Ickworth House: A Very Big House in the Country
A regular feature in our round-ups of the best places to visit in Suffolk when staying at our Barns and Barges to rent, we thought that the magnificent Italianate palace of Ickworth House deserved a little more spotlight by way of its very own blog post. Built sometime between 1795 and 1829, the estate the house belongs to dates back to 1467 when it was once the dwelling place of the Marquesses of Bristol. A masterpiece properly attributed to Frederick Hervey of the Hervey family, the 4th Earl of Bristol and Bishop of Derry, Ickworth Hall was brought to life by esteemed Italian architect Antonio Asprucci after he was asked to design a classical villa in the Suffolk countryside, on the Ickworth estate.
As with many historic houses in Suffolk, the story of Ickworth House is anything but straightforward. Indeed, though it is now a luxury family hotel, it was originally conceived as an art gallery to house all of the Earl Bishop hybrid’s impressive collection. The only hitch in this brilliant plan? All of the art he owned was seized by Napoleon. With nothing to hang on the walls, and with the Earl passing away in 1803, the house was left to his successor to finish off.
After enjoying the property for just over a century, the house was passed to the National Trust to cover death duties. Part of the contract meant that the Marquess of Bristol was entitled to a 99-year long lease on the 60 rooms of the East Wing. That doesn’t even include the West Wing! This clause in the contract was seamlessly honoured up until 1998 when the 7th Marquess of Bristol made the decision to sell up the remaining years of the lease to the National Trust. However, the National Trust decided to refuse the sale due to the Letter of Wishes which declared that the head of the family should be provided accommodation at Ickworth whenever they so desire.
Nowadays visitors to Ickworth House are treated to so many points of interest, both indoor and outdoor, in the house and gardens. All are welcome to step inside for a tour and enjoy a multi-million pound conservation project. One can enjoy portraits by Gainsborough, Hogarth and Reynolds, as well as some retail therapy in the plant shop. The servants’ basement and the servants’ quarters are also well worth a look around, as are the priceless treasures in the extensive silver collection and the collection of art.
Alternatively, the surrounding 1,800 acres of grounds make for a fantastic setting for an afternoon of dog walking around some seriously impressive surroundings. Inside the walled garden, there is a wonderful walk to be had through one of the earliest Italianate garden examples around, with ancient trees and a ‘stumpery’.
Here’s my story from a visit in 2014!
Our tour began in the basement, set up to mirror its original purpose with finishing kitchens, pump rooms, and some servant quarters. The authenticity of the setup is striking, offering a vivid glimpse into life a century ago for the working class.
From there, the tour led us up the stairs into the opulent main rooms, including the grand dining area, various drawing rooms, a smoking room, the silver room, and even one of the bedrooms. Opulence is the word here! Every corner boasts grand ceilings, impressive artwork, fine rugs, and luxurious furniture. We happened to visit on a day when the National Trust was photographing their extensive silver collection for cataloguing and publication.
I had the chance to meet James Rothwell, the National Trust’s curator and principal adviser for silver, who explained that the remarkable silverware on display was just a portion of their total collection, with many more pieces still to be catalogued. Despite my jokes, he wasn’t willing to let me walk away with a piece, which was disappointing – quite stingy, if you ask me!
The woodland walks were delightful to explore. The paths are well-designed, with themed areas that include a captivating Victorian Stumpery, featuring hundreds of unusual upturned tree roots. We’ve managed to gather about three roots ourselves, so we’re making slow but steady progress toward the size of their collection!
The main garden in front of the house is designed in an Italianate style, leading down to the Stumpery, then to Ickworth’s private church and an enchanting walled garden. They once had a vineyard here as well, though it’s no longer in place; they sold off the vines. We visited in November 2012 to help dig up a few vines that we purchased to provide our guests with fresh grapes in the future. If we don’t get around to winemaking, at least there’ll be some fresh grapes to enjoy with cheese!
We also made two enjoyable stops in their cozy café-restaurant: one for lunch and another for an afternoon coffee. Naturally, there’s also the essential gift shop and an excellent second-hand bookshop on site.
If you’re planning on visiting Ickworth House as part of your holiday, be sure to take a look at the availability of our Barns and Barges to rent in Suffolk. What’s more, be sure to take a look at our other blogs on Kentwell Hall, Melford Hall, and other must-see historic houses in Suffolk.
