Chelmsford & District National Trust Supporter Group

A repeat of an outing we had 50 years ago!

Claydon House (NT) has been the seat of the Verney family since 1620. The present house is almost entirely 18th century, having undergone a major redevelopment in 1771 and 1775 to rival the nearby manor house at Stowe. However, today only a fragment of the great house is still standing.

Carvings found throughout the house, are unique to Claydon. The south view of the house was designed by Sir Gilbert Scott in 1859. Bespoke carvings done by Luke Lightfoot, most notably in the North Hall, are very impressive, as well as the painted wooden carvings in the Chinese Room. However, Luke Lightfoot was discovered to be untrustworthy, swindling Lord Verney out of a lot of money.

Another craftsman, Joseph Rose was involved in much of the beautiful carving around the main staircase, which complements the work of Luke Lightfoot. Rose was extremely well thought of and went on to finish the work at Claydon, before moving on to other great properties, including Chatsworth in Derbyshire. There are some very good examples of Georgian mouldings of the Ho Ho bird in the house. The Ho Ho bird is a mythical creature and the Japanese version of the Phoenix. It is a strange creature with a long beak, a curved neck, claws and a flowing tail. It is said that the bird brings good luck and good fortune.

Waddesdon Manor (NT) is a beautiful French Renaissance-style Chateau in Buckinghamshire with an extensive art collection, surrounded by parterres, landscaped gardens, an aviary and woodland. It is owned by the NT but managed by the Rothschild Foundation since 1957. Waddesdon was built between 1874 and 1889 by Baron de Rothschild. He wanted a French Renaissance-style chateau, typical of the Loire Valley, but with 18th century interiors to house his collections.

There are magnificent portraits by artists like Gainsborough and Reynolds, Savonnerie carpets, tapestries, furniture, Sevres ceramics, books, Dutch Old Master paintings and Renaissance treasures. Subsequent members of the family added further collections of paintings, Limoges enamel, arms and armour, maiolica, manuscripts, prints and drawings.

The gardens are planted up seasonally with thousands of colourful bedding plants, which must cost a small fortune in plants and labour, but they always enhance the building in a most spectacular way.