We were staying in Bath, and decided to visit Dyrham Park, being so close to where we were staying. On arrival we were suddenly aware that the property was undergoing major renovations to the roof.
The property was surrounded in sheeting, and the roof of this 17th century mansion had been removed, and was gradually being restored. The fantastic thing was, was that you could go up onto the roof by taking a lift. The scaffolding was still being added around the chimneys, but we were able to walk right around the site, viewing the roof from above. The experience was amazing. You could see the lead had been removed, and how some of the rafters had needed replacing. The craftsmen were carefully restoring the stonework too. We were able to admire the stone eagle which sat high on the roof, and was facing outwards on the east wing.
There were several viewing platforms where you could admire the beautiful gardens below. The whole experience was amazing. It’s not often you can get the chance to see restoration at such close quarters.
There was also opportunity to look behind the scenes in the open stores discovering more about the building, and also explore William Blathwayt’s world through the sensory rooms.
Outside, there are 110 hectares of parkland with deer roaming around. It’s a lovely place to walk.
We so much enjoyed our visit to Dyrham, and would really recommend a visit before the roof is replaced. We will revisit at a later date to compare progress!
