Welford Park facts for kids
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Welford Park is a lovely old country house and its surrounding land in the village of Welford, England. It's located in the county of Berkshire, not too far from Newbury. This house is a very important historical building, known as a Grade I-listed building.
Right next to the house is Welford St Gregory church. It's special because it's one of only two churches in Berkshire with a round tower. The clear, flowing chalk streams that form the River Lambourn also run right through the park's grounds.
Every year, for about a month, Welford Park opens its doors to visitors. People come to see the amazing carpets of white snowdrops that cover the riverbanks and spread through the nearby woods. It's a truly beautiful sight!
History of Welford Park
Welford Park was built on the site of an old farm that belonged to a monastery called Abingdon Abbey. This was a very long time ago, in Anglo-Saxon times. Later, when King Henry VIII closed down all the monasteries, he used this spot as a place to stay when he went hunting.
After King Henry VIII, Queen Elizabeth I gave the land to Sir Thomas Parry. He was a high-ranking helper for the Queen, called the Comptroller of the Household. Welford Park was his main home. However, his son later moved the family to another place called Hamstead Marshall. Welford then became a dower house, which means it was used by his mother after her husband died. She is buried in the church next door.
The house you see today was built around 1652. It was built by John Jackson for Richard Jones. Richard's grandfather, Sir Francis Jones, who was the Lord Mayor of London in 1620, had bought the property in 1618. Richard Jones didn't have any sons, so his daughter Mary inherited the house. In 1680, Mary married John Archer.
Around 1700, the house was changed by an architect named Thomas Archer. He was related to the family by marriage. He added another floor and decorated the front of the house with special ionic columns. The inside of the house was changed again in 1840.
Over the years, the property passed through different families, often through marriage. In 1706, it went to William Eyre, who agreed to change his name to Archer. Later, in 1800, it went to John Houblon, who also changed his name to Archer-Houblon.
In 1891, the house was rented out to other people. During the First World War, it was used as a place for soldiers to recover. In 1954, it passed to John Puxley through marriage.
Today, the house is still owned by his son, James Puxley. He is a local landowner and has held important roles like the High Sheriff of Berkshire and the Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire.
From 2014 to 2019, Welford Park was the filming location for the popular TV show The Great British Bake Off. However, for the 2020 season, the show moved to a different location because of changes needed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Welford Park Snowdrops
Welford Park is a private home, so for most of the year, you can't visit the house or its grounds. But there's a special tradition that's over 50 years old! The grounds open up so people can come and see the beautiful snowdrops, and also some yellow aconites. These flowers love the chalky soil here. They create a stunning white carpet across the woods next to the river.
The exact dates for opening change each year. It depends on when the flowers are blooming best. In recent years, the park has been open for about four weeks in late winter, usually from Wednesdays to Sundays.
The snowdrops at Welford Park are one of the first signs that winter is ending. Because of this, they are often featured in local and even national news. Many visitors come to see them each year. There's free parking nearby, but you do need to pay a small fee to enter the grounds.
