National Trust
This is one of the NT properties nearest to my house, but prior to May 2012, I’d only been there twice in 27 years. The building was a Jacobean farmhouse remodelled towards the end of the 19th century for the de Rothschilds. Inside is a collection of paintings, fine furniture and porcelain. Outside are gardens.
Ascott is perhaps of more specialist interest than some of the other NT properties. The house, which looks Tudor but was actually built in the nineteenth century, is of no particular interest. The interior was last remodelled in the 1930’s, when a redundant wing was also demolished. The de Rothschilds, who still use the house, own some of the contents. The contents include fine paintings by Hogarth, Gainsborough, Andrea del Sarto and Stubbs. There is also a little-known Turner, and many paintings by Dutch masters. The Porcelain Room and adjacent rooms house a large collection of Chinese porcelain.
The gardens are rather fine and include an unusual topiary sundial, an impressive Venus Fountain, and a lake. The gardens are best visited by proceeding clockwise, starting at the near end of the house.
I confess that on two previous visits I didn’t find Ascott particularly interesting. Garden buffs should enjoy the gardens. If you are interested in painting or ceramics, then visit the collections. The house is near a main road and parking is free. There is no tea-room or shop.
While I was in the house I noted an older gentleman with an upper-class accent talking about an art sale he had visited. I later realised that he looked rather like the photo of Sir Evelyn de Rothschild in the guidebook…
