19 August 2008 - Stourhead House and gardens.

A visit to the National Trust property on a very wet afternoon. Quite a bit of time was spent sheltering under trees or other suitable shelter!

In 1717, Henry Hoare the first bought the old Stourton family estate and manor house.
Stourton Manor was demolished to make way for Henry’s new home, one of the first country houses to be built in the new Palladian style. He named it ‘Stourhead’.
 

This building was in the stable yard at the back of the house. I would imagine it was a grain store designed to keep the damp out.

The start of our walk around the gardens. A view across to the Temple of Apollo.

After about half an hour of sheltering from the rain the sun tried to come out.

One of the few flowering specimens. Spring is much more colourful when all the Rhododendrons are out.

The view from the grotto.

Whilst not a very good photograph I just had to include this to show how much it rained while we were here.

Another shower had just stopped.

The Pantheon.

The Temple of Flora and the Palladian bridge.

A closer look at the Temple of Apollo.

The view from the Temple.

Looking over the bridge to the Pantheon.

The ancient parish church of St Peter’s