Spetchley Park facts for kids
Spetchley Park is a beautiful old country house. It sits on a huge estate of 4500 acres. This includes lovely gardens and parkland.
You can find it in a small village called Spetchley. This is close to the city of Worcester in England. Both the house and its park are very important. They are listed as Grade II* historic sites.
The house itself has two floors. It is made from a special stone called Bath stone. At the front, there's a grand entrance with tall columns. Inside, there's even a private Roman Catholic chapel.
The Berkeley family has owned this estate for a very long time. They have been here since the first house was built in 1606. They also own another famous place, Berkeley Castle, in Gloucestershire.
Contents
Discover Spetchley's Past
Early Days and a Fiery Event
The land where Spetchley Park stands was once owned by other families. But in 1605, a rich wool merchant and banker named Rowland Berkeley bought the estate.
He built a Tudor-style house there. However, this first house had a dramatic end. In 1651, just before the Battle of Worcester, it was burned down.
This happened during the English Civil War. Some Scottish Royalist soldiers set it on fire. They did this to stop Oliver Cromwell, a leader of the opposing side, from using the house as his base. All that is left of that old Tudor house today is part of its moat.
Building the Grand House
After the fire, Rowland's son, Robert Berkeley, took over. He was a High Court judge. He turned the old stables into living areas for the family.
The beautiful house you see today was built much later. It was finished in 1811. Another Robert Berkeley, a descendant, had it built. A Catholic architect named John Tasker designed it. The house is built in the Palladian style. This style is known for its grand, balanced look.
Gardens and Famous Visitors
Over the years, the gardens and park grew and changed. A very important person in the garden's history was Ellen Willmott. She was the sister of Rose Berkeley. Ellen helped develop the gardens a lot in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
A famous composer, Edward Elgar, often visited Spetchley. He had gone to a Catholic school on the estate when he was young. Later, he stayed at Spetchley many times, living in the Garden Cottage.
The pine trees nearby are even called "Elgar's Pines." It is said that these trees inspired him. He wrote parts of his famous music piece, The Dream of Gerontius, because of them.
Spetchley During World War II
In 1940, during World War II, Spetchley Park had a secret role. It was chosen as a safe place for Winston Churchill and his government. If London became too dangerous during the Blitz, or if Germany invaded, they would move here.
However, after the Battle of Britain, the plan changed. Instead, the USAAF used Spetchley. It became a place for their pilots to rest and recover. They even put a basketball court on the front lawn!
Exploring the Gardens
The gardens at Spetchley are still very much like they were in Ellen Willmott's time. They offer many different sights and experiences.
You can find peaceful walled gardens. There's also a "melon yard" with its original glasshouses. A horse pool, a Victorian conservatory, and a charming Root house are also part of the estate.
The gardens are filled with statues, fountains, and interesting architectural follies. There are beautiful rose gardens, calm lakes with bridges, and amazing flower borders. You can also see magnificent old trees, each with its own story.
