We use cookies on this website. To use the website as intended please accept cookies.

Thursday March 28 , 2024

Blue Daisy Blog

Blue Daisy blog written by Nicki Jackson & Jules Clark - for news, views, garden design, gardening and plant observations and thoughts.

Charlecote Park

Posted by on in Garden Visits
  • Font size: Larger Smaller
  • Hits: 8503
  • 0 Comments
  • Subscribe to this entry
  • Print

houseviewLast weekend I visited Charlecote Park a National Trust property in Warwickshire.  The estate is said to have been in the ‘Lucy’ family since the 13th Century but the house was completed in 1558.  The house itself has been ‘dressed’ as it would have been in the Victorian times and there really is a lot to see and experience.   When we first went into the house there was a talk that had begun about clothes ladies wore in that era and even how items became fashionable back in Tudor times when Elizabeth I reigned.  All the rooms were amazing from the attention to detail in carvings to the opulence of the lifestyle, you could really imagine what life for the aristocracy was like back then.  It was just like walking onto the set of a historical drama!

The library was just stunning it is said to be one of the top three libraries cared for by the National Trust – I just wanted to get a horticultural book out and sit, read and be lost in time!  There were staff or volunteers on hand in most rooms answering questions and telling quirky tales to bring it alive.

After the house you come back out and follow signs to see the Victorian Kitchen where someone cooking using Victorian implements and recipes and explaining what they were doing.  The Brew-house across the courtyard was where all the beer was made for the family and guests then there was the Laundry room and the Carriage Collection which was interesting to see.  The various carriages had different uses depending on who was driving it, what time of year it was or whether it was a social event!  All very interesting, lots of notes, posters or even guides around so you could learn more about life back then.

For me really it was the gardens and parkland I was most interested in knowing that there was a connection to ‘Capability’ Brown and but I was really impressed with the house.   The entrance was very impressive walking down a long straight tree lined path, it doesn’t take much to imagine horse drawn carriages approaching the grand house entrance.  Once through the gatehouse the small garden area was mainly formal with clipped Yew and symmetrical planting.  The gardens for a house of this stature I thought were quite small and understated; there was of course, the obligatory parterre which could be seen from the dining room (that must have escaped the clutches of Brown!) from where a view of the River Avon could be seen.

applewasp2 resting2
oakpalingfence2 parterre

 

The parkland had all the ‘Capability’ Brown trademarks, open vistas with undulating land stretching in places as far as the eye could see where the clever use of planting framed the best views. The Ha Ha brought nature closer to the house without dominating or destroying the manicured gardens enjoyed by the Master and Ladies of the house.   The nature found at Charlecote is most notably Deer which still roam the parkland and are kept inside with the decorative and traditional oak paling fencing.

There is plenty to see and do here whether you want to stroll around the parkland, see the house or have a bite to eat, a good day out and definitely a recommended visit.

0
Tagged in: Capability Brown
Trackback URL for this blog entry.

Nicki Jackson is Blue Daisy's garden designer & owner. A former HR consultant Nicki still finds the time to run Blue Daisy, design gardens and planting plans, write a blog, keep our gardening clients happy and offer IIP advice and outplacement support through Blue Daisy Consultancy.

Author's recent posts

Comments

  • No comments made yet. Be the first to submit a comment

Leave your comment

Guest Thursday, 28 March 2024

Blog Categories

Tag Cloud

traditional style birch Chelsea Flower Show December garden colour in your garden bees rock gardens composting gravel Acuba Capability Brown RHS Chelsea Physic Garden legacy gift Moss Bank Park Kelmarsh Hall twitter gardening on tv October garden Taxus May garden spring garden summer garden Blue Daisy front garden poppies Chris Beardshaw green spaces build career in horticulture Wisley Achillea rainwater harvesting rosemary drought Matt James Stoneleigh pond garden design tip Briza maxima Floating Paradise Gardens of London autumn garden movement in the garden winner surfaces National Trust Fleece Wildflowers Selfridges Roof Garden Events & Shows Monty Don Kensington Roof Garden Laurel Great British Garden Revival water feature roof garden unity Birmingham Library elm basil GYO snow Cosmos astrosanguineus sunflowers Herb garden Malvern Hills February Carol Klein Absorb pollution kerb-side appeal Nicki Jackson Hosta sorbus Jekka McVicar herbs National Gardening Week Glasshouse hydroponic Horticultural Cloches September garden Stone Lane Gardens timber cyclamen February garden hosepipe heatwave Charlie Dimmock Urban Heat Island Daffodils wildlife Spring shrubs Berginia house plants Geranium pollinators NSALG vertical garden wild flowers cottage garden November garden deer HNC scented shrubs sound in the garden Rachel de Thame Euphorbia lawn care water conservation Malvern Spring Show bulb display Ilex winter garden John Massey London spring bulbs Alys Fowler garden design trends RHS Malvern structure topiary Trees stonemarket contemporary Snowdrops Toby Buckland women and work award ash productive garden paving doddington hall Herb cottage gardens water butt RHS Chelsea Ashwood Nurseries RHS Hampton Court June garden reclaimed materials Greenhouse watering can garden Cut flowers April garden herbaceous borders pests Narcissus garden advice at home Kew Gardens Coastal plants plant pots edible garden show CorTen steel grey water form New York Highline Highgrove repetition planning your garden Phyllostachys nigra Horticulturalist Perennial HTA Tom Hart-Dyke alpines Gardeners World hard landscaping saving water Levens Hall July garden Berberis patio March garden Joanna Lumley RHS Tatton Park Prince Harry Shrubs CorTen Buxus Horticulture garden room Sophie Raworth James Wong water August garden Joe Swift recycled materials Echinacea Decking Urban Heat Island Effect eco-friendly grow your own ha ha Joseph Banks watering kitchen garden Alan Titchmarsh January garden rococo BBC Hidcote plants bulbs garden focal points garden design sweat peas acer Winter shrubs Crocus ornamental grasses courtyard Bamboo roof gardens blue Futurescape Mrs Loudon Lawrence Johnston Garden Planning Cambridge botanical garden Lantra pollinating insects terracota show gardens Seed sowing

Welcome to Blue Daisy Blog



Our Promise

promiseWe work hard to keep our customers happy.  We work to a voluntary customer charter.

Peace of Mind

simplybusinessWe take our responsibilities seriously so we're insured through Simply Business.

Click on the logo for our Garden Design insurance details. For Gardening details see our gardening services page.

Proud Members Of...

landscapejuicen... The Landscape Juice Network where we interact with other professional gardeners, designers and landscapers.