We’re meandering though history once more, visiting the National Trust’s The Vyne, in Hampshire. Built between 1500 and 1520 for Sir William Sandys, Lord Chamberlain to King Henry VIII, the site’s earliest records refer to an even earlier 1300s manor house.
Extraordinarily, despite The Vyne’s 500 year history only the Sandys and Chute families have called it home over this time. Each generation accumulated object d’art of import and set about making changes to the house. Once a Tudor seat of power with impressive royal connections, the Vyne today presents as a 17th century grand family home set in extensive gardens, woodlands and wetlands.
The Vyne has also played host to long list of historical persons of note including Henry VIII, Katherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Elizabeth I and even Jane Austen who visited during the late 1790s and early 1800s while living in nearby Steventon, attending dances and social gatherings hosted by the Chute family.
With Grecian pillars, sweeping balconies and intricately detailed plasterwork, the 18th-century staircase hall is an impressive sight. It’s difficult to tell from the low light photographs but the predominant colour is very close to a Tiffany blue.
There are indeed special pieces on display including a very rare and beautiful Lattimo glass plate collection, painstakingly hand painted with 18th-century Venetian scenes.
We see a carved Tudor roundel depicting St George slaying the dragon. It’s always fascinated me how many artistic depictions there are of St George’s alleged dragon slaying, given it’s creature of no proven existence.
The Vyne’s pre-Reformation chapel showcases the earliest depiction of Henry VIII in stained glass. Doesn’t he look the picture of innocence? Who knew he’d go on to be a brutal leader in pursuit of his own interests and an appalling husband. There are rather a number of historical figures I’d happily climb into a time machine for, if only for the sole purpose of delivering a very firm slap. He’s one of them.
The drawing room showcases crimson red brocatelle wall hangings, a mix of silk and linen, an early version of wallpaper, now sadly and significantly deteriorated by time.
Also in this room is the unapologetically opulent Pietra Dura, an 18th century ebony ltalian casket lavishly encrusted with semi-precious stones. Just the thing for hiding one’s precious.
We see the original Tudor Long Gallery and learn that its beautifully carved oak paneling is imported Lithuanian oak, selected for its softer qualities enabling carving and engraving. It was built to impress Henry VIII who visited here exactly 500 years ago today with his first wife, Katherine of Aragon. Henry’s insignia is featured over the entry while pomegranates are a nod to Catherine’s family insignia. They had to be hurriedly covered up when Henry later visited with Anne Boleyn, lest offence be taken.
We see the library and its enormous tapestries
and the long gallery, converted in the 19th century into a children play room.
Our last stop is the chapel, once described as the finest example of a private chapel in the country, it’s decorated with very effective trompe-l’œil scenes
We see a replica of The Last Supper and an amusing letter extract of its acquisition, noting that one might be interested in the Last Supper if a tolerable copy might be acquired inexpensively. Most amusing.
A garden highlight is ‘The 100 Guinea Oak’, a 600 year old tree. Legend has it that in about 1800 the admiralty made an offer to purchase the tree, presumably for ship building. The initial offer was refused by William Chute whenceupon a 5% increased offer of 100 guineas was made. He refused again, saying that if it increased in value that much overnight, he would hang on to it. The tree is incredible, still resolutely clinging to life all these centuries later.
I can see no reference to this delightful nook in the garden but it’s very appealing with its classic lines.
End of day sees us in yet another ancient pub but this one has a bonus twist – a Thai chef. A delicious meal of crying tiger steak, duck spring rolls and a prawn basil stir fry follow. Yum
PS: Pete finally got his girlfriend – meet Flopsy. Meanwhile Squizz looks decidedly unimpressed. Oh dear. It seems you can’t please everyone.
Miss Baci Travels 