Synopsis: A trip out to Knightshayes Court for Mum, sister-in-law Christine and myself. Arrived for an early lunch in the Stables Restaurant, then toured the house followed by the garden. Occasional snow flurry
It would seem we have to be thankful for the game of golf for us being able to visit Knightshayes Court (NT). Apparently the last in the Heathcote dynasty that owned Knightshayes were too busy playing golf to get around to having any children, and therefore the house was left in the guardianship of the National Trust, and hence is open to the public. So, I say, here here! to golf.
Knightshayes (NT) - Stables - restaurant
We arrived at Knightshayes around midday with a view to having an early lunch in the Stables Restaurant before beginning our tour of the house and garden. The Stables are, despite what one might imagine, light, airy, warm and comfortable. I suspect the horses didn’t have it quite so good. But having said that, even here in the stables the quality of materials and execution of the build is phenomenal. The Victorians weren’t ones to do things by half measures; I think we could learn a lot from them in today’s cheap and tardy times.
Knightshayes (NT) - house - entrance
The exterior stonework of Knightshayes Court is described by Pevsner as being of, ‘Hensley stone and Ham Hill dressing’. We were informed on entering the house that the first floor was not open today, as there were insufficient stewards on duty to open the upper floor. The majority of what’s to be seen is on the ground floor anyway, so we weren’t unduly concerned by this.
Knightshayes (NT) - house - medieval banqueting hall (pastiche)
From the entrance hall the first room we came upon was the huge medieval banqueting hall. How wonderfully romantic the Victorians could be in their architectural whims. This room struck me as a lovely reincarnation of the medieval that would do justice to any Gothic fable, and so totally unreal. What were they thinking of? My guess would be hogs roasting on the spit, hot and spicy mead flowing aplenty, minstrels strumming, and buxom serving wenches at guests’ beck and call, but that’s just my theory.
Pevsner: “The ‘traditionally medieval’ great hall was intended for ceremonial occasions: at the high end is a gallery with a pierced stone balcony (for addressing the tenantry) supported by four hefty Devonshire marble columns.“
Knightshayes (NT) - house - Crace ceiling
Anyway, back to Earth, and the next room we entered was much more modest in size, but was the first we came upon having an incredible Crace ceiling. Apparently these carved wood richly painted ceilings were at one time covered over with plaster ceilings and it has been the work of the National Trust to restore them to the grandeur we see today. Why would anyone not want to have these wonderful ceilings on display?
Knightshayes (NT) - house - billiard room
Of the other rooms it’s easy to imagine a bygone age: the elegance of a country gentlemen’s game of billiards; the dining room bristling with servants plying food and drink; the muted rustle of newspapers being read in the morning room under the brass Gothic chandeliers; quiet repose in an armchair with a good book in front of the fire in the library.
Knightshayes (NT) - house - drawing room
And then finally my imagination pictured cocktails being sipped in the drawing room before dinner, with sun streaming in through the French windows, and someone gently tapping out rag time tunes on the piano. We exited from the house via these French windows into a conservatory which is now used by the National Trust as a café area. This led us into the garden out front of the house.
Knightshayes (NT) - garden - topiary
The air struck cold as we ventured into the garden, but we were sheltered from the breeze by the tall trees of the garden, visible on the knoll just ahead of us. I’ve always rather liked the gardens at Knightshayes in that the area close to the house is rigidly formal, structured and elegant, but as one drifts into the trees, the garden extends but now becomes more natural and restrained. A very satisfactory combination of styles that provides something for all tastes. With a grand sweeping vista from the house itself, I’d say the Heathcotes had it pretty good.
Knightshayes (NT) - house - The Morning Room - "The Heathcote Works Outing to Teignmouth, 10th AUG 1854 by W.P. Key." View at National Trust Images
But I shouldn’t leave it at that. The Heathcotes were part of that Victorian breed of businessmen and philanthropists who did attempt to cultivate a working environment conducive to both owner and workers. A striking example of which is this rather lovely picture of The Heathcote Works Outing to Teignmouth, 10th AUG 1854 by W P Key. Therefore, the benevolence of the Heathcotes maybe said to attenuate the opulence of their moneyed lifestyle.
Archive photos show Dawlish railway's stormy past.
Now back to reality for us, as we picked up ready meals and a bottle of wine in Tiverton’s Tesco for our evening victuals. We watched the new Anna Karenina film at home in the evening. What an amazing and thoroughly enjoyable film that is. Very arty in style, and therefore possibly not to everyone’s taste, but we enjoyed it very much. The perfect way to round off a perfect day.
I do love old bathrooms, and perhaps that’s why I have one of my own, although not as elegant as the one pictured above. I shall definitely be returning sometime to Knightshayes Court to see their fine example.
No comments:
Post a Comment