Wrest Park

Despite the large number of stately homes that bit the dust in the last century, they are still a feature of the English landscape which are making a bit of a come back. A good example is Wrest Park, a magnificent early 19th century house built in the manner of a French chateau, with large and very beautiful grounds, in the middle of Bedfordshire. It had a bad 20th century, first having all its contents sold off, and then post-war being leased to the National Institute of Agricultural Engineering. But now it is with English Heritage, some of the ground floor of the house being restored and the grounds being generally improved. Well, see for yourself.



Largest croquet lawn I have seen





Impressive library, but not with original books. This lot look like they have been bought by the ton just to fill the shelves - so largely old law volumes and Danish books





Now that's what I call a vista





The pavilion appearing over the lake at the far end of the formal grounds



The Chinese Temple. Every English garden should have one



With a Chinese bridge to match





Capability Brown Column.Yes, Brown dabbled here too.




Graeco-Roman altars



Inside the Pavilion. A great place for summer parties.



Bowling Green House



The orangery, sadly bereft of oranges



Conservatory





My chauffeur. Not really a place for public transport, so grateful for conveyance by my mate.