Tyntesfield

I discovered that we were staying very close to the National Trust property at Tyntesfield - and so we scheduled a visit on Saturday morning.  All I can say is WOW!!

The house had been owned by a wealthy Victorian merchant who loved showing off. Everything in the property said "quality" .  He employed the same workmen as royalty did and it showed.
The estate was lived in until the last occupant passed away in 2001.  He left the property to 19 of his relatives - none of whom could afford to buy the others out, and so they put it up for sale.  It had been on a list of properties that the National Trust had wanted to own - mainly because the family had never thrown anything away.  The trust raised a lot of money in a short space of time, and now the property is preserved just as it was.

The estate is tucked away in the middle of nowhere - it is so peaceful.

The size of the chapel that the family build was excessive!

One of the things I loved was that unlike other properties these days, you can take photographs in the house.  Its wonderful to see rooms just as they had been left.

I always love the downstairs bits best - perhaps its because that would have been my place!

We wandered around the grounds - down to the walled garden.  Almost every tree was hung with mistletoe - I have never seen mistletoe growing before.

The Orangerie was one of my favourite places - it smelled beautiful - heavy with the fragrance of these hyacinths, but they also had a guitarist and mandolin player in here too.  The music was wonderful, it moved me to tears.

I could have happily lived in the stable block!

If you ever get chance to visit - do.  It is literally just off the M5 at the Gordano services.