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Buscot Park
& The Faringdon Collection |
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Oxfordshire is a county rich in historic houses and gardens, many of them still in private ownership, and few now under the care and protection of the National Trust. Buscot Park, which lies in the south west corner of the county, bordering Gloucestershire and Wiltshire, half way between Faringdon and Lechlade, is perhaps one of the least well known, yet for me is one of the most rewarding to visit.
Although the House and Estate has been owned by the National Trust for just over sixty years, it remains very much the family home of Lord Faringdon and consequently Buscot avoids the depressing conformity and lifeless feeling of so many houses open to the public.
The contents of the House are also not owned by the National Trust, but by a separate charitable trust, the Faringdon Collection Trust, which continues to acquire works of art, both antique and contemporary. This ensures that the collection is not static, but is continually evolving – so there is always something new to see.
Contemporary glassware by Sally Fawkes and Collin Reid rub shoulders with portraits by Rembrandt and Rubens and furniture designed by Robert Adam and Thomas Hope. It is an extraordinary collection, particularly strong on works by artists of the Pre-Raphaelite brotherhood. The Saloon, perhaps one of the most memorable rooms in any house in England, houses the famous series of paintings by Sir Edward Burne-Jones known as the Legend of the Briar Rose inspired by the story of the Sleeping Beauty.
Outside, the extensive Pleasure Grounds and Formal Gardens are a real treat to explore, especially in Spring and early Summer. Woodland avenues radiate from the arch in the East Pavilion concealing a series of sheltered roundels – the Swinging Garden, where adults can revisit their childhood, is especially appealing. In the most northerly avenue lies the spectacular Water Garden (see photo opposite) designed by Harold Peto in 1904.
To the west of the house, a descending stairway leads to the enchanting Four Seasons Walled Garden. Guarding the entrance is a group of seventeen life size Chinese terracotta warriors, newly acquired, whilst beyond one can glimpse David Harbor’s recently commissioned Faux Fall. I ended my visit in the highly colourful Tearoom, scoffing a delicious homemade tea. |
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