In 1894, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir William Harcourt introduced a tax on the capital value of land in a bid to raise money to pay off a £4 million government deficit. The tax was charged on the total estate of a deceased person. In reality it meant that in many, many cases whoever inherited the property would have to sell the estate in order to pay the death duties. It became increasingly impossible for any great estate to survive financially the death of two consecutive heads of the family.
This very elegant staircase leads you upstairs to the library and bedrooms.
There are over 5000 books on the shelves.
A secret cupboard in the corner of the library was designed to hold a chamber pot.
This is a slipper bath. It dates from the late 19th century and is constructed of sections of metal in the shape of a slipper with four handles. Only the occupant's head and shoulders are seen so that modesty and warmth are preserved.
The red bedroom remains as it was in the mid 19th century.
In the Chinese bedroom the wallpaper dates from 1752 and is hand painted silk. It has been cleaned and refitted by the National Trust. As it is silk it is not stuck to the walls but attached to batons at the side which are hidden by a border.
This is the first bathroom to be added to the house. The squire's mother would not move into the house without one.
No large home can function without a well equipped kitchen.
Extensive grounds surround the house.
There is also a walled kitchen garden.
The National Trust initially focussed on the countryside but it was a speech by Philip Kerr, Lord Lothian in 1934 arguing that the country houses were a unique and valuable heritage and worthy of being saved, that changed things. A Committee was formed by the National Trust to decide which properties they could take on. The Trust did not accept every property offered and began insisting that the properties came with a sufficient endowment to pay for the costs of repairs and maintenance. However, changes in the law in 1937 meant that the National Trust could make money from its properties and consequently be able to afford the ongoing maintenance these buildings required.
It is now thought that the NT have enough properties to look after and should concentrate their efforts on protecting the landscape. Nowadays they try to find other ways to 'save' properties preferring the house to remain within the family by advising on trust arrangements. Death duties still exist but were renamed as the capital transfer tax in 1975 and then in 1986 it became known as inheritance tax. If you own a property it is likely your family will have to pay inheritance tax on your death. Any estate in excess of £325,000 is liable to tax of 40%. As the average price of a property in London is currently £647K this tax is no longer just for the wealthy landowners of the past.
This room became the family's morning room in the 19th century. The walls are full of family portraits.
Each picture tells a story of someone who lived in the house. There are politicians, adventurers, scholars and entrepreneurs.
The Great hall has wonderful stained glass windows which were added to the house in the 1840s.
On the writing desk was a photograph of the brother and heir to the last squire of the house. He died in action during the Second World War so never survived to inherit the property.
The dining room dates back to the 1750s
The next room is the Drawing room.
On one of the tables is this teapot, a present from Queen Mary (1867-1953)
This room is called The Cabinet. It used to be the Drawing room where the family would withdraw after their meals. It was changed in the 1750s to house all the pictures William Windham II brought back from his Grand Tour.
On the corridor outside is this picture of Agnes Willoughby who had the misfortune to marry William Frederick Windham in 1861. She married him for his money but his extravagant spending meant the loss of the family fortune and Agnes ran off with an Italian opera singer.
On the writing desk was a photograph of the brother and heir to the last squire of the house. He died in action during the Second World War so never survived to inherit the property.
A secret cupboard in the corner of the library was designed to hold a chamber pot. 
This was the bedroom of the Squire's mother.
Chinese wallpaper was very popular in the 1700s and the designs still look beautiful today.
If I had been on my Grand Tour for a couple of years of freedom and discovery, I too would have wanted a place like The Cabinet to house the very special paintings, decorative art objects and specialist books. Any family could have a Drawing Room where the family would withdraw in privacy after dinner. But the Grand Tourist was special. He would want the parents to show their admiration of their mature, independent son. Gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteWhat a magnificent place! Thank you for sharing all the pictures and commentary.
ReplyDeleteNow that's a name I've seen on my maps countless times without ever visiting. To judge by your photos that is something I must rectify.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a interesting and worthwhile stop as you explore the area. I'm always intrigued to see how the upper crust lived in the past.
ReplyDeleteI'm not knocking the place as it does look quite a nice place to visit but I do feel that a lot of the NT's hoses are all similar to visit and as you say they have enough to be getting on with. Must try and visit some this year
ReplyDeleteSo many beautiful details in this home. Interesting about how so many properties became public as a result of the death taxes. I wonder what will happen now that the NHS has somewhat reached its limit.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a lovely place to visit. I'm sure you had a good time taking all those photos.
ReplyDeleteI just love exploring old houses. I'm guessing your National Trust is the same as our Historic Places Trust and really without these organisations we would've have all the historical buildings we have today.
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