wiltshire Archives - James Clay Stuff

May 18, 2026

Back to Stourhead

Back in February I visited Stourhead and did a behind closed doors tour, however the house’s state rooms weren’t open, since I had always planned a repeat visit to see these rooms.

After visiting King Alfred’s Tower I headed off to Stourhead. I parked the car and set it to charge. I then had lunch and had a disappointing ploughman’s lunch.

I went around the house twice. Lots of impressive paintings as well as incredible rooms. I am glad I made the effort to make a return visit.

Stourhead

One of the first grand Palladian-style villas to be built in England, with a carriage entrance leading to the piano nobile, or main floor. World-famous landscape garden with a lake set among lawns and classical temples, surrounded by trees and with sweeping views.

Current saving £194.30
One adult £23.00
Parking £4.50
Total saving £27.50
Cumulative saving £317.80
Membership cost £96
Net cumulative saving £221.80

When the weather is better I might make a return visit to walk around the grounds and the lake.

May 17, 2026May 18, 2026

King Alfred’s Tower #50places2026

When I visited Stourhead back in February I saw that King Alfred’s Tower was close by, but was also closed. It is only open at weekends from April to October. I had always planned to revisit Stourhead, so it was a simple decision to also go and see King Alfred’s Tower as well.

I arrived just after 11am, the car park was very busy, but I think that’s more as people use the car park for walking in the woods.

The tower is a short walk from the car park. It is just a tower, one of the corners continuing the spiral staircase. There are 205 steps to get to the top of the 180ft high tower. There are no floors or rooms in the tower apart from the ground floor entrance.

The views from the tower are fantastic.

Walked slowly down the 205 steps. Made me slightly dizzy.

King Alfred’s Tower

This triangular tower, two miles north-west of Stourhead garden, was designed by Henry Flitcroft for Stourhead’s second owner, Sir Henry Hoare II. The Tower is named after King Alfred who raised his standard here in 878. The tower commemorates the accession of George III in 1760 and the end of the Seven Years’ War.

Current saving £187.30
One adult £7.00
Parking Free
Total saving £7.00
Cumulative saving £290.30
Membership cost £96
Net cumulative saving £194.30

I would probably go again, but in the autumn when the leaves on the surrounding trees are red, orange and yellow.

February 15, 2026

Behind Closed Doors Stourhead #50places2026

I had visited Stourhead nearly ten years ago back in May 2016. I honestly did not realise that it had been so long. I had a National Trust membership in 2023, but never got back to Stourhead that year. Last year I had planned to do a Behind Closed Doors tour, but a work thing meant I had to cancel. The tour is one of the reasons why I wanted to renew my membership for 2026.

Having arrived at the property, I was pleased to see EV chargers, so I put the Funky Cat on charge. I was less pleased to see that there had been a cable theft from the rapid chargers.

I went to reception and then headed to the house.

Stourhead

Current saving -£56
One adult £23.00
Parking £4.50
Total saving £27.50
Cumulative saving £67.50
Membership cost £96
Net cumulative saving -£28.50

The tour was a one hour tour and took in the parts of the house that aren’t normally open to visitors. This included the second floor rooms, which included the nursery, as well as the servants’ bedrooms. We also were taken into the basement kitchens as well.

I found the tour fascinating and really enjoyed going behind the scenes. I had enjoyed a similar tour at Dunster Castle last March. I think I will look into similar tours at other properties.

I had booked in for the tour, however the house’s state rooms weren’t open, so I will be probably heading back there sometime again this year.

After the tour I went to the cafe for a drink and a bite to eat. I had a quiche, but wasn’t that enamoured with it, too many cranberries.

I did however go and explore the gardens.

The repair of the dam, meant that I couldn’t do the full circuit of the lake, however then the rain started to come down, so I headed back to the car park and to head back home.