May 17th, 2009
Continuing the current trend where we visit stately homes on a Sunday, we travelled half an hour away from our home to Sledmere House near Driffield in East Yorkshire. Home to Sir Tatton Sykes, this is still a family home, that happens to be open to the public for six months of the year. Sam was the first to mention this place and then others confirmed its popularity, especially the tea room which seems to have a very good reputation.
We arrived at little after noon and were surprised by just how many cars had parked up full of people visiting this place, even though it was holding its fourth annual garden show. We ventured into the parks having paid our £5 entrance fee each and the first place we headed to was the walled garden. Looking at the rose plants in particular, it will certainly be worth re-visiting when they start to flower. After the walled garden, we wandered around the stalls and tents that made up the garden show. To be fair, it wasn’t quite what we expected. More a plant car boot sale, than a garden show, but it seemed popular. The grounds were very nice though, as is usual for stately homes of this size.
We then took a look around the house itself and the library on the first floor was by far the most impressive room. The family also seemed to have a likeness for organs; I spotted three and before we left, one was being played by an elderly chap. Church music more than anything else, which was a bit strange in a house, but hey!
As we headed back to the car, we took a little look in the tea room, but the queue of people waiting to get in, put us off, so we didn’t actually try anything on offer (We don’t do waiting or queueing very well).
Well worth a trip (remember they are closed on Saturdays except Bank Holiday weekends) and unlike Sutton Park Stately Home, this place seems to welcome families who want to picnic. We spotted quite a few enjoying the grounds.
Pryordurkin rating. 3 stars.
Posted in Homes Parks and Gardens