Ascott (26th July)

Ascott is a beautiful manor house built by Anthony de Rothschild of the famous Jewish banking dynasty. This National Trust property is located on the road between Aylesbury and Leighton Buzzard in the Chilterns overlooking the Vale of Aylesbury. Incorporating a farmhouse from the reign of James I, it has a neo-Tudor exterior and an exquisite early 20th century interior. Although the interior might not be as awe-inspiring as that of one of the great houses, it was very beautiful and Mary wants to add the following:

"I fell in love with it immediately. It is the most charming of the big houses we've seen; the furnishings are exquisite, with rich wood and lovely styling. This is the one that comes closest to how we would furnish a big house! And the exterior is delightfully eccentric and very striking and beautiful with the black-and-white Tudor look! I loved it all! It is one of my favorite big houses."

Much of the garden is fairly average as public gardens go, but the Madeira Walk, the Dutch Garden and the view over the Vale are really worth seeing.

See a photo album of this trip here: