Visiting Stansted House/Park
- Rarars adventures
- Feb 10, 2022
- 4 min read
Introduction
Hello, and welcome back I hope that you are well.
This month we are doing a visit that we did at the end of the year which was Stansted House and Park.
We loved our visit there and found it very friendly.
I would like to share some information about Standsted Park Estate, Which I have Quoted from their website,
History
"Nestled between Chichester and Portsmouth and part of the South Downs Park, Stansted Park Stands in 1800 acres of extraordinary landscaped Parkland and ancient forest.
The earliest records of people on the estate date back to medieval times when the grounds were used for hunting and royalty visiting the park.
King Henry 2, Richard the Lionheart, and King John have all been known to have visited the forest.
In 1688 the first house was built on the present site for Lord Lumley. The estate changed hands and appearance over the centuries, being brought and sold by many colorful characters including Richard Barwell an Indian Nabob, the famous Jewish converter Lewis Way, a generous London wine merchant by the name of Charles Dison, and the wilder and Whitaker families, who gained possession in the nineteenth century.
In 1900 a devastating fire tore through the house leaving nothing but the original vaulted crypt. The house was painstakingly rebuilt over the following three years on the exact footprint of the old house. It was purchased in 1924 by the 9th Earl of Bessborough. The Family spent the next sixty years here with their families, enjoying all the estate and landscape had to offer.
In 1983 the 10th Earl of Bessborough made the decision to give Stansted Park, The Arboretum, his family home and its beautiful contents to the public. Stansted Park Foundation was set up as a Charitable Trust charged with the preservation of the estate for the benefit of the nation.
This Edwardian building you see today is adorned with the Ponsonby family portraits and possessions as well as original furniture, fixtures, and fittings. The house has one of Britain's best examples of 'life below stairs' with room upon room laid out as it would have been in the house's heyday.
In addition to the mansion, Standsted Park also has a private chapel which has a unique colorful history of its own. The elegant Regency chapel stands on the site of the first great house and reuses some of its fifteenth-century masonry and locks. The Chapel's unique east window illustrates the wish of its founder, Lewis Way, to re-unite the Jewish and Christmas Faiths.
Today visitors to the Estate can enjoy seasonal tours of this splendid mansion. The public has free access to the walled garden with its Tearoom, Farmshop, Garden Centre, Maze, and Miniature Railway. The grounds offer wonderful country walks through the woods and avenues of the magnificent parkland between 8 am and 6 pm daily. "
So there is just a little bit about Stansted Park
Our Visit
On our visit, we took my mobility scooter, as we like to take something with us as I do struggle, with walking. This time also I had only had an operation 2 weeks before, on my stomach so we had to be a little bit careful.
I really enjoyed our visit, I was able to experience all access in the scooter and sometimes was transferred to a wheelchair, so I didn't miss anything, they have put ramps in place as well, also when you go into the house if you are in a scooter or wheelchair there is a number you can call as you are going towards the house to call and someone will meet you and take you to the side of the house, where there is a lift to take you down to the lower level of the house. My scooter which is quite large wouldn't fit on to the ramp but they had a wheelchair there for this purpose, they were so friendly and patient, you didn't feel rushed at all, also there is another lift you use that goes to the main level of the house which they think dates back from the titanic time it was beautiful. I will share some photos at the end.
There is one part of the house that you will not be able to get to if you are unable to walk, as it has about 5 steps leading to one small room, but apart from that, they have made it very accessible, they also have interactions for children and adults if you wish to join in, where you have to find different things around the house as you are looking, I love this idea we saw some children doing this and they looked like they were really enjoying themselves.
I also wanted to point out that there is some seating throughout the house if you need to stop and rest.
There are also disabled toilets In the House and around the grounds.
The scooter managed the gravel leading to the house quite well, and if you keep to the edge it is a little easier for you to get over the stones, so would maybe suggest this if you are pushing a wheelchair.
You can also Drive to the house if you are disabled but you do need to call them and book this when you are booking your visit so that they are able to leave a space for you.
There is disabled parking in the main car park which is free (Please remember your blue badge)
You are allowed to bring guide dogs only.
End of Day
We had a lovely day visiting Stansted Park & House, even though everything wasn't open because of COVID there was still lots to see and do, it was accessible and there was lots of seating, and their food was lovely with lots of options if you have dietary needs.
I would personally love to visit again once everything has re-opened again to be able to see the miniature train in action and go in the maze.
I would love to hear about your visits as well please feel free to comment below.
Thank you to Stansted House for letting us visit.
Stansted Park Links
Stansted contact information & Address
Stansted Park
Rowlands Castle
Hampshire
England, UK
PO9 6DX
Contact Number
(02392) 412265
Email- enquiry@stanstedpark.co.uk
Link to watch the Film
Photos from our visit
