Walking up the long road from the West Gate where you buy/collect tickets, (across the road is where you park) you will notice an avenue of Oak trees of varying ages. You may also notice several dead and decaying crows hung on the barbwire around these trees. Crows eat eggs, so maybe there are pheasants nesting nearby. Just in case you have forgotten, the rich love to hunt and kill. Disgusting that these poor crows are in full view. I also saw a crude trap under a tree near the lake, presumably to trap and kill squirrels. No wonder I saw no birds, or any wildlife while getting around here.
The tour is good, no it doesn’t dwell on Diana, there is so much history and so much to see, the guide did a good job of pointing things out, and reminding people to hurry up instead of dawdling in the previous room. You will hear more about the infamous Duchess of Devonshire, Georgiana, than anyone else, very interesting. The focus is very much on the artwork, some by famous artists. You cannot take photos inside either.
After the tour you walk around the lake to see where Diana is buried, then it is onto the Stables and exhibitions. I have been looking forward to seeing her wedding dress for years, easily the most famous dress in the world. But, it is not there, none of her dresses are. Apparently they were given back to William and Henry back in 2014. How very strange…what are they going to do with them? Dress ups? Pack them away?? Her dresses should be on permanent display for the public and what better place than Althorp?
Althorp has no grand garden, removed apparently so you can admire the Oak trees in the fields, the only gardens are just a small bit near the small cannons.
It is such a shame that these estates are all abouting hunting and persecuting wildlife, there are several glossed over references to it in the informative guidebook, and works of art portray a fox hunt as something romantic, this is why I avoid palaces and houses lived in by ‘Lords and Ladies’ like the plague.
