Alice in Wonderland Doors

This weekend was spent inside the magnificent spendour of Wrest Park, an English Heritage property in Silsoe, Bedfordshire. I've just read in their information that photography is not allowed in the house so I am very lucky to have been allowed to take these photos, didn't use any flash and so some of them are not so good but it was too nice a place not to snap up!

I don't think I have ever had such magnificent wallpaper behind me! Not to mention a great marble shelf which I was not allowed to place anything on! That was so hard to remember not to just put something down and coupled with the fact that there was some lovely carved ornate bookcase doors behind me too, I spent the weekend moving very very slowly and thoughtfully!

This was our view from the window at the end of our room, the gardens at Wrest Park are magnificent.

And although it is very dark, this is the view from infront of my stall to that window. The corridor effect of rooms runs from left to right of this photograph and every room has huge windows that look out over the grounds.

This is the view through the rooms, past the grand staircase and onto the rooms beyond. The picture does not do it justice, it was amazing to see all the doors open and to understand the grandeur of the house as it would have been seen by it's owners. Usually when you visit a stately home you are channelled from room to room via rope 'fences' (as is necessary to keep the house in good condition of course) so it was such a treat to be able to move more freely around.

The room next to us was the library which was, like all the other rooms actually, decorated with so much oppulence, golds and greens and books and books and books!

This photo below is one of English Heritages showing the library as it would look if we wern't all in it!

Clearly much better colours than my picture but I think it looks much smaller when it is empty!

Apart from spending the weekend in such spendour (clearly I was always destined to live in a house like this, I felt very at home!) my favourite part has to be going through the huge Alice in Wonderland doors!

I was next to the one which we used to get out of the state rooms and go to the kitchen and the working part of the house where we were allowed to eat and drink (no food and drink allowed behind your stall which does mean I've probably lost weight too, seems as I am usually a constant grazer when I'm working!) How much did it make me smile being able to open doors that you would not normally be allowed through! I'm easily pleased!

Hope you all had a lovely weekend, take care

Sarah x