Society Pages

Forming part of the Staffordshire Moorlands Walking Festival this was a rare opportunity to enjoy the gardens without having to pay the full admission price. Several of us assembled at the main entrance at 1800 to fight our way against a tidal wave of lumpen proletariat leaving the park to get to their cars and charabancs having handed over the best part of their life savings to the park owners in return for thrills, burgers and cola.

Our guide, a long serving member of the park staff, gave an interesting insight into the history of the estate from iron age settlement, to early farmhouse, to wealthy aristocratic estate through to its current role as one of the top tourist attractions in the country. 

Once the largest private dwelling in Europe the house is now a bare shell undergoing slow restoration to its former glory. The gardens however were a sight to behold at this time of year, especially the extensive rock garden leading down to the Chinese Pagoda.