Blickling Estate Groups Guide 2019 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/blickling
You ll never forget your first sight of Blickling... The breath-taking red-brick mansion and ancient yew hedges sit at the heart of a magnificent garden and historic park in the beautiful Bure meadows. Blickling s owners have used the estate as a place of quiet refuge for centuries, while playing their part on the world s political stage. We hope that your group will come to know one of these people a little better. Philip Kerr, 11th Marquis of Lothian, left this estate to the National Trust in 1940, and he s vital to its story. Without him, it s unlikely that Blickling would still be around for you to explore, along with many other places that you love. He was instrumental in drafting the National Trust Act in parliament in 1937 which enabled the first large-scale transfer of country houses to the National Trust in lieu of death duties. This guide is designed to help you plan your group visit, with practical information as well as ideas to inspire you, to ensure you all get the most out of your day.
The Garden Four centuries of good husbandry have made Blickling s garden one of the greatest in England. It changes through the seasons and has evolved over the centuries to reflect different fashions. We re halfway through restoring our walled garden to its former glory. Take a stroll through its peaceful avenues and maybe take home some seasonal produce (subject to availability). The Estate The estate covers around 4,600 acres, and includes 950 acres of woodland and parkland, and 3,500 acres of farmland. Visitors have access to much of this land and you can explore four waymarked routes of between two and five miles. Explore more of the estate on our four mile multi-use trail, it provides a smooth terrain for all weather cycling and is suitable for adapted wheelchairs and buggies. Discover some interesting buildings on your walk, including the pyramid-shaped mausoleum and the ruins of Lady s Cottage. You ll find downloadable routes on our website, or tell us what you are looking for and we ll help you organise your activity.
The House The present house was built from 1616-25 by Robert Lyminge (the architect of Hatfield) for Sir Henry Hobart, 1st Baronet, Lord Chief Justice to James 1. You can explore above and below stairs in the imposing turreted red-brick mansion (lift to first floor). Stroll through the Long Gallery, which houses the finest book collection in the care of the National Trust. We re currently in the midst of a five-year conservation project to catalogue and protect every book in the collection. Join us between May and October 2019 as we turn the page on chapter two of our contemporary arts programme highlighting the importance of books. What not to miss... (Our daily offer will vary) Explore Lord Lothian s old bedroom and study Enjoy the magnificence of the Great Hall. Climb the grand staircase and find out who graces the 23 paintings on display Visit the kitchens and get a feel for life below stairs. You may even find the cook recreating recipes from the 1930s, and get a taster! Catch our costumed interpretation group on certain dates throughout the year (subject to volunteer availability) The RAF Oulton Museum RAF Oulton was a bomber base created on the Blickling Estate in 1939. The station was instrumental in winning the war, as documented by the Luftwaffe themselves. Discover the amazing bravery of the aircrews that flew from RAF Oulton during WWII. Read the accounts from RAF men and women, stationed at RAF Oulton, as well as letters home to loved ones, describing their lives during the war. The experience is moving and memorable, and one not to be missed.
Eating and shopping Everything stops for tea... There are plenty of options when you re feeling hungry and our eateries offer everything from light snacks to more substantial meals. The Stables You ll find plenty of choice at The Stables, from hot and cold dishes to soup, sandwiches and cakes. Vegetarian and gluten-free options are available, as well as children s lunch boxes. The Farmyard (by the coach drop-off point) An alfresco café, perfect for warm days, serving hot and cold drinks, sandwiches, scones and cakes. Muddy Boots Situated by the main car park, Muddy Boots is perfect for a post-walk coffee. With an informal atmosphere, enjoy savoury pasties, Italian ice-cream, tea and cake. The Buckinghamshire Arms This traditional 17th century pub & former coaching inn serves real ales and great food. Not National Trust. We use local, seasonal produce wherever we can, often from our own walled garden. We re regularly using over eighteen different items including beetroot, carrots, basil, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, garlic and red onions. Whether you re treating yourself or buying a present, there s something for all tastes. As well as the favourites you ll find in most National Trust shops, you ll find local products such as chocolate, jewellery, jams, chutneys and beer from Norfolk. We have a range of garden gifts and furniture as well as a wide selection of beautiful plants at our Plant Shop which you ll find in The Farmyard. You can also pick up friendly advice, inspiration and handy hints from our team as you browse the extensive collection. Feel free to pick up your plants at the end of your visit. Second-hand bookshop (in the farmyard, by the coach drop-off point) We have one of the largest second-hand bookshops in the National Trust. With thousands of titles to choose from, you re bound to bag a bargain. Any money raised from the sale of books goes towards vital restoration projects around the Blickling Estate. Stamp shop Blickling s stamp shop opened in 2012 and can supply all manner of used stamps, often including Penny Blacks. Exclusively run by volunteers, they re helping us to raise funds for the renovation of the walled garden and other essential conservation projects.
Planning your visit All group visits and guided tours must be booked at least 14 days in advance. Please call 01263 738030 or email blicklinggroupbookings@nationaltrust.org.uk to discuss the details of your planned visit. Once the booking has been made, further details will be sent out about your visit. Blickling Estate can be enjoyed at your own pace. Knowledgeable guides are in each room, happy to answer questions and to tell you more about the history and treasures of the house. Tours Explore the glorious garden with one of our guides and gain a fascinating insight into the garden s history and planting schemes. Tours can be tailored to your group s particular interests and cost from 5 per person. Payment Payment for groups must be made as a single payment by cash, debit or credit card on the day. If this is not possible for your group please contact us. Benefits for coach drivers & group leaders Coach drivers with groups visiting the house and garden receive a complimentary meal voucher. Group leaders will gain free admission to the house and garden. Access Mobility scooters are available in the garden, please request at time of booking. Group admission prices: March - October: Whole property - 14 Winter: (1 January - 10 March and 28 October - 29 November 2019) Whole property- 9.75 Please note: These special group prices are for a minimum of 15 people and must be paid in a single payment. No groups on bank holidays or weekends in December.
The National Trust is a charity completely independent of Government funding. We rely on the support of the public through membership, donations, legacies and visitor income. By supporting our stamp shop and second-hand bookshop at Blickling, you are helping fund vital conservation projects. Your support makes a real difference to what we can do to preserve and protect this special place. Help us bring our walled garden back to life. We re half way through our five year project to restore the walled kitchen garden to its former glory. It is now supplying fruit and vegetables to the cafés and is a peaceful place for a stroll. It is a project of regeneration rather than restoration and we hope that you will become a part of it, by helping with a donation (making a purchase at our book or stamp shop) or simply returning to follow our progress. Conserving the library. There are over 12,000 books contained within the 123 feet Long Gallery. Our book collection is one of the biggest and the most important in the National Trust. Over the next four years we re working on a huge project to preserve these precious treasures forever. We want to change the way we look after the books by improving the environmental conditions in the long gallery. We will also be continuing to catalogue the books. There are many fascinating stories contained within our collection and we ll be bringing them to life for our visitors, enabling you to share in their care. Blickling Estate Blickling, near Aylsham, Norwich, Norfolk, NR11 6NF Telephone 01263 738030 Email blickling@nationaltrust.org.uk www.nationaltrust.org.uk/blickling For alternative formats, please call us on 01263 738030 or email blickling@nationaltrust.org.uk Photography: Archant/Antony Kelly, National Trust Images/Paul Bailey/Jo Bosch/Andrew Butler/Antonia Gray/John Millar/Arnhel de Serra/Justin Minns/Paula McGeachie