Wallington, near Morpeth, Northumberland
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Today I visited Wallington a mansion set in extensive grounds with a beautiful walled garden. It’s named as one of the top ten picnic locations owned by the National Trust. The are several footpaths from the house to the walled garden, we walked past the china pond and the garden pond. There were ducklings and goslings in the ponds.
The walled garden was larger than I expected with lovely avenues and a fountain.
Unfortunately you are not allowed to take photos in the house. The most striking feature of the house is the Pre-Raphaelite “Wallington Murals” by William Bell Scott portraying the history of Northumberland in eight works from the construction of Hadrian’s Wall to the industrial revolution. I though that the paintings of flowers and plants on the pillars between the murals although beautiful, looked rather incongruous. When I did a bit of research I discovered that they were painted by Lady Pauline Trevelyan and various guests including Ruskin, much to chagrin of Bell Scott. There is also a collection of intricate dolls houses perfect to every last detail down to miniature candlesticks on the mantlepieces.
I think that Wallington is a great place for a day out, there’s a kids play area, a wildlife hide, walks by the River Wansbeck and various events on in the courtyard. It was Northuberland Clog Dancing today.
[tags]pre-raphaelite art, stately homes, northumberland, UK days out[/tags]
