After spending the morning at Highclere Castle, it’s back into the car for a drive to Waddesdon Manor. The original farmland for the Waddesdon Manor estate, several thousand acres was purchased by Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild (of the French banking dynasty) from the Duke of Marlborough in 1874. If you have visited the Palace of Versailles in France, you will immediately see the heavy French influence of the architecture at Waddesdon. It has a distinctive “un-British” look.
A couple of exterior views:
“Waddesdon Manor is a country house in the village of Waddesdon, in Buckinghamshire, England. The house was built in the Neo-Renaissance style of a French château between 1874 and 1889 for Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild (1839–1898). Since this was the preferred style of the Rothschilds it became also known as the Goût Rothschild. The house, set in formal gardens and an English landscape park, was built on a barren hilltop overlooking Waddesdon village.
The last member of the Rothschild family to own Waddesdon was James de Rothschild. He bequeathed the house and its contents to the National Trust in 1957. Today, following an extensive restoration, it is administered by a Rothschild charitable trust that is overseen by Jacob Rothschild, 4th Baron Rothschild.”
Some interesting interior views:
I find the Neo-Renaissance French château style is a bit over the top for my taste. The clock is, well, French. I do like the writing desk and what homeowner does not want an antique weapons armory? The last rather odd item I was told is an inkwell and I must admit that I like it a lot.
At 4:15 pm, we had afternoon tea in the Manor Restaurant, then left for a casual two-hour drive through the Chiltern Hills back to London. A fascinating day!
Bill Powers is author of The Pharm House a debut suspense/thriller from DonnaInk Publications.
Purchase Your Copy of The Pharm House now available in E-book and hard copy format at: http://www.DonnaInk.org or http://www.Amazon.com
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