Dyrham Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dyrham Park |
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Lower part of the park and east front of the house and orangery
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| Type | Country house |
| Location | Dyrham and Hinton, Gloucestershire |
| OS grid reference | ST742757 |
| Built | 1692-1704 |
| Architect |
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| Architectural style(s) | Baroque |
| Owner | National Trust |
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Listed Building – Grade I
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| Official name: Dyrham House | |
| Designated | 17 Sep 1952 |
| Reference no. | 1212039 |
| Official name: Dyrham Park | |
| Designated | 30 Apr 1987 |
| Reference no. | 1000443 |
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Dyrham Park is a beautiful old country house located in a deer park in South Gloucestershire, England. It's a special example of Baroque style architecture. The main house, along with its orangery (a type of greenhouse) and stable block, is a very important historic building. The park itself is also a protected historic site.
The house you see today was built for a man named William Blathwayt over many years, starting in the late 1600s. The final design of the front of the house was created by William Talman. Inside, Dyrham Park is filled with amazing art and furniture from all over the world, especially from Holland. This includes a collection of famous Dutch paintings. The house is connected to a very old church from the 1200s, where many members of the Blathwayt family are buried.
Outside, the house is surrounded by 274 acres of lovely gardens and parkland. This area used to be home to a herd of fallow deer. The gardens were first designed by George London and later improved by Charles Harcourt Masters. They feature pretty water areas and statues.
Today, the National Trust owns Dyrham Park. They took care of big repairs in 2014 and 2015. You can visit the house and grounds on certain days. They also host fun events like outdoor concerts. You might even recognize Dyrham Park from movies and TV shows!
Contents
History of Dyrham Park
The area where Dyrham Park stands has been recorded since the Domesday Book in 1086. This was a survey of England ordered by William the Conqueror. The first owner who lived there was probably William Denys. He was a close helper to King Henry VIII.
In 1511, King Henry VIII gave William Denys permission to create a deer park of 500 acres at Dyrham. This meant he could build walls or hedges to keep deer inside. He had the only right to hunt these deer. The name "Dyrham" actually comes from an old word meaning "an enclosure for deer." Later, in 1571, the estate was sold to the Wynter family. They were allowed to make the deer park even bigger in 1620.
In 1689, William Blathwayt became the owner of Dyrham through marriage. He was a very important person, working as the Secretary at War for King William III. Blathwayt kept the old Tudor house and started making it much larger in different stages.
The west side of the house was built in 1692. It was designed by a French architect named Samuel Hauduroy. This part has a grand double staircase leading from a terrace down to the gardens. In 1698, a stable block was added. It had room for 26 horses and living spaces for servants above. The east side of the house, finished in 1704, was designed by William Talman. He also designed the famous Chatsworth. When the east wing was built, parts of the old Tudor house were removed. An eagle statue, representing the Blathwayt family, was placed on the roof.
Dyrham Park became a showcase for beautiful Dutch art and furniture. The collection includes special delftware (blue and white pottery), paintings, and furniture. Some furniture from the 1700s was made by famous companies like Gillow and Linnell. The inside of the house looks much like it did when Blathwayt decorated it. The gardens were designed by George London in the late 1600s and early 1700s.
The Blathwayt family owned the house until 1956. During World War II, children who had to leave their homes were sent to live there. In 1961, the National Trust took over Dyrham Park. In 2015, the house had major repairs, including a new roof. Visitors could even walk on a special walkway on the roof to see the work!
The National Trust also looked into the history of its properties. They found that Dyrham Park was owned by people who helped manage parts of the British Empire. William Blathwayt, for example, was a key official in the government department that dealt with colonies.
Architecture of the House
The Main House
Dyrham Park is built from limestone with roofs made of slate and lead. The west side of the house, built in the 1690s, has a central doorway with columns. It also has smaller sections at the ends of its wings. One of these wings creates a covered path to the church of St Peter.
The east side, added around 1704, has parts that stick out slightly. Its central door has a double staircase that leads down to the lawns. Above the door is a stone base with a Latin phrase meaning "by virtue and truth." On top of this is an eagle statue, carved by John Harvey. This eagle is the symbol of the Blathwayt family.
The inside of the house is beautifully decorated with wood panels and Delftware tiles. The collection of art and items has a strong Dutch feel. This includes special tulip vases from the 1680s. There's also a grand bed with red and yellow velvet curtains, made around 1704 in a style that mixes English and Dutch designs.
The entrance hall has paintings of birds by Melchior d'Hondecoeter. Throughout the house, you'll find paintings of landscapes and still life scenes by famous Dutch Masters like Abraham Storck and Samuel Dirksz van Hoogstraten. Hoogstraten's painting "View of a Corridor" is hung in a doorway, just as the artist wanted it to be seen.
Blathwayt's travels are also shown through art. There are paintings by Spanish artists like Bartolomé Esteban Murillo. The staircase is made of walnut wood from his lands in Virginia, USA. Many of these items were brought to Dyrham by George William Blathwayt in 1844. There are also items from Blathwayt's trips to other places, like Jamaica.
Orangery and Stable Block
On the south-eastern side of the house is an orangery. This building was first a greenhouse in 1701. Its glass roof was added around 1800. The orangery helps hide the view of the servants' living areas from the main house.
The servants' quarters were updated in the 1840s. They included the kitchen, dairy, and places to store food. There was also a hall where the staff ate their meals. Another hall was used by the farmers who rented land from the estate when they came to pay their rent. The large stable block, with 15 sections, was also designed by William Talman. Today, it's a tea-room for visitors.
Church of St Peter
| St Peter's Church | |
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Listed Building – Grade I
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| Official name: Church of St Peter Dyrham and Hinton |
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| Designated | 15 Aug 1985 |
| Reference no. | 1289711 |
The local church, St Peter's, was first built in the mid-1200s. A three-story tower was added in the 1400s. However, it was greatly repaired when the main house was built in the late 1600s. The church has a main area, side sections, and a tower. Inside, you can find old floor tiles from the 1200s. The font (for baptisms) is from the Norman period, and the pulpit (where sermons are given) is from the Jacobean period. There is also a beautiful three-part altar painting from the 1500s.
The National Trust does not own the church, but it is very connected to Dyrham Park. Many of the house's past owners are buried or have memorials there.
Grounds and Gardens
Dyrham Park is surrounded by 274 acres of gardens and parkland. This area was home to a herd of 200 fallow deer until 2021, when they had to be moved due to an animal illness. Many of the walls and gateposts were added in the late 1700s.
You can find statues in the grounds, including one of Neptune, the Roman god of the sea. There are also man-made lakes and waterfalls, which add to the beauty of the park.
The gardens were first designed by George London in the late 1600s and early 1700s. His designs included a formal Dutch water garden. However, most of these features were changed in the late 1700s by Charles Harcourt Masters. The park is considered a very important historic garden.
Visiting Dyrham Park
The house and gardens are open to visitors on certain days. The park grounds are open all year round. A bus takes visitors from the car park down to the house, gardens, tea room, and shop. You can also walk down the bus road or take an easy walk across grassy slopes to reach the house. There is no car parking right at the house itself. Dogs are not allowed in the main park, but there is a special area for them near the car park.
Dyrham Park hosts many events, including music concerts, outdoor plays, and guided tours of the house, park, and garden.
Dyrham Park on Screen
Dyrham Park has been used as a filming location for several movies and TV shows:
- In 1993, it was used for outdoor and garden scenes in the film The Remains of the Day.
- In 1999, it appeared in the BBC mini-series Wives and Daughters.
- In 2003, it was a filming location for the BBC One series Servants.
- An aerial view of Dyrham Park was shown in the opening of the 2008 film Australia.
- In 2010, the BBC filmed scenes for the Doctor Who episode "Night Terrors" at Dyrham Park.
- It was also used for scenes in The Crimson Field (2014) and Sanditon (2019).
- From 2015 to 2018, the BBC series Poldark filmed scenes at Dyrham Park, using it as the home of the character George Warleggan.
Images for kids
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The herd of fallow deer in 2009
See also
