Dyrham park is a spectacular late 17th-century mansion, garden and deer park. The impressive mansion was built by hard-working civil servant William Blathwayt; inside the interiors are little-changed in 300 years, and contains a rich collection that includes superb Dutch art and ceramics of the period, while outside the elegant West Garden has its splendid borders, idyllic ponds and wildflower orchard.
The approach to the house is a 10-15 minute walk from the carpark (there is a free shuttle-bus, but the walk is very pleasant), offering a magnificent sweeping view of the house's eastern façade:
Because of Blathwayt’s royal connections, and his influential uncle, Thomas Povey, Dyrham became a showcase of Dutch decorative arts. The collection includes delftware, paintings and furniture. The Blathwayt family lived at the house until 1956, when the government acquired it, with the National Trust acquiring it in 1961.
Dyrham Park was used as the setting for the 1993 film "The Remains of the Day."
The oldest part of this beautiful church dates from 1280; the tower was built about 1420, and the church was considerably enlarged and altered about 50 years later. At the east end of the south aisle is the tomb of George Wynter who died in 1581 and of his wife, Anne. In the church there is also a funerary brass of Sir Morys (Maurice) Russell and his wife which is at least 400 years old.
The church is still functional and while not part of the National Trust property, the church welcomes visitors.
Back to the house and a relaxing evening while Craig headed out to do a comedy gig; Jenny is in Wales for the weekend at a literary event, so I have the house to myself for the evening.
I head home tomorrow (of course, with the vagaries of travel, I don't get home until Tuesday morning), but that means for the trip (other than the flights) - only one more sleep!