Synopsis: It was Heritage Open Days season again so planned a day out with Mum and Christine to visit Tyntesfield (NT), Somerset. Good to see scaffolding had been removed. Picnic lunch in the grounds.
This blog post describes a visit made possible under the Heritage Open Days (HOD) scheme. To see other blog posts which describe Heritage Open Days visits, please see Tag in column to the right.
Christine, my sister-in-law, mentioned that the annual Heritage Open Days season was upon us again and suggested that we do a trip to Tyntesfield (NT) this year. As this is one of my favourite National Trust properties I was easily persuaded. I said I’d make a picnic lunch. Christine picked Mum and I up at 9am and off we set on our 70 mile journey to Tyntesfield.
We had to stop and look at a map after coming off the M5 motorway at junction 20 as it wasn’t altogether clear what was the direction to Tyntesfield. We still arrived in good time. We collected our house entry timed tickets (time: 1pm to 2pm) from the Visitor’s Centre which exists at Home Farm, close to the stables. We then picked up a path wending its way down the hill in the direction of the Tyntesfield house.
Tyntesfield (NT) - Garden - Gazebo - Knot Garden in background
On our way to Tyntesfield house we passed the rose garden where we paused to take a look around. There weren’t that many roses in flower but there was plenty of colour from other plants that made the garden look very attractive. There are also here a couple of little round garden houses, or gazebos, in the corners which added to the attractiveness of the gardens. The tiling in the gazebos has been recently renewed.
Tyntesfield (NT) - Garden - Dahlia season! - The Orangery in the background
We then walked on pass the house in the direction of the kitchen garden. There are some marvellous old greenhouses still in use today some hundred years after they were built. There is also a superb orangery that is partly covered as there is an extensive (£42,000) restoration project underway to repair weather damage that has occurred to the building over time.
Tyntesfield (NT) - Garden - Dahlia season!
There was a beautiful display of dahlias by the green houses. Christine mentioned how her father loved to grow these and how impressed he would be if he could see the display on show here today. I mentioned that Dad also loved to grow dahlias. They certainly make a big splash of vibrant colour.
Tyntesfield (NT) - Garden - Couple of Smiley faces - Actually Mum and Christine
From here we walked back up the slope to the Tyntesfield manor house. We were lucky enough to find a bench to sit and eat our lunch which overlooked the front gardens of Tyntesfield and the house itself. Thankfully the rain kept off whilst we ate our lunch.
Tyntesfield (NT) - House - Front view
After lunch we walked towards the entrance of the house. We deposited our various rucksacks in the lockers provided and entered the hallway of the house. What is particularly striking about Tyntesfield is the fact that the property had remained very much unchanged since Victorian times. It’s like stepping back into another world. Rooms I particularly like are the library and the billiard room, and domestic rooms such as the kitchen and scullery.
Burnham on Sea
On leaving Tyntesfield we had some time to spare so we pulled into Burnham-on-Sea and walked along the promenade a short distance. We found the place rather deserted and sleepy. There were more fishermen about than anyone else. It was easy to make out Hinkley Point nuclear power station further along the coast. Apparently Burnham-on-sea has the shortest pier on record.
That evening we picked up a Chinese meal and went back to Mum’s with it. David and Louise joined us at Mum’s for our supper.
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