National Trust: Canons Ashby House

A Great Weekend visit for the family, or just a brief visit. A National Trust maintained property, so benefits from all the expectancies of one of they’re houses. An old priory, this house and grounds has many excellent qualities; a fabulous large old kitchen and dairy area was particularly impressive and offered an interesting insight into life below the stairs and the buildings history. The formal gardens which surround the property were compact and limited but well maintained and beatiful all the same. The old orchard is well worth a look, and is wonderfully colourful in season. The only major disapointment we found was the Church nearby, St Mary’s church, originally, according to the guide, a part of the Augustinian priory. This was gloomy and dark, and had a particulary strange, cramped, eery atmosphere. In fairness perhaps, this was due to the dismal weather on the day we visited! The other minor downside is that the manor is located near to a main road, which can be busy and therefore noisy. Nevertheless, Canons Ashby was an lovely weekend visit and there is much to enjoy and relax in front of. Most impressive of all was the manor’s collection of wall paintings and Jacobian plasterwork, a beautiful collection displayed with due decorum and respect. A Good afternoons visit on a sunny day.