Wednesday, August 26, 2009

 

Vyne House near Basingstoke

Now let us take a look at the house we had travelled to see.
Vyne House is north of Basingstoke.
It was built in the early 1500s for Lord Sandys, Henry VIII's Lord Chanceller. The King visited Vyne House 3 times.
Catherine of Aragon stayed here after the divorce.
During the English Civil War the Sandys family fell on hard times and were forced to sell.
Vyne house was bought by Chaloner Chute, a London barrister and MP.
The family continued to reside at Vyne for 400 years.
Each new Chute made their mark and added to the treasures to be seen within.
The house was sold to The National Trust in 1952 for the benefit of all.
The National Trust is run by people with high ideals and has the purpose of conserving buildings, countryside and wildlife.
People who dedicate their lives to a cause can sometimes get a little blinkered. They have rules and routines that become fixed in stone.
I am happy that there are people doing the work - both as officials and volunteers.
But I do find it irksome that photographs are not permitted within the buildings. They say is is for security reasons - and they are the trustees of some very valuable national treasures, so perhaps they are right.
But I can by pass the rule a little with the purchase of some postcards and search of internet sites.
We picked up a free guide for our tour of the house and also the children's quiz. The quiz asks questions and gives you particular items to look out for - better than just gliding round and missing some interesting details.
The volunteers stationed in each room are always very happy to talk and are most informative.
I like coming away from these places feeling I have added knowledge to my own life and felt that I have got to know, just a little, the lives of the people who have made a house what it is.

This view shows the main front entrance - yes, we could have taken this shot for ourselves.
But as the daffodils prove, this one has been copied from the National Trust website.


This picture shows the "back door".
The grand portico was one of the Chute additions.
You can see that the land gently slopes down to the lake.

I loved the 16th century tiles on the chapel floor.

The library

The 16th century oak gallery.
The staircase - designed by a later Chute in a sort of Wedgwood blue.


Here are gathered some of the 21st century visitors.
Bill and me with Roger and Sue.


I do like chimneys.


Original 15th century brickwork.

The weather vane. The hand clasping the broken sword must be a family motif, we saw it more than once.
A look back to the house as we ambled towards the car park.

And a chance for the technical minded to admire the ram pump - a 19th century modern convenience.

If you enlarge you will see that the Chutes patronised local craftsmen. The engine was made in Basingstoke.


Vyne House near Basingstoke
posted by Grandma P on Wednesday, August 26, 2009