Oxfordshire Limited Edition – August 2019

44 |OxfordshireLimitedEdition|August 2019

WaddesdonManor,Waddesdon,
AylesburyHP 180 JH,
01296820414 ,
waddesdon.org.uk

‘Amongthehouse’sotherattractionsarea

mechanicalelephantthatcaptivatedBaron

Ferdinand’sguests,includingtheShahofPersia;

theGreenBoudoirwithParisianwallpanels

carvedwithdragons,butterfliesandmonkeys;

andadeskmadeforMarieAntoinette’

HOMES INTERIORS

Amongthehouse’sotherattractionsare
amechanicalelephantthatcaptivatedguests,
includingtheShahofPersia;theGreen
BoudoirwithParisianwallpanelscarved
withdragons,butterfliesandmonkeys;and
adeskmadeforMarieAntoinette.It’smost
recognisedforitsFrenchpieces.
“Intermsofacollectionwithinthe
NationalTrustthishasoneofthemost
spectacular,”saysRachel.“Thereweren’t
anymajorsalesofwork,sowewereable
tokeepthingsfromwhentheywerefirst
acquiredinthelate 19 thcentury.What’s
particularlyspecialistheFrenchdecorative
arts.AlongsideTheWallaceCollection,we’re
oneofthefewplacesintheUKthatyoucan
seethem.Insomeways,they’remorespecial
thanwhatyoucanseeinFrance.”
There’salsothegardens,thevisionof
BaronFerdinandinthe 19 thcenturyandnow
nominatedasoneofGardenNewsmagazine’s
100 Best.Whatbeganasabarehillin 1874
hascometobecelebratedasanexceptional
exampleofVictorianhorticulture,including
formalgardens,treesandwalks,andevenan
aviary.“It’softenoverlooked,buttheyhavea
brilliantconservationprogrammewithtropical
birds,”saysRachel.
Withitsongoingexhibitions–“We’ve
donequiteambitioustemporaryones
wherewe’vehadinternationalloansand
collaborations,and,everyyear,wetryto
haveonefromourowncollection,”says
Rachel–andtheupcominglaunchofA
RothschildTreasury,thefuturelooksbright
forWaddesdonManor.
“Thehouseandthemajorityofthe
collection,whichareownedbytheNational
Trust,areprotected,andwedon’thaveany
planstode-acquireorsellanything,”shesays.
‘Wecan’tpredictwhatkindofexhibitions
anddisplayswe’llhaveinthefuturebutwe
hopetobeself-sufficient.”
ARothschildTreasuryopensonSaturday,
September 7. L