Day 26 Wimpole Hall, Cambridgeshire

Wimpole Hall, Cambridgeshire

Only about half an hour's drive from Susan's place is (yet) another lovely stately home run by the National Trust, so open to the public. John was set to outline the history:

It seems the area has been inhabited since around 1000 BC at least, but other than being mentioned in the Domesday Book historical accounts seem to start in 1428, when the Chichely family bought the estate. They demolished the manor house and started the current house we see today.  That was finished in 1650 so presmably the manor house was not knocked down immediately.

In 1686 the owner, who had supported the Royalists in the Civil War, had to sell up to clear his debts.  Over the next few centuries ownership passed through a number of families, all of whom made improvements and expanded both house and garden. 

In 1937 Captain and Mrs Bambridge first rented the estate and then purchased it in 1942. Mrs Bambridge was the only surving child of Rudyard Kipling and used much his fortune to refurbish the house. It was requisitioned in WW2.  When she died childless in 1976 she bequeathed the eattde to the National Trust.

A very imposing Wimpole Hall ... 150 rooms with 30 live-in servants to maintain it in its day

The old rectory now houses a dining area for visitors to the Estate

On site family church and mausoleum

Barb on the balcony entrance to the house
Lost in the enormity!

The entrance foyer has a glass cupola similar to
(but not as grand as) the one we saw at Castle Howard

Every fireplace and ceiling is ornate with family portraits in abundance

A magnificent tiled floor to the great room

A simple ladies sitting room

This pianist was playing Mozart on a grand piano in the great room

The dining room

The dining room has expansive views out over the parterre garden

Just a little ole parterre garden ....

The family chapel within the house had wall and
ceiling murals that took three years to paint

The housekeeper's and butler's sitting room ... much more cosy

Dry store pantry

The gardens are very extensive
And yes, it was very cold!

Butler's kitchen

This folly was built in the 1750s to resemble a castle ruin ...
who doesn't need one of those in their back yard?

The orchard gardens

So pretty

Part of the estate has rape seed (canola) growing, there is also a
Home Farm that has rare breeds of horses sheep and pigs

After traipsing around the house and gardens we headed to Cambridge to do a bit of shopping. As usual, we parked at the Park and Ride station at Trumpington and took the bus in to town.  At Marks and Spencers we managed to find the cotton pyjamas that Susan wanted (John Lewis was a little excessive in prices) and also got a pair of shoes for Barb at Clarkes. Then it was off to Waitrose to find ingredients for dinner tomorrow night, when we entertain Susan's friend Christine who'll be staying overnight.