some rooms are open to the public, there are some parts of the house which are private.

The gardens are lovely and well worth walking around.

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Anglesey Abbey #50places2025

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.

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Basildon Park #50places2025

After enjoying my National Trust membership in 2023, I decided I would rejoin the Trust for 2025. 

As I had time, I went to Basildon Park. I thought I had been there only a few years ago, but in fact it was 2018. 

Basildon Park

An estate saved from almost certain demolition and lovingly revived

Current saving £54.30
One adult £19.00
Parking – Free
Total saving £19.00
Cumulative saving £164.50
Membership cost £91.20
Net cumulative saving £73.30

Basildon Park is a big house and there are quite a few rooms to explore. It has also been used extensively for film and television. It was used a lot in a Downton Abbey Christmas special for example.

There are lots of lovely rooms at Basildon Park and I enjoyed exploring the house.