On a gorgeously sunny day (remember them?) we decided to head out to Gunby Hall and Gardens, a National Trust property in Lincolnshire. A country house built around 1700, it’s one of those rare properties I like because it feels like a home, and not somewhere to be admired because of its beautiful rooms.
The volunteers at this property, which you explore by yourself, were the best kind – happy to give you an overview and then leave you alone until you have a question. We started off in the house itself which has been in the hands of the Massingberd family since 1700 until it was gifted to the National Trust in 1944 (though a Massingberd continued to live there for some time after that).
The house had an interesting atmosphere given that someone was actually playing the piano when we walked into it, the sound of which followed us through most of the house. Each of the rooms, from the music room,
to the bedrooms,
to the library,
had quite a cosy feel to them, and many of them were decorated using some beautiful William Morris wallpaper.
The Mossingberd family also seemed to have lived interesting lives, from a women’s rights activist, to a patron of the pre-Raphaelites and a Field Marshal. This is reflected not just in the artwork on display but also in small details such as this poem by Alfred, Lord Tennyson,
and this piece of artwork by Rudyard Kipling’s father.
The Hall is also surrounded by acres of parkland and gardens and the weather was perfect for exploring them. We were particularly impressed by the fruit and vegetables being grown,
though the whole layout of the garden was a delight.
Overall Gunby Hall was a lovely place to spend the day and well worth a visit.
You can find more of my photos here.
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