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The Soldier That Restored Packwood House To It’s Tudor Roots

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Packwood House is a stunning manor, restored to it’s tudor roots by soldier Graham Baron Ash, it’s last private owner.

An Image of Packwood House

The Manor

Built in the 16th Century, Packwood House changed many hands and even saw expansion. It was left to the National Trust by Ash with a “memorandum of wishes” that furniture should be kept where placed, no extra furnishings are to be added and fresh flowers should be in every room.

Graham inherited Packwood House from his father, but there are reports that his father said “I bought it (Packwood) because the boy wanted it”. I wonder if Graham had a vision for the manor, the first time he saw it. I wonder if his restorations are what he imagined.

Restorations started in 1924, after Graham had served during World War One. He acquired many features from demolished historic buildings. Repurposing them at Packwood. Known as “architectural salvage”, he had original wood floors from Wales, tables from Baddesley Clinton and so much more. Graham’s ambition to get rid of any trace of the house’s Georgian and Victorian inheritance, sees a wealth of tapestries, furnishings and trinkets from his travels.

Fireplace at Packwood House
Klyin Dog from Ash's travels to China. On display at Packwood House.
A tapestry hanging in the stairway of Packwood House.
An antique clock in the corner of the hall
A tapestry hanging next to the fireplace in the hall
A creepy doll in a box

Graham received a visit from Queen Mary in 1927 in which the room she retired to after tea was renamed after her. They even have the cup that she drank from on display. Talking with the volunteers, we did had a little giggle about how they could have ended up keeping that cup separate.

Cup that Queen Mary drank from when visiting Packwood House in 1927.

The Grounds

The grounds are another story at Packwood House. The Yew Garden is considered to be one of Britain’s major topiary gardens. With some trees dating back to the 1600’s. I would suggest visiting in nicer weather. The gardens will show their full beauty once in bloom. I can’t wait to go back and see that, as well as take a tour of The Yew Garden.

The outside of Packwood House
A pond in the garden at Packwood House
A picture of Packwood House from the end of the garden.
The Yew Trees at Packwood House
The extension at Packwood House.
A tree in bloom at Packwood House.

With so many houses, manors and estates under the National Trust, this is a little gem right on my doorstep. I highly recommend going for a visit if you are in the Warwickshire area. With Baddesley Clinton, another National Trust site just ten minutes away, you can do what I did and visit both sites in one day. I’ll be talking about Baddesley Clinton in an upcoming post.

As always, thanks for reading…

Hannah Marie x

2 Comments

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