The little 'Memsahib' is a member of The National [Socialist] Trust - my insertion! To my infinite regret she has succeeded in bullying me into joining that disgusting organisation. I despise it as the fat, greasy, well-oiled depository of previous socialist thieving in which beautiful country houses and estates were forced into bankruptcy by iniquitous death duties and the centuries-old families forced to sell up to the State. Consequently most of them are now echoing mausoleums to past glories and if viewing the dead and the dying gives you pleasure then I suppose trailing round those sad old houses is what you do. Usually I just sit in the gardens with my sketch book and remind myself what a crap artist I would have been if I had been silly enough to try it.
However, from time to time that awfully nice gel, 'Lady Serendipidy', suddenly pops up and one is provided with an introduction to a truly historic house that has (just about!) escaped the grubby clutches of sundry Chancellors of the Exchequer and which has remained in the hands of the same family since 1365 - let me repeat that - since 1365! I refer to Lullingstone Castle owned by the Hart Dyke family. The current son, Tom, was kidnapped in some stinking South American jungle whilst undertaking a plant-hunting expedition and held for nine months. On his safe return he set about 'building' a "World Garden" in the magnificent grounds of the Castle. Every area of the globe is covered and the place is stuffed full of wild and wonderful plants of every description. If the world is due for another flood, a latter-day Noah will need to ensure that Tom Hart Dyke's garden goes on board along with the animals! It is a magnificent enterprise and may, just, help keep the estate in the family's hands judging by the number of visitors it receives.
The 'Castle' is not a castle, that was knocked down in the 15th century and a Tudor house of handsome proportions was built in its place. The result is a house that is more of a family home than an ossified relic of the past. In the grounds there is a delightful church with some incredibly ancient stained glass. Happily this 'was one of the ruins that Cromwell failed to knock about a bit'! The guide who showed us round the house, a chirpy lady from a nearby village, wins my prize for the best guide I have come across in ages, informative, witty and knew her stuff.
Lullingstone Castle is 10 minutes from Junction 3 off the M25, situated in a very beautiful part of Kent. Do yourselves a favour this Summer, pay it a visit - that's an order!
Word to the wise. The National Trust for Scotland probably needs your money more and may be less politically objectionable. Membership gives you entry to all the National Trust properties free. It may even (I haven't checked) be cheaper. If you join one and your better half the other, you'll get both sets of literature, cheap offers, and so forth.
Posted by: dearieme | Sunday, 07 June 2009 at 18:25
No, no, 'DM', the whole thing is a blasted racket from the 1940s. The National [Socialist] Trusts of Anywhere are the equivalent of those fat nazis who got rich selling off impounded Jewish property. I was born about as low lower middle-class as you can get but I am perfectly content if the landed gentry continue to enjoy their property. If they had been left alone, instead of being subjected to daylight robbery, most of them are cute enough to relish a few more bob and their lovely buildings and parks would have been open to the public to enjoy - at a price - and probably a smaller price than the inflated charges made by the N[S]T and all those snooty ladies standing around as though they were the owners!
Sorry, sorry, you've touched a sensitive spot, I must go and take a wee dram of Scottish medicine!
Posted by: David Duff | Sunday, 07 June 2009 at 19:37