On a dry, but rather chilly day for early May we set off for Waddesdon Manor, a French-style château. On arrival we were welcomed with tea or coffee and biscuits before having a chance to explore the grounds and have lunch.

The grounds include formal gardenesque parterres with magnificent statuary and fountains and an ornate working aviary, including a myna bird which wolf whistles at visitors.

Further from the house are woodland walks with superb views flanked by specimen trees. Nestled in the woods are artificial Pulham rock caves, which look as if they are a natural feature of the landscape, unlike the life-sized wooden sculptures of Indian elephants.

We toured the house - managed by The Rothschild Foundation for the National Trust. Building began in 1874 to display Baron Ferdinand de Rotshschild’s art collection and entertain fashionable society.

The opulent displays include - beautiful chandeliers and infinity mirrors, many exquisite writing desks, some with false-bottomed drawers, an ornate grand piano and The Treasury – full of priceless jewels, vases and trinkets from all over the world accessed, by a red-carpeted spiral staircase.

The diverse art collection included a ceiling painting of Hercules being elevated to Mount Olympus, portraits by Sir Joshua Reynolds and Thomas Gainsborough, a round Léon Bakst room with colourful paintings depicting the tale of Sleeping Beauty and a 2002 David Hockney portrait of Dame Hannah Rothschild with her late father, Jacob.

A superb visit. Thank you to Joan Young for organising the trip and to Gideon our
driver.

Jackie Heyes