Knole House

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I started to get bored of grand classical properties, so I wanted to see something a little magical. The intricate details of the Jacobean Knole house in Kent provided just that. Every room was a treat because the house was spectacularly furnished. I don’t know why I expected more of a husk of a property rather than a liveable home, but I was pleasantly surprised.

I was happy that they didn’t try to flog us an awkward audio tour because as per usual, volunteers were staged in every room and they had their own opinions about the property. However, no pictures were allowed inside the house, even without flash, which was a little disappointing. I don't know why some historic houses do this without providing a reason, it's so annoying! I really would like to know if other people find this frustrating.







As soon as we got in, mum instantly spotted that they were selling pot plants and insisted that we buy something, so before we even got into the house, we spent two hours eating in the cafe and filling up the car with plants. The cafe was a nice place to sit and they sold a rather impressive vegan nut-free cookie, so I was happy because they had options for fussy eaters. 
                                                    
As a conservation student, I was ecstatic that their studio was open for visitors. They displayed general information about conservation practice and demonstrated various techniques. Little additions like this made the visit memorable and showcased the scale and importance of conservation, which few people know about. Unfortunately, you cannot take pictures inside, but it is open Wednesday to Saturday, so go visit!

                                                          Conservation studio exterior.

 
While inside, we saw a picture of the Queen of Cyprus, seen below. 

         National Trust Collections, unknown artist,
Catarina Cornaro (d.1510)


My Grandpa, a Cypriot artist, produced his impression of the same painting in the image below. I think it has a good likeness, don’t you?

     
Artist: A. Georgiou, 2019.

The deer wondering around the surrounding grounds, made for an enchanting sight for someone that has lived their whole life in a busy city. However, I was quite shocked when parents would shove their kids next to a deer with meter long antlers just to take a photo, but it definitely added to the excitement of the visit! I would certainly recommend this place as a day trip because there is so much to do, but it is definitely best on a dry day, as there is a lot of walking about involved.









Comments

  1. IreneNovember 24, 2019 at 11:32 AM

    Great info Nat's, would like to see more pictures of you. I also find it restricting not to be able to take photos, because I like to remember bits that are not in the guide book.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Natalie IoannouDecember 3, 2019 at 3:24 AM

      Thanks, I will include more next time. I always end up buying a guide book, but sometimes they don't include everything that I find intersting, so I like to take my own pictures.

      Delete
  2. IreneDecember 22, 2019 at 1:45 PM

    Are the deer friendly?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Natalie IoannouDecember 24, 2019 at 3:40 AM

      There are signs around the property saying not to go near the deer, but there were lots of people ignoring those signs. The deer didn't seem to mind people getting close and taking photos, but I wouldn't try petting one.

      Delete
  3. GeorgeJanuary 7, 2020 at 4:05 PM

    Your grandad's impression would make Cyprus proud :)

    ReplyDelete

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