29 July 2015 - Waddesdon Manor, National Trust - an almost rival to Versailles!

We had heard about Waddesdon Manor from a couple of people and were inspired to research whether or not we'd make the trip!  It is always wise to do a bit of research prior to going to places to check opening times and any other important information and internet access is so easy!!  We discovered that although we didn't have to pay, as it is National Trust, we would be wise to pre-book tickets to the house as there are staggered entry times.  The car park looked very full when we arrived and we were VERY glad we'd booked ahead, even though it is midweek. We had planned to walk from the car park to to house but as we were just on time we thought we'd take the courtesy bus which took us on an unexpectedly long drive!  The property is enormous!!

Wow! That's the word I used anyhow!

Waddesdon Manor, former country house of the wealthy Rothschild family, came into view as we rounded the corner and we all said an audible "Wow"! Waddesdon Manor is one of the Rothschild's properties, a country house, rather than main living abode.  It is enormous, grand and reminded me of Louis XIV's Versailles in France. 

Great spot for a hand stand!

Drink for art...all wine bottles!

The Rothschild family name as we know it, started from the humble Jewish ghetto in Frankfurt where they adopted the surname Rothschild (meaning Red Shield in German).  Amschel Rothschild (1710), son of a money changer, developed a finance house and sent out his five sons to five main European financial centres in London, Paris, Vienna, Naples and Frankfurt.  The family motto is: Concordia, Integritas, Industria (Unity, Integrity, Industry).  Through hard work and canniness and a degree of good fortune, the Rothschild family had amassed possibly the largest private fortune in the world in the 19th century!    Their name is still connected to financial services, real estate, mining and charities. 

This place is amazing!

Fortune was kept in the family by arranged marriages often between cousins until late 19th century.  Thereafter, the Rothschilds have tended to marry into the aristocracy or other financial dynasties.  The British line of Rothschilds were elevated to heriditary titles of Baronet and Baron by Queen Victoria.  The titles continue.

The beautiful collection of clocks was notable - apparently the majority are in working order...as you can see we started our tour just after midday!

Entrance Hall - note18th  French wood panels behind

The Breakfast Room with fine porcelain form 18th Meissen hard paste porcelain

The Conservatory

Pair of statues - wouldn't mind these two IF I had a conservatory!

She looks like she wants to tell me something!

"According to Niles Weekly Register, Volume 49 had the following to say about the Rothschilds influence on international high finance in 1836;

"The Rothschilds are the wonders of modern banking ... we see the descendants of Judah, after a persecution of two thousand years, peering above kings, rising higher than emperors, and holding a whole continent in the hollow of their hands. The Rothschilds govern a Christian world. Not a cabinet moves without their advice. They stretch their hand, with equal ease, from Petersburgh to Vienna, from Vienna to Paris, from Paris to London, from London to Washington. Baron Rothschild, the head of the house, is the true king of Judah, the prince of the captivity, the Messiah so long looked for by this extraordinary people. He holds the keys of peace or war, blessing or cursing. ... They are the brokers and counselors of the kings of Europe and of the republican chiefs of America.  What more can they desire?" (Wikipedia)"

Conservatory clock

Enough of the Rothschilds, what about their fabulous country house, Waddesdon  Manor?  It was built by Ferdinand Rothschild between 1874 and 1899 in the style of a French Chateau and did remind me of a mini Versailles!  James Rothschild, the last Rothschild to own Waddesdon was widowed when his wife died in childbirth.  The child was stillborn and James didn't marry again and therefore had no heir.  He bequeathed the property to the National Trust when he died in 1957.  It is still overseen by Baron Jacob Rothschild.

Dining room - the table could be further extended!

19th century dining room.  Queen Victoria was fascinated by the electrified chandelier and lights.  this table was used for Ferdinand's "Saturday to Monday" parties d a r l i n g ....

Flemish tapestry: some walls were covered in tapestries, other in fabric, leather or simply huge slabs of exotic marbles!

Looking up to the ceiling!

 The Rothschilds were avid collectors of beautiful French tapestries, carpets and porcelains, English and Dutch paintings and Renaissance treasures.  Even Queen Victoria visited the Manor in 1890 and is reputed to have been fascinated by the electric lights.

One of the handmade woollen carpets commissioned by Louis XIVth who then didn't like it when it was finished some 20 years later...otherwise we may have seen it is his rooms at the Louvre in Paris!  Note beautiful tapestry chairs, as well

There are 300 paintings by Gainsborough, Reynolds and other 18th century British portrait painters as well as plenty of Dutch 17th century landscapes and plenty of Italian scenes.  The walls are adorned with an absolute feast for the eyes which is all a bit hard to process as there is so much to look at!.

Gainsborough - Frances Browne, Mrs John Douglas.  This painting was extraordinary - the satin glistened! 

Apparently Gainborough painted with very long handled brushes with runny paint o from a distance, he could achieve the effects.  Stunning!  Difficult to photograph looking up in poor light without a flash, though!  Luke was intrigued as the volunteer explained how the painting was done.  The volunteers are such a wealth of information and really take the time to explain anything we ask.  They are very lovely with Luke and despite their rather "Pru and Trude" accents, they are kindly and not at all snooty!

The Reynold paintings, the chandelier, the carpet, the trinkets, oh so much to take in!!

Joshua Reynolds - The Duchess of Cumberland

Sevres vase 1760

One of a set of cabinets and desks porcelain front and oak veneered with sycamore,tulipwood, boxwood, purpleheart and ebony.

Sevres Manufactory pot pourri vase - only 10 remain in the world and three are house at Waddesdon - very fragile, very difficult to fire without breaking.

Watteau - Pierrot, Harlequin and Scapin

Being such a stately place, films and television series have been filmed at Waddesdon: The Queen (2006), Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011). Howard's Way (1985) and it recently stood in for the exterior of the fictional Haxby Park in the second season of Downton Abbey (2011).

George Romney - the Honourable Ann Louisa

George Romney - Dorothea Bland

Fossils in the walls!!!

Guardi Venice scene - lots of these!

We wandered through the house rather awestruck.  The volunteers were eager to share their knowledge and were so lovely to speak to.  One lady had been a paid worker at the house as a housekeeper.  She told us that each housekeeper had their own patch to clean with tiny brushes to maintain the furniture.  She had not been permitted to walk on the magnificent old carpets, handmade for Louis XIVth who, when they were finished, some 20 years later, decided he didn't like the design anymore!

Van der Heyden- Amsterdam

Gainsborough - the Pink Boy - I had a swapcard of this painting and its pair, The Blue Boy when I was at primary school

Small Library!

Gerrit Dou - Girl with large basket of fruit at window 1657

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Among the amazing collection of French 18th-century furniture many were made for Louis XVI, Marie-Antoinette and the French royal family by Riesener.  The marquetry was particularly delicate and detailed.  such craftsmanship!

Nice view from the upper floor window!

Magnificent painting of the all the Rothschilds' houses/mansions/castles!

Sevres porcelain - exquisite

The Razmovsky  Service - all different bird paintings - 1756 - wouldn't dare eat from them -

Egg cups - again, all with different birds - each an extraordinary work of art - the whole setting is quite remarkable

When you have enough delicate crockery to eat from, you simply display the remainder on the walls...again, each plate was unique.

Loved this one!  So sweet!

Home and Cosway: Daughters of Lady Boynton

Another beautiful inlaid marble table depicting birds and insects in exquisite detail.

The bad fairy visits the Christening: Sleeping Beauty series by Leon Bakst

There was one room (parlour) dedicated to a series of paintings by Bakst who was commissioned in 1913 to paint for the Rothschilds.  The story is of Sleeping Beauty using members of the Rothschild family - each character is a Rothschild!  The series was completed in 1922. I couldn't quite work out who the bad fairy was!

Another dining room!!!

Embossed leather wall covering!

The house was huge and not even his permanent residence!  We walked out into the gardens for our picnic near the old Stables.  From there we wandered through the amazing gardens bursting with begonias and marigolds  and one particularly amazing garden bed which was designed as per a carpet from the house with little succulents.  Two gardeners were maintaining it with great care. There is a new design every year!.

The stables

Adam with figleaf and snake!

Succulents made into a sphere - from a distance the colours were denser - really red and dark green

Beautiful gardens - gentle sunshine

Very Versailles!

Marigolds and begonias!

Carpet of succulents and mansion!

After a bit of hill rolling fun a la Pat Mullins (from You Can Be Heroes -  Chris Lilley - ABC TV) and other antics which seemed to inspire the locals and other visitors, we walked to the aviary which houses many threatened species of birds (and is now part of a breeding program) and heard a great talk from on ornithologist who is part of the team there.

They all rolled down and all ran up - I watched!

Marigold and bee

Well controlled ivy!

New growth on old stump

Fanciest topiary I had ever seen

The Aviary - supporters of aviculture - which is a good thing to do when you have a lot of spare money!

Rothschild's mynah

Another exotic threatened bird!

Hooded Pitta

Welcoming fountain at top of driveway!

The courtesy bus was waiting for us as the house came into view again so we took advantage of the lift and headed home.  There were a number of rather lovely houses in the village of Waddesdon which had belonged to the estate for the employees.

Waddesdon house

Waddesdon house

The kids settled quickly into school work when we arrived home late afternoon .  It was an excellent day, all in all!