I've visited Basildon Park several times, and on my last visit in September 2014, I was delighted to find the National Trust now allows non-flash photographs and I went wild with snapping. Above and below, the East Front.
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Basildon Park was built between 1776 and 1782 by Sir Francis Sykes, created a baronet in 1781. His roots were in Yorkshire and he chose architect John Carr of York (1723–1807) to build his house, a classical Palladian villa with a main block of rooms joined to pavilions on either side. The Sykes fortune was made during his service in India.
Carr had previously worked with Robert Adam, and Adam's style clearly influenced the Palladian exterior as well as the decor of many rooms in the interior. The house as it stands today is the survivor of multiple owners, periods of abandonment, and occupation by soldiers and war prisoners in World Wars I and II. So it combines dazzling restorations of original features with comfortable furnishings and artwork from the 1950's when the house was acquired and restored by Lord and Lady Iliffe. Below, the Entrance Hall.
Carr had previously worked with Robert Adam, and Adam's style clearly influenced the Palladian exterior as well as the decor of many rooms in the interior. The house as it stands today is the survivor of multiple owners, periods of abandonment, and occupation by soldiers and war prisoners in World Wars I and II. So it combines dazzling restorations of original features with comfortable furnishings and artwork from the 1950's when the house was acquired and restored by Lord and Lady Iliffe. Below, the Entrance Hall.
Above, L, the Library....R, the middle hall.
Piano Nobile (main floor) Key: The first floor. 1: The four service courts; 2: Portico and West front; 3: North Pavilion; 4: South Pavilion; 5: Entrance Hall; 6: Staircase Hall; 7: Octagon Drawing Room; 8: Dining Room; 9: Study; 10: Library; 11: Sutherland Room (formerly lady Iliffe's sitting room); 12: Kitchen (since 1952); 13: larder (?); 14: Green Drawing Room (formerly Breakfast or Small Dining Room).
Below, L, Dining Room fireplace; R, Dining Room Table
Below, L, Dining Room fireplace; R, Dining Room Table
At the center back of the house is the Octagon Drawing Room. L, Pier Glass and Table; R, Venetian windows overlook the park and beyond to the Thames. The tv program Downton Abbey used the Octagon Drawing Room to serve as the drawing room of the Grantham House, the family's London residence. The dining room was also used in DA for ballroom scenes.
Below, another Pier Glass and Table; R, another view of the room.
Below, another Pier Glass and Table; R, another view of the room.
Above, L, Green Drawing Room, originally the breakfast room; R, ceiling medallion in the Green Drawing Room.
Below, L, Going upstairs; R, the Crimson Bedroom
Lord and Lady Iliffe acquired this state bed form the sale at Ashburnham Place in 1953.
Below, L, Going upstairs; R, the Crimson Bedroom
Lord and Lady Iliffe acquired this state bed form the sale at Ashburnham Place in 1953.
Above, L, a mahogany cheval glass; R, the Spode service on the washstand also comes from Ashburnham Place.
Below, two views of the collection in the Shell Room.
Below, two views of the collection in the Shell Room.
Above, L, upstairs sitting room; R, as befit a grand house of the 1950's,Basildon was equipped with luxurious bathrooms,
definitely not in the 18th century style.
Below, the kitchen reflect the 1950's as well.
definitely not in the 18th century style.
Below, the kitchen reflect the 1950's as well.
Below, the gardens are lovely and the grounds lead down to the Thames, in the distance. Basildon is near London and well worth a visit. The website:
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/basildon-park
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/basildon-park
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