My trip to Wrest Park

Yesterday, I went out for a trip to Wrest Park, a manor and gardens, near Silsoe. Arriving about 20 minutes before opening, my and the carer looked around the road in-front of Wrest Park House.

One thing I spotted was a small clock tower besides the house, which was not working (hands were not moving).

Once it turned 10am, we entered the grounds, going though the ticket area and shop/cafe (There is fencing to push you to enter via the shop/cafe). Not any photos of that, as it was raining too heavily.

Once past that, we entered and explored the house itself (well, the 1/3 accessible to the public). The first place we visited was the Exhibition rooms, left of the visitor entrance.

Basically, a bunch of displays of objects with information signs about the history of Wrest Park. That went through the history of Wrest Park. Pretty normal for museum-type areas.

However, the informational screens are a pleasant addition.

Heading back towards the entrance (before exploring the rest of Wrest Park).

We went to the exhibition in the “countess sitting room”. That featured many beautiful replicas of furniture that once belonged in the house (The previous owners sold the originals separately from the house itself).

That room also views into the “Conservatory” (think. greenhouse). Through a window, that’s formally a door. It’s a pleasant feature, and I bet many would love a walk-though green greenhouse, rather than a normal conservatory.

I would imagine the “Conservatory” would look fantastic in better weather (As the greyish light from the rainy weather, desaturated colours) and it looked messy (I guess that it’s winter, they pay less attention to gardening).

However, I love the ornamentation of the roof.

We then headed back through the exhibitions to the Staircase Hall. A room filled with many beautiful pieces of art (including painting, more beautiful ornamentation and a statue of a woman) and headed right towards the “Ante-library” (Though I never photographed that or the Drawing room as by the time I thought to do so, there was too many people walking around).

Before going outside, we walking though the library, Print and Dining Room. Which while the wallpaper (not original), pictures and once again ornamentation were incredible.

However, there was (almost) no furniture in these rooms, which made them feel empty and less interesting. As mentioned above, the furniture was sold separately and English Heritage wanted the visitor to feel how large the rooms were.

At least the library had books in it.

The Dining room is probably the emptiest room at Wrest Park. While also being one of the most beautiful.. However…..

There is a hidden door that was used to access the Dining room from the servants’ quarters. “Was” as the door is now out-of-use because of that area being used for electrical wiring.

Heading back towards the Ante-library and outdoors. We went down the main walk, past the garden (with mini-hedge-mazes?).

The statues were a mix of originals and modern recreations. The most interesting one I noticed was two (boy and girl) statues of young children playing with a dog.

We then turned off the main path towards the Orangery.

The view, however, was heavily blocked by rectangle-er mirrors. I guess are set up for the Christmas events.

Going past the mirrors allowed some view of the outside of the Orangery but so-close to the building that I could really enjoy its view.

Going inside, I was met with a sight of another filled in fireplace (Is English Heritage allergic to fire-places?)

The Orangery was just some informational broads and a few (not fruit?) trees and some turned-off flood lighting (for the Christmas event). Not even an interesting room in its current state.

We next walked towards the Bowling Green House.

Inside. There was actually something other than just informational broads. Seats. Also nicer ornamented than the Orangery.

We then walked past “Leg of Mutton Lake” towards Horseshoe Lawns.

The sight from Horseshoe Lawns over the Long Canal towards Archer Pavilion is one of the most fantastic sight I ever experienced. The word “beautiful” does no justice.

However…. That sight was cheapened somewhat by the Christmas photo frame set-up.

A few minutes later, we reached the Archer Pavilion.

We explored the kitchen area first (only one photo as the camera miss-focused on the rest).

Then we explored the main pavilion floor (banquet hall?). The most stunning interior of the whole site. A beautiful scene with fantastic ornamental details on every section of wall. The photo I took does no justice (extremely low light, due to overcast day and zero artificial lighting. I should have used night mode).

The rooms leading from the Pavilion floor (banquet hall?) were also interesting even if mostly empty.

We then passed the statue at Lady Lake..

Than the lake itself. Towards the Chinese/oriental area.

That area being improved by the temporary Christmas installations (rather than the other parts that were cheapened by them). There are lit-up Christmas lanterns alone on the path and oriental music playing.

We then walked over the Chinese bridge, back towards the house (no more outdoor photos, as it rained more heavily at that point).

Once back at the house, I got some more photos of the Staircase Hall. Including one showing paintings next to the stairs.

Another, showing the upstairs being a locked off staff only area (that also looks far-more “office-like”).

And of a view from the upstairs, looking back down at the Hall.

I took no more photos after that. But we then went to the cafe, where I had some cheesy Chip and wished I had not, as they had nearly zero flavour (Even the cheese on its own tasted barely of anything).

We then waited out-front to be picked up.

The staff were extremely friendly, and the grounds were fantastic. However, the house and other buildings felt empty, and the food was awful. Would be a far-better place to visit in the summer where we can enjoy those grounds more.

Published: 4th December 2023