South East Of England Historic Houses Information about Historic Houses in South East England including Beaulieu Palace House, Blenheim Palace, Chartwell, Clandon Park, Firle Place, Glynde Place, Hatchlands Park, Loseley Park, Parham Park, Penshurst Place, Stansted Park, Sulgrave Manor, Waddesdon Manor, Kent , East Sussex, West Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire plus where to go and day out.
Formerly the 14th century Great Gatehouse of Beaulieu Abbey, Palace House is set in glorious grounds and gardens with immaculate spreading lawns and walkways overlooking the Beaulieu River. The House has been in Lord Montagu's family ownership since 1538, when Sir Thomas Wriothesley, later 1st Earl of Southampton, bought the Estate after the Dissolution of the Monasteries.
Set in the Oxfordshire Cotswolds, Blenheim Palace is considered to be one of the finest baroque houses in the country. It was a gift from Queen Anne and a grateful nation to John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, in recognition of his famous victory over the French at the Battle of Blenheim in 1704. Inside the Palace can be found a superb collection of tapestries, paintings, porcelain and furniture in the magnificent State Rooms. Sir Winston Churchill was born in the Palace in 1874 and a permanent exhibition about him is located next to his birth room - both are included in the Palace tour.
Woodstock, Oxfordshire OX20 1PP
TEL: (44) 0800 849 6500 (24 hour recorded free information service)
Come and have a look around this lovely home built in the 16th Century by Sir John Gage . Who was the trusted counsellor of Henry VIII and Knight of the Garter. It is now lived in by the 8th Viscount Henry Nicolas Gage and his sons. The house has Dutch & English paintings, Sevres porcalain , French & English Furniture and much more. Just a few of the delights that are in the house for you to see.
Glynde place is a magnificent Elizabethan manor house with fine views of the South Downs. It was built in 1589 from local flint and stone from Normandy and has been extended in following years. The house holds a vast collection of Old Masters, furniture, family portraits, embroidery and silver all belonging to the family who has lived there for 400 years and it is the home of the Viscount and Viscountess Hampden.
The House is a fine example of Elizabethan architecture, featuring many fine works of art including paintings, tapestries and panelling from Henry VIII's Nonsuch Palace. The Great Hall, with its wealth of character and atmosphere, lends itself so well to banquets, civil wedding ceremonies and small operas. Loseley Park is a perfect setting for your perfect day. Loseley is set in the heart of the Surrey countryside, steeped in history and surrounded by wooded hillsides and lush meadows.
Parham Park was once owned by the Monastery of Westminster but following the Dissolution of the Monasteries between 1536-1540 the land was granted by Henry VIII to Sir Thomas Palmer who built a new building upon the site. Since then it has changed hands many times and today is the home of Lady Emma and Mr James Barnard and their family. The house with its Elizabethan architecture is a major attraction as well as the 18th century grounds and the 330 acres of ancient park.
King Edward VI granted Penshurst to his steward and tutor, Sir William Sidney in 1552. Built of local sandstone the house with its magnificent Barons Hall dates from 1341. Penshurst Place, an imposing defended manor house, contains tapestries, paintings, furniture, porcelain and armour. The ten acres of gardens at Penshurst Place retain original terraces and walls of the 16th century laid out by Sir Henry Sidney.
Stansted began as a hunting lodge in the 11th century and has seen a succession on interesting owners and many Royal and distinguished visitors over the centuries. Stansted House was built on the present site in 1688 and is set in 1750 acres of glorious park and woodland, rich in wildlife. The amazing new yew MAZE at Stansted Park opened 2011 in the lower walled garden, is a great fun family attraction for weekends and in the school holidays, open 11am-4pm February- October (weather permitting).
Sulgrave Manor is the ancestral home of the Washingtons in Britain and contains the largest UK collection of George Washingtonmemorabilia demonstrating the British contribution to the origins of the USA with a separate exhibition on George's life and career in the US. The compact Manor House - not a demanding marathon down endless corridors but a gentle stroll through three centuries of English history in the company of a friendly and informative guide.
Manor Road, Sulgrave, Nr. Banbury, Oxfordshire OX17 2SD
