A visit to Chastleton House

The Chastleton House is maybe 6-7 miles down the road from Stow. We've passed it probably a half dozen times and I've wanted to visit it since the first time I saw it. However, it's only open to the public on certain days and unlike other National Trust properties, it has no tea room or shop to attract visitors. Last Saturday was Apple Day at Chastleton House so we were finally able to see inside. To tell you a little about it, here's the way the house is described by the National Trust.

"A rare gem of a Jacobean country house, Chastleton House was built between 1607 and 1612 by a prosperous wool merchant as an impressive statement of wealth and power. Owned by the same increasingly impoverished family until 1991, the house remained essentially unchanged for nearly 400 years as the interiors and contents gradually succumbed to the ravages of time.

With virtually no intrusion from the 21st century, this fascinating place exudes an informal and timeless atmosphere in a gloriously unspoilt setting."

The Trust has attempted to leave the house as it looked when the owners moved away. They have carefully restored structural elements where absolutely necessary. The old mansion still has its share of dust and cob webs, as Ronnie's allergies could attest.

I'm posting more photos than usual, but the house is huge so I'm trying to include at least one from most of the rooms. I could, of course, post many more. :)  Enjoy!

For more on the Chastleton House, click here.

Chastleton House - built between 1607 and 1612

entry to courtyard, St Mary's Church across the way

Welcome

parlor or sitting room, originally for eating

note carvings on wall and furniture

same dusty room, looking back toward entry hall

one of hundreds of paintings in the house

elaborate carvings, can you spot the secret door?

now is the time for all good men....

they must be thousands of books

dining room

note carvings and tiles in dining room fireplace

table set and ready

no expense was spared on wood carvings, ceilings were plaster

still in dining room

tapestries portray Biblical account of Jacob and Esau

ceilings in remarkable condition

more tapestries, elaborately carved head and foot boards

notice the electric hot water bottle

Mike Perez, we took this one for you

Ronnie in library

another bedroom, crib nearby

sun breaks across stair landing

window ledge remains without repair

trunk, paneled walls in Long Gallery

Long Gallery - longest barrel-vaulted ceiling of its date in England

if sewing forms could talk!

view into central courtyard

pewter dishes line side of kitchen wall

kitchen at one time was totally black from the coal used to cook the family meals

viewing the sky from courtyard

storage, root cellar, place where animals were slaughtered