 Dyrham Park
Snug and secluded in the hollow of a Gloucestershire valley, an architecturally
imposing house of golden-coloured stone sits surrounded by an ancient
deer park. First indications are that this was a grand country home
created for the enjoyment of the aristocracy in a bygone era. In fact,
Dyrham Park was a family home built by William Blathwayt, a civil servant
under James II, who later became William III's acting Secretary of State.
When Blathwayt purchased the estate in the late 1680s, his intentions were
to build a new house, replacing the dilapidated Tudor manor house that
he found on the site. Finances dictated that a more viable option would
be to retain the core of the sprawling property and extend it gradually
as money became available. In 1692 the new west range was started, followed
by an even grander east range, then a stable block, and finally the Orangery.
The transformation was completed in 13 years, and Blathwayt now had an
elegant baroque mansion, which was later enhanced by fabulous gardens.
Both house and gardens were heavily influenced by Dutch styling, and much
of the internal deéor and furnishings were also of Dutch origin.
Beyond a few essential repairs, Dyrham Park was left virtually untouched until the midddle of the 19th
century. As ordinary country squires, Blathwayt's heirs did not appear
to have the interest or the funds to make any substantial improvements
or alterations to the house, or indeed maintain it properly. When the
house passed to Colonel Blathwayt in 1844 he had to take out a very
large loan to enable repairs and restoration at Dyrham Park, including buying
back furniture and pictures that had been removed by his predecessor's
family. The only other significant changes were a series of redecorations
carried out between 1938 and 1946 by Lady Islington, a tenant during
that time. By 1954 Dyrham Park was again in a poor state of repair and
the family had no alternative but to give it up.
What the visitor sees today is a superbly restored property containing many
of the fine textiles, paintings, and Dutch ceramics collected by the builder.
At the time of the Colonel's modernisations, the domestic rooms were relaid
and the splendid Victorian kitchen, bakehouse and dairy make fascinating
viewing. Unfortunately the complex arrangement of formal gardens, parterres,
water features and terraces have long since disappeared, but a sketch
made in 1710 gives a fairly accurate idea of the elaborate design. |
