Blickling Estate – National Trust

252 Reviews

Star Travel Rating

4/5

Review type

Things to do

Location

Date of travel

January, 2017

Product name

Product country

Product city

Travelled with

Wife

Reasons for trip

Winter opening of the house: an innovation, and it was well worthwhile. With the grounds sodden after what seems like the wettest winter in ages there would have been little value in visiting any National Trust Property without access to the house. Blickling, fortunately, has been opened with restricted access to rooms but with unprecedented views of what goes on when the doors are closed.

A short video allows volunteers and conservation professionals to talk about their work in cleaning and restoration related to how the furniture and utensils were maintained by servants prior to the Trust acquiring the property. The succeeding rooms, either with views through open doors or full access, show partly covered furniture that has been cleaned, bedding and hangings in similar conditions – indeed the whole house as it must have been between family visits (invariably accompanied by many guests).

The winter light – and we were fortunate in having a bright day – gives a different view of the house than when the sun is high in the sky. It seems to search into corners that might later be shaded. Colours are as they were prior to electricity. Nonetheless blinds are needed because of the bleaching effect of sunlight. In the video we had seen greens become blue as the yellow failed. Reds, being insect-based rather than plant dyes, survive better.

Out-of-season means fewer visitors, therefore more space and time to view the rooms as well as talk to volunteers. As always there is a wealth of information to gain. The library, inherited from a non-conformist ancestor who was thus denied access to university, contained 40,000 books. The librarian has been working on it for several years and is only half way through cataloguing the contents. They are eclectic. One, mainstream though suited to a non-conformist, was a two-volume John Milton, to be treasured in any library.

In the Peter the Great room, with items from Catherine the Great as gifts to a family ambassador to her court, in total contrast to the huge equestrian image of the Tsar, was a display of insects that damage property and furniture.

The gardens, although the gravel paths were negotiable, had little to offer in January: to find any snowdrops and aconites would have meant trudging through mud; the lake was surrounded by a quagmire.

Reminding ourselves that we live in the driest part of England we took comfort in a tasty one-pot turkey stew for lunch and thought about the portrait of a Countess of Suffolk, unhappily married but finding comfort in the arms of a George I. There was also time for a visit to the bookshop which seems to be a treasure trove almost (on a minute scale) as much as the Blickling library.

Nor is any visit complete without the RAF Oulton display above the restaurant, to see what life was like and to be humbled by the hundreds who died while serving there in World War II.
Let us hope that Blickling is the first of many to open out of season; the National Trust will find it well worth while in terms of public relations and education. It is always good to see how our money is spent.

John.Pelling

Join the club

Become a member to receive exclusive benefits

Our community is the heart of Silver Travel Advisor, we love nothing more than sharing ideas, inspiration, hints and tips between us.

Come feel the love on a Princess cruise. You’ll enjoy the MedallionClass experience others simply can’t, and it’s exclusively for everyone. Visit incredible destinations and be involved in the best experiences around each one of them.

Experience more with Princess and connect effortlessly with the world around you, spend time away with loved ones, take a moment for yourself, and fall in love with your holiday of a lifetime, every time.

With over 20 years of experience, Wendy Wu Tours has mastered the art of creating exceptional, fully inclusive tours which showcase the very best of each destination.

Each tour is led by a world-class guide, who will highlight the very best of their homeland, and includes authentic cultural experiences so you are not just seeing the sights, but truly immersing yourself in local life.

Say hello to ease at sea. Ambassador’s purpose is simple: they want to inspire every guest to experience authentic cruising, effortlessly and sustainably. Passionate about protecting our oceans and destinations, their ships comply with the highest industry emission standards and there is no single-use plastic on board.

On your voyage, you will receive the warmest of welcomes from the Ambassador community as you sail upon the friendliest ships afloat.

This is a global co-operative co-owned by local partners using real local experts and guides, which supports local communities, environments and wildlife. It offers travellers quirky places to stay, activity holidays and learning experiences. Not In The Guidebooks gets travellers off the beaten track into local culture with day experiences and longer, immersive adventures.

From wild wellness breaks in Wales to painting in Portugal, sustainable adventures in Mauritius to food safaris in Brazil, this is immersive, exciting travel.

Seabourn’s five intimate ships carry guests to the heart of great cities, exclusive yacht harbours and secluded coves around the world, while two new purpose-built expedition ships will combine exhilarating adventures in remote destinations with the sophisticated amenities of the world’s finest resorts at sea.

From the luxury of all suite accommodations to complimentary fine wines and spirits, and a no tipping policy, Seabourn exemplifies the definition of travelling well.