Ickworth House is just outside Bury St Edmunds (of which more later.) The estate is a classic English landscaped park, originally designed by Capability Brown. The centrepiece of the estate however looks just about anything but English - except in its eccentricity!
The rotunda behind the tree is the centrepiece of a two-winged quasi Georgian "house", built on an enormous scale so that the Earl of Bristol (who was also Bishop of Derry, but spent most of his time collecting art in Continental Europe) would have an appropriate building to showcase his art collection. Things never work out as planned, though, and much of it was confiscated by Napoleon.
The immediate surroundings of the house are more Italianate than British, based largely on structural trees and shrubs rather than displays of flowers.
The tree collection is very striking: exotic conifers and cedars predominate, and the general effect is extremely impressive.
The estate also contains a magnificent walled garden, which has been converted into a vineyard.
In many ways this is a much more conventional layout, though the vineyard is relatively recent The brick used is a particularly attractive shade of warm red. Part of the walled garden is let out as allotments to local residents. Currently the National Trust, who own the estate, are engaged on a large programme of tree planting, which will enhance the parkland views, and are also considering whether or not to re-instate, at least partly, the old Victorian kitchen garden which used to occupy the walled area, using the planting books which have been preserved with the rest of the estate documentation.
The outside wall of the garden contains a summerhouse, which overlooks a small ornamental lake.
Ickworth is a wonderful place for a visit, no matter whether you are interested in the art (the collection includes works by Gainsborough and Titian) or the grounds, which offer very varied walks (well waymarked!)
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