Kingston Lacy

Kingston Lacy was originally built in 1660, and remained in the Bankes family until 1981.  Henry Bankes the Younger was the first of the Bankes's to transform the house. This was in the 1780s, so of interest to us.  All that remains from that renovation are the Library and the saloon, with the chimney piece by Flaxman and the coved ceiling painted by Cornelius Dixon.  He was the owner of the house during the Regency, but much of the changes he wrought were swept away by his second son William when he came into the title in 1834.

  
Here you have pictures of the library.  Isn't that
a magnificent ceiling.  I like the way the
portraits hang above the book shelves.

The furnishings are also beautiful and deserve a closer look.

 And here is that deliciously coved Venetian Ceiling.   There is much more to come about the house, but there is a person I wanted to tell you about also.

William Bankes (1786-1855) was fascinating to me, not because of what he did at the house, but because of what he was doing during the Regency.  A friend of Byron and a disappointed suitor of Annabella Milbanke, this young man began traveling when he was 26 in 1812, remember the Peninsular war was still going on then. He traveled to Portugal and Spain where he spent his time acquiring paintings and visiting with gypsies. Though he did also visit Wellington's headquarters after the battle of Salamanca in July 1812.

He travelled in the east for eight years. We will talk about his travels there next time. And also continue our stroll around Kingston Lacy.

Until then Happy Rambles.

Kingston Lacy

It is always a pleasure to visit one of Britain's stately home. Kingston Lacy was a delight. You may recall me refering to it in a flora and fauna posting about the bustard a bird that was extinct in in Britain since 1832 but is now being reintroduced.

The first manor was granted to John de Lacy, 1st Earl of Lincoln in 1229. The current house was build in 1665, but6 the original brick was faced in stone and underwent significant remodeling in 1835, including the addition of a chimney in each corner of the house.

This was the stable block, now a restaurant but you can get an idea of what it would have been like when horses were the main mode of transport.

This is a pump and horse trough and in the background you can see the entrance to the stables. 

And here are some of the working outbuildings, laundry etc.

The pattens on the flagstone floor are a nice touch, don't you think

Still lots more to see both of the house and the grounds. But until next time, Happy Rambles.