Ham House, Part 4

After enjoying the delights of this beautiful Stuart house, I went outside into the gloriously warm sunshine to explore the grounds.

The South Front (or what I’d call ‘the back!’)

Entrance to The Wilderness.

The Wilderness, with 16 compartments or cabinets, complete with summerhouses and seats.

The Wilderness.



Looking back towards the house.



Trees on the Plats.





The Plats are eight square lawns created by the Lauderdales. Grass was very expensive to maintain and confirmed their wealth and status.

Avenue leading to the Cherry Garden on the left.



Path leading towards the door of the White Closet, from where the Duchess could enter her private garden.





The Cherry Garden, with lavender and topiary.









The door of the White Closet, leading out to the Cherry Garden.

A quick check on the weather at 3:20pm.






I missed lunch and after all this wandering around I was in definite need of sustenance. As it was teatime I opted for a cream tea with Earl Grey, and sat outside the Orangery Cafe to eat it. Bliss!



Looking out from the Orangery (one of the oldest surviving orangeries in the country) to the kitchen garden.

The Kitchen Garden.



Urn detail.



Inside the gift shop, housed in what was once the 17th-century bakehouse and laundry.

The secondhand bookshop.

The magnificent north front.



After leaving Ham House, I walked back to the car park via the river bank. Spot the squirrel in the grass!

There were signs in the car park warning of flooding, and that was evident here although the water had not reached the cars today.

Just sitting on a bench watching the world go by.



Flooded trees.




All in all I have had a wonderful day, and I have so enjoyed taking all of these photographs.