Stourhead House and Gardens, April 2019, Stourton, nr Warminster, Wiltshire, England. ( 3 )
Stourhead House and Gardens, on the River Stour, Stourton, nr Warminster, Wiltshire, England, BA12 6QD On the 2nd April I took a tour bus visit to this beautiful house and grounds. It lies in the seclusion of its own valley set in spectacular Gardens there is much to see on a day visit here. Stourhead was one of the first country villas to be built in the new Palladian style. The house was designed by Colen Campbell but Henry Hoare I unfortunately died the same year in which the house was completed. This Palladian villa style at Stourhead was constructed and then finished in 1725 and had taken four years to build. The land had previously been in the ownership of a family called Stourton’s and then Henry Hoare I, the new owner, pulled down the near derelict Stourton Manor to build his fashionable Palladian country house which was designed by the Scottish architect Colen Campbell. A large lake is magnificent and is very important to the very essence of this splendid garden. Classical Temples adorn the grounds along with grottos and rare and exotic trees. Stourhead is at the very heart of a vast 1,072-hectare ( 2,650 acre ) estate where chalk downs, ancient woods and farmland are managed for nature conservation and perfect to explore. In 1902 a fire gutted the central part of the house resulting in the loss of all the furniture on the upper floors. By 1907 the restoration of the house was complete and in 1946 Stourhead was given to the National Trust. It was once described as a living work of art by a magazine when it first opened its doors in the 1750’s. The careful consideration to the design by Henry Hoare 11 enabled the views to be almost unique just like scenes from a painting in landscape. The Hoare family were very successful in the world of banking, which enabled them to buy Stourhead. Hoare’s Bank is the last independent bank and the Hoare family is still in charge and still running the bank today. Opening times Garden: Apr-Sep daily 9am-7pm, Oct-Mar daily 9am-5pm or dusk if earlier. House: 12th Mar-3rd Nov daily 11am-4.30pm, 9th-24th Nov Sat & Sun only 11am-3pm, 30th Nov-22nd Dec daily 11am-3pm. Last admission is 30mins before closing King Alfred's Tower: please call for opening arrangements 01747 841152. The Restaurant is great too the food is well priced and well cooked. Prices as at 2019. King Alfred's Tower - Adult£4.20 King Alfred's Tower - Child£2.10 King Alfred's Tower - Family (2 adults)£10.50 Stourhead day ticket - 2 adults - Gift Aid Family£44.00 Stourhead day ticket - family 2 adults - Standard£40.00 Stourhead day ticket - Gift Aid Adult£17.60 Stourhead day ticket - Gift Aid Child£8.80 Stourhead day ticket - Standard Adult£16.00 Stourhead day ticket - Standard Child£8.00 National Trust members free. Group rates are available. Coach Parking £10 Car Parking £4
Stourhead House and Gardens, on the River Stour, Stourton, nr Warminster, Wiltshire, England, BA12 6QD On the 2nd April I took a tour bus visit to this beautiful house and grounds. It lies in the seclusion of its own valley set in spectacular Gardens there is much to see on a day visit here. Stourhead was one of the first country villas to be built in the new Palladian style. The house was designed by Colen Campbell but Henry Hoare I unfortunately died the same year in which the house was completed. This Palladian villa style at Stourhead was constructed and then finished in 1725 and had taken four years to build. The land had previously been in the ownership of a family called Stourton’s and then Henry Hoare I, the new owner, pulled down the near derelict Stourton Manor to build his fashionable Palladian country house which was designed by the Scottish architect Colen Campbell. A large lake is magnificent and is very important to the very essence of this splendid garden. Classical Temples adorn the grounds along with grottos and rare and exotic trees. Stourhead is at the very heart of a vast 1,072-hectare ( 2,650 acre ) estate where chalk downs, ancient woods and farmland are managed for nature conservation and perfect to explore. In 1902 a fire gutted the central part of the house resulting in the loss of all the furniture on the upper floors. By 1907 the restoration of the house was complete and in 1946 Stourhead was given to the National Trust. It was once described as a living work of art by a magazine when it first opened its doors in the 1750’s. The careful consideration to the design by Henry Hoare 11 enabled the views to be almost unique just like scenes from a painting in landscape. The Hoare family were very successful in the world of banking, which enabled them to buy Stourhead. Hoare’s Bank is the last independent bank and the Hoare family is still in charge and still running the bank today. Opening times Garden: Apr-Sep daily 9am-7pm, Oct-Mar daily 9am-5pm or dusk if earlier. House: 12th Mar-3rd Nov daily 11am-4.30pm, 9th-24th Nov Sat & Sun only 11am-3pm, 30th Nov-22nd Dec daily 11am-3pm. Last admission is 30mins before closing King Alfred's Tower: please call for opening arrangements 01747 841152. The Restaurant is great too the food is well priced and well cooked. Prices as at 2019. King Alfred's Tower - Adult£4.20 King Alfred's Tower - Child£2.10 King Alfred's Tower - Family (2 adults)£10.50 Stourhead day ticket - 2 adults - Gift Aid Family£44.00 Stourhead day ticket - family 2 adults - Standard£40.00 Stourhead day ticket - Gift Aid Adult£17.60 Stourhead day ticket - Gift Aid Child£8.80 Stourhead day ticket - Standard Adult£16.00 Stourhead day ticket - Standard Child£8.00 National Trust members free. Group rates are available. Coach Parking £10 Car Parking £4