National Trust properties in the Cotswolds: Snowshill Manor and Hidcote Manor (Summer 2019)
While all National Trust properties and gardens are now closed, we look back to my visits in the Summer of 2019 to a pair of properties in the Cotswolds (Gloucestershire). In July 2019 we went to Snowshill Manor (not far from Broadway in Worcestershire) and the last National Trust property we went to was at Hidcote Manor near the end of August 2019. Both had eccentric owners in the 20th C.
For my last National Trust properties post in the Midlands follow this link: National Trust properties around the Midlands (Spring and Summer 2019).
Snowshill Manor
This visit to Snowshill Manor was during July 2019. We passed through Broadway in the car to and from the manor (we would later go back to Broadway in September 2019 on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway).
Some history taken from the Wikipedia page (linked above). Snowshill Manor is a National Trust property located in the village of Snowshill in Gloucestershire. It is best known for it's 20th century owner Charles Paget Wade. The property is a typical Cotswold manor house. It has been Grade II* listed since 1960. Wade gave the house and the contents to the National Trust in 1951.
When you arrive in the car park and walk to the entrance, the first thing you would see is the Visitor Reception and Shop. National Trust members can get their cards scanned inside of here.
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On the walk to the manor house, you can see this model windmill with toy soldiers. Although I later took it on the way to the cafe later during the visit.
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Before we left, we headed to this building to have a coffee. We sat outside. It looks like a traditional Cotswolds type of building. Not sure how old it is though.
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First view of Snowshill Manor heading up the path. It is a Grade II* listed building Snowshill Manor. The manor house dates to the 17th century, with additions in the 18th and 19th centuries. It was altered in 1919-23 by Charles Paget Wade.
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The house was made of Coursed squared sandstone with a stone slate roof. There was timed entrances to the house, so we didn't go in at this point. This was my first view head on of the house.
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Another view from within the gate. Above the main entrance is the Sambach coat of arms.
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Getting a view of Snowshill Manor behind the gate. As this was the view that Charles Paget Wade saw in a magazine called Country Life which was advertising it for sale in June 1916.
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After our visit to the other buildings and a look around the gardens we eventually got to have a full look around the inside of the house, where you could see many of the objects that Charles Paget Wade had collected during his time here. In this room was one of the model ships that he owned.
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A pair of large candlesticks with a bust of a man in the middle with a ruff.
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This darkened room had Ancient Japanese armour. Like Samurai warriors or something.
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Upstairs to the attic, and there was loads of bicycles in this space. As well as another model windmill.
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Back downstairs and this room had loads of masks in open drawers. Was also some swords on the wall on the left.
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This room had rifles on the wall on the right. Also some shields, a tall hat and a pair of boots. There was much more than this to see, this is just a highlight of the collection in the house. Wade probably didn't live in this house with his collection.
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This was the Priest's House and Workshop. It was in this building that Charles Paget Wade actually lived. At the time I couldn't get the full exterior in one photo due to the amount of people in the way. It is a Grade II listed building Brewhouse, in Garden, Adjoining Snowshill Manor. It was built in the 16th and 17th centuries with extensions in the 19th century. Wade made changed in 1919-23. Made of Squared stone in courses with a slate roof. You could go up the stairs to see the contents inside.
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What looks like to be Wade's kitchen table. With objects on shelves and on the steps.
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Loads more objects on this side including a pair of chairs. Lots of swords and pikes hanging from the ceiling by the looks of it. Near a fireplace.
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This was the interior of the Priest's House. A statue on the right near an alter. A desk and a chair on the left.
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Outside you can see a model village in the gardens. It is of Wolf's Cove. Wade started building the village in 1907 when he lived in Hampstead. When he moved to Snowshill in 1919, he brought the models with him and by the 1920's had started to create the model Cornish fishing village of Wolf's Cove. National Trust volunteers and staff started to recreate it from 2010 onwards. The model train returned in 2018.
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Located in the Well Court was this clock with doors. Latin inscriptions on both sides. I am doing this post after the clocks went forward again to British Summer Time. It is also like a Zodiac with the stars on it.
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The other side of the Well Court. There was a small pond here, be careful not to fall in! The building is Grade II listed Two Gardenhouses, About 8 Metres North of Dovecote, Snowshill Manor. They were former cowhouses now Garden Houses. Dated to the late 18th century and early to mid 19th century. Probably altered from 1919 to 1923 by Charles Paget Wade. Walls made of Random rubble with a slate roof. There was a further area to look at through the door, but you have to duck down to get through and look where you are going.
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Distance from Birmingham: well over an hour via the A435 and A46. Postcode is WR12 7JU. About 38 miles away. During the lockdown / pandemic period we are in it is temporarily closed. So glad we got to go last summer. National Trust website: Snowshill Manor and Garden.
Hidcote Manor
This visit to Hidcote Manor Garden was during the August Bank Holiday Weekend in late August 2019. After we went here, we went to Kiftsgate Court Gardens again in the afternoon. Was my fisit visit back to Kiftsgate in about 9 years (but that is for another post).
Some history taken from the Wikipedia page (link above). Hidcote Manor Garden is a garden located in the village of Hidcote Bartrim near Chipping Campden in Gloucestershire (part of the Cotswolds). The American Lawrence Johnston and his mother settled in the UK in the early 20th century, and he immediately became a British citizen and fought in the British army during the Boer war. In 1907 his mother purchased the Hidcote Manor Estate. Johnston became interested in developing the garden which he started doing in 1910. After World War II he spent most of his time at his property in the South of France, so he entrusted Hidcote to the National Trust in 1947.
Just before the visitor centre, I spotted this farm. It is called Manor Farm (Righton). It was not too far from the Barn Cafe.
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This view of Hidcote Manor and the Former Chapel (to the left) was from the plant sales area behind the Barn Cafe. The chapel is Grade II listed Former Chapel at Hidcote Manor. Was a former barn, later a chapel. Dated to the 18th century, converted in the 20th century to a chapel by Lawrence Johnston. Made of ashlar and limestone.
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Later near the end of my visit, I popped into the chapel. Saw several stained glass windows like this one. Was also an exhibition in here that didn't really interest me.
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First look at Hidcote Manor from the plant sales area just beyond the Barn Cafe and toilets. You head out of this area and into the courtyard to get to the house and chapel. The gift shop was the building to the right (just out of shot).
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The first full view of Hidcote Manor from the inner courtyard. It is a Grade II listed building Hidcote Manor. Was a former farmhouse. Dates to the late 17th century, which was refronted in the 18th century. With more alterations in the early 20th century. Made of ashlar limestone with a tiled roof.
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Only a few rooms on the ground floor were open to explore. This was the library with a fireplace and desk.
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In the living room was some comfy chairs near a fireplace.
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To the side was a cards table with chairs.
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Back outside of the house. This view was from the East Court.
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This view of Hidcote Manor was from the Old Garden. Almost hidden by the trees.
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I later saw this view of the house, not far from Mrs Winthrop's Cafe. Didn't have a coffee here, as we later had a drink at Kiftsgate Court instead (I later had a cola).
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Now for an explore around Lawrence Johnston's gardens. The White Garden in the Old Garden. Steps between the bushes.
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Red Borders and the Gazebos. This area was roped off so had to fins another way to that pair of buildings near the steps. The Gazebos was Grade II listed buildings Two Gazebos and Attached Walls, Railings and Steps at Hidcote Manor Gardens. They date to the early 20th century. Made of Squared limestone. Decorated by Lawrence Johnston.
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I later saw another view of the Gazebos. And you can walk through one of them. The other one had plates and a surface for making sandwiches or something, like Johnston had it set up for picnics on the lawns somewhere.
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This is in the Bathing Pool Garden. It features a statue installed in 1930 of a boy and a dolphin. Was a fountain.
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View of the Italian Shelter. Was built in the 1910s. Has some benches to sit on. Was also Italian style or Roman style statues in there, and wall paintings.
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This was in the Central Stream Garden. All these gardens were looking nice in the later summer period.
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On the way out of the gardens I saw the Alpine Terrace. It runs parallel to the Stilt Garden. There is an urn at the end.
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To the back of the house was Mrs Winthrop's Cafe. As mentioned above we didn't stop to have a drink here. The cafe was to the right, while the gardens, toilet, shop and exit were to the left.
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Distance from Birmingham: an hour via the M42 and M40 (SatNav takes you through Stratford-upon-Avon). About 47 miles away. Postcode is GL55 6LR. During the lockdown / pandemic period we are in it is temporarily closed. So glad we got to go last summer. National Trust website: Hidcote.
Photos taken by Elliott Brown.
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