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Visit Ickworth House, Georgian Italianate Palace in England
Ickworth House is an 1800-acre estate located in the English countryside 4 miles from Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, England. The land was acquired by Thomas Hervey by marriage in 1432. Several generations made renovations and the family had some interesting characters you learn about during your visit. The most notable renovation was by Frederick Augustus Hervey and took 47 years to complete. Hervey was a traveler and collector of art and antiquities. He commissioned Mario Asprucci to design a ‘Georgian Italianate Palace in the English countryside’ to display his collections.
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You approach the property via a long drive with sheep and lamb off to the sides. The large Rotunda is designed to reflect Italian architecture. Unfortunately, Hervey’s treasures were seized by Napoleon’s troops in 1798. He spent the remainder of his life attempting to regain the lost items. Hervey passed away in 1803 before the home was completed. His son revised the plans. The East Wing was completed as his residence and the West Wing was used for symmetry with guest rooms and areas to entertain. The National Trust took possession of the property in 1956 in lieu of death duties. The Rotunda separates the East and West Wings and is the centerpiece of the property.
East Wing of Ickworth House
The East Wing of Ickworth House remained the family living quarters until 1998. Currently, the National Trust leases the East Wing to Luxury Family Hotels. Ickworth Hotel opened in 2002 as a family-friendly property with 27 rooms ranging from doubles to en-suites. Guests have access to the property’s vineyard, lake, Italian gardens, tennis court, swimming pool, cycle trails, cinema room, spa, daily childcare, playground, farm animals, nightly family movies, and a geocaching treasure hunt. Parents have the option of putting the children to bed and utilizing the baby-listening system while enjoying a romantic dinner and cocktails downstairs. Guests are also provided with passes to tour the estate.
West Wing of Ickworth House:
The West Wing of Ickworth House was originally designed to be a gallery of Hervey’s art collection. Hervey’s son was also a traveler and art collector; he filled the home with his own collection. The West Wing shell was renovated in 2005 to include a visitor center, restaurant, and conference rooms. The property is open for tours. Step inside the 150 ft high Rotunda to find a gorgeous entry hall. Explore the drawing room, dining room, smoking room, library, and Naples Room. The home is full of Regency furniture, fine porcelain, and Georgian Silver. View paintings by Velazquez, Titan, Poussin, Claude Lorrain, and family portraits by Gainsborough and Hogarth. Do not miss the Venetian Murano glass chandelier in the bedroom. I LOVED Ickworth House’s Life Below the Stairs exhibit showcasing the servants’ quarters during the 1930s, that alone is worth a visit.
Be sure to check the Ickworth Estate National Trust website for current events
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