Ickworth Hall

Ickworth hall is a National trust property in Suffolk England not far from where my sister in law lives. I simply adore visiting places like this they have amazing gardens, history, great architecture, walking trails and often tea and cake. What more could you ask for on a day out. 

Ickworth hall has a long history over 200 years it was built by the Earl of Bristol, the Hervey family built the Italianate Rotunda to house their treasures and the wonderful Italian style gardens, the property was a work of love. As a visitor you can enjoy the grounds, and the house my favorite part was the 1930's servants quarters and in fact the day we visited we were lucky enough to see volunteers cooking traditional recipes from that era in the kitchen. The smell of the breads was divine, sadly we couldn't sample any.

inside the gardens 

The family has quite the history and known to be eccentric and unique the latest Marquess didn't leave much and maybe unwise decisions lead the property going to the national trust. Another interesting fact about the house is that the west ring is really an empty shell built to give the property symmetry. The basement of the building is now used as a bat sanctuary. It must be interesting in the evenings. 

amazing carvings on the rotunda 

a peek into the workings of the 1935 kitchen

Saint Mary's church a pretty little church owned by the estate there has been a place of worship here for over 1000 years.

If your in this part of England I highly recommend a visit to Ickworth hall and be sure to enjoy the extensive walking trails through the woods, we were lucky in the summer and got to snack on wild blackberry and raspberries along the trail. The little cousins were enjoying and picking them with glee. 

• Ickworth Hall 
• Address:
  The Rotunda, Horringer, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP29 5QE

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