Basildon Park

An estate saved from almost certain demolition and lovingly revived

 

The 18th-century Bath-stone house was inspired by Italian Palladian architecture. It was saved and lovingly restored by Lord and Lady Iliffe in the 1950s, who brought Basildon Park back to life, acquiring a collection of fine furnishings and carefully selected Old Masters. Explore the richly decorated Neo-classical hall, a spectacular staircase with cantilevered stairs and arched first-floor gallery and an octagonal drawing room with heavily gilded ceilings. 

 

Created as a pleasure ground in the 1800s, falling into ruin in the early 1900s, and lovingly restored by the Iliffes in the 1950s, the garden at Basildon Park has had its ups and downs. Find out what you can enjoy in the gardens today, including a rose garden, Italian terrace and historic trees. 

Throughout the ancient woodland, there are walks of various lengths dotted with bluebells and other woodland gems like lesser celandines and dog violets.

  

Around the rear of the mansion, you’ll find the pleasure grounds. Trees and evergreen shrubs frame the pleasure grounds and views over the park and countryside. 

One of the Iliffes’ additions to the pleasure grounds in the 1960s was the rose garden, which really comes to life in the spring and summer months with a mix of old roses, peonies and spring bulbs reflecting Lady Iliffe’s original planting design.

 

A formal Italianate terrace, built of large stone blocks, encloses a formal lower lawn and gives wide-ranging views over the Thames Valley hills. The terrace is located at the rear of the mansion and was built in 1850 as part of the pleasure grounds creation, to complement the central block of the mansion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INCLUSIVE COACH FARE & ENTRY:

 

£58 Adult, £56 Senior, £38 Child, National Trust Members £38 (Must produce NT card on the day)