DEENE PARK

Home is where the heart is

Mary recently enjoyed a guided tour of Deene Park and found out some fascinating facts about the Brudenell family

MOST OF US have heard of the Charge of the Light Brigade which took place in 1854 against Russian forces during the Battle of Balaclava in the Crimean War. But many of us might not know of its connection to our area. It was an unsuccessful charge which resulted in large British casualties and was thought to have happened due to a miscommunication. It was led, very bravely whatever the almost inevitable outcome, by the 7th Earl of Cardigan,

James Brudenell, whose family seat was Deene Park which lies halfway between Corby and Stamford.

The history of Deene Park goes back much earlier than the 7th Earl though. The house dates to 1514 when it was a

Tudor manor and was originally owned by The See of

Westminster and leased to the family. Quite extraordinarily the Brudenell family has lived at Deene Park for over 500 years without any changes of name. It has always been a family home and Robert Brudenell and his wife Charlotte are the 14th generation of the family to live at the Park, with the 15th, son William waiting in the wings. The rooms are not museum rooms, most of them are used by the family.

The beds are slept in, bathrooms work usually and fires are lit.

The house has changed and evolved over the years but the Tudor heart of it is still very much in contention alongside beautiful Georgian extensions dating from the 1790s. And it is well worth a visit. Steeped in history there are many stories to be told about the longevity and history of this family. And because of the length of their tenure their history sits alongside the broader history of the country. Artefacts and works of art are in every room whilst it still retains the comfort of a family home.

It must be fascinating as one of the family to compare your features with the 14 previous generations’ portraits that are hung within the house. Something quite noticeable is that all the portraits are of fairly elderly owners, not young men in their prime. A portrait was painted of a son who did not outlive his father who died aged 97. Since then no owner of Deene Park is painted until they have actually inherited the estate and this tradition still continues today.

Deene Park was shut throughout last year because of the pandemic but this year has reopened. It is open for 28 days of the year, every Sunday between April and September plus Bank Holidays and welcomes up to 4,000 visitors a year. It also opens during the week for pre-booked group visits. You are able to visit the house and enjoy the stunning gardens and parkland.

Weddings are also held at the house with up to 15 taking place every year. A new pavilion has been built in the walled gardens so couples are now able to marry outside. Full use of the gardens can be made by guests and the photographs could not be taken in a more attractive setting.

Whilst the house was closed last year the family took the opportunity to redecorate rooms and restore others including treating the ceiling in the Great Hall as well as moving portraits around and repositioning certain items. They have slowly been reopening and are delighted that virtually all of their 23 guides, who work voluntarily, are now back in action.

Recently a rose garden has been established where the medieval chapel was once situated. This was knocked down during Georgian times and it would appear that everything was just pushed to one side disturbing the bodies of medieval monks buried in the crypt beneath, as in 2019 when the garden was being established human bones were found. The police had to be called, because of the human remains, but it transpires that they

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There are so many stories to tell including a visit from Elizabeth I. Apparently, she was supposed to stay at Burghley but they had an outbreak of smallpox so she visited Deene instead.

were medieval remains. It has never been established exactly who these people are but there does not appear to have been any foul play involved. The bodies have now been reinterred next to the current chapel.

As well as the house and beautiful gardens there is over 300 acres of parkland to enjoy, look out for the Highland cattle which are a particular favourite of the current incumbent. There are many acres of tenanted farms as well as more land in Leicestershire. At one point the estates of Deene Park and Boughton House were joined by marriage with most of east Northamptonshire being owned by the families. And going the other way, another fortunate marriage to one of the Treshams at Rushden Hall means there is an extensive collection of fabulous, ancient books from both the Tresham and Brudenell libraries in the Bow Room, which was perhaps my favourite room.

There are so many stories to tell including a visit from Elizabeth I. Apparently, she was supposed to stay at Burghley but they had an outbreak of smallpox so she visited Deene instead. The large Tudor dining table in the Great Hall is the one she sat at. And take a look at the photos dotted around the house: Diana, Princess of Wales is in one, the Duke of Edinburgh in another along with many other famous faces; Nancy Reagan being another.

But back to the 7th Earl. He survived the Charge of the Light Brigade along with his horse Ronald whose agility could probably be credited with saving the Earl’s life. This Earl had a great love of horses which is re ected in some of the magnificent paintings which hang in the dining room. And such was his love of Ronald, who outlived him, that his head was preserved. He watches over the Earl’s portraits in the White Hall, and very handsome he is too. Rather macabre possibly but well deserved.

The 7th Earl was not purported to be a pleasant man and led quite a checkered life. He married ‘the naughty countess, Adeline’ who was nearly 30 years younger than him and whom Queen Victoria disapproved of as she was his mistress who he married with indecent haste after his first wife died. He broke the entail of the estate in order for her to live at Deene during her widowhood whilst the title passed to his cousin who owned Tottenham House.

The house fell upon hard times during the war and had troops billeted there during WWll with the family forced to withdraw to ust a few rooms. Some officers did not respect the house and by the time it was returned to the family it was in a very bad state of repair, with only two functioning bathrooms and barely any electricity. So much so that it was almost lost to the family. But a fortunate find after the war of a genuine copy of the Magna Carta saved the house. After much soul searching this was sold so that Robert’s parents Edward and Marian were able to use the funds from the sale to restore the house for the family to live in again; and of course this is a constant task for each incumbent.

The house is steeped in history and the tales of family trysts and marriages are fascinating with more to come apparently with a recent find. isit for yourself and en oy the Old Masters including a Gainsborough and a Reynolds. Explore the beautiful gardens, the white garden is a favourite of mine and yes, there is even a secret door which leads into a secret octagonal room…