Audley End House

Today I went on a day trip to Audley End House, near Saffron Walden in Essex. It is without doubt the most beautiful and interesting 17th century country house that I have seen. It has a fascinating history dating from 1538 when the then Benedictine monastery was granted to the Lord Chancellor Sir Thomas Audley by Henry VIII. The impressive house that can be seen today is only about a third of the vast mansion created in about 1605–14 by Thomas Howard, 1st Earl of Suffolk. It retains much of its original character, and contains fine Robert Adam and Jacobean revival interiors. The garden was designed by Capability Brown in 1762, and is kept in very much in the same style today.

Sadly due to death duties which the heirs could not afford, the house was taken over by English Heritage in 1948, although the artworks and interior contents are still owned by the estate of Lord Braybrooke.

The interior of the house has been restored to its former Jacobean splendour and has fascinating rooms to explore, like the dairy, laundry, coal scullery and nursery, all fully restored as they were in the 1880's.

The gardens are impressive, and we had a tour of the ornamental garden and the kitchen garden by the head gardener. They have 12 full time gardeners and up to 55 volunteers per week who assist the gardeners maintaining the extensive grounds.

This is a view of the back of the house with the parterre. The extra shot is of the borders in the ornamental garden.