Clandon Park and Hatchlands Park

We are going on 2 visits in one post here. Clandon and Hatchlands are very close to each other. We have just come from having lunch at Polesden Lacey and the weather has improved.

Clandon House was used in the film "Duchess" which is currently at the cinema. Film makers use many different houses when making one film sometimes. They may use the gardens of one house and the building of another, or select rooms from different houses. In the making of Duchess several locations were used and here they used the magnificent Marble Hall at Clandon. It's beautiful and I wish I could show you.One of those halls where you can look down over the balustrades from above and see the hall in all it's splendour.

Clandon is a grand 18th century Palladian mansion. Built in 1730 for the 2nd Lord Onslow by the Venetian architect Giacomo Leoni, Clandon's interior is the most complete example of his work to survive and is notable for it's magnificent, two-storey white Marble Hall. The Onslow family are unique in providing 3 Speakers of the House of Commons from one family.The house is filled with a superb collection of 18th century furniture, porcelain and textiles.

The side of the house where restoration to the exterior is taking place

The back with the parterre gardens

The Grotto

A Maori Meeting House, one of only four outside New Zealand, brought back in 1892 by the 4th Earl of Onslow who was Governor there.

The Stable block

We now arrive at Hatchlands

Hatchlands is an 18th century mansion with Adam interiors and a large collection of keyboard instruments. Built in the 1750's for Admiral Boscowan, hero of the Battle of Louisburg, the house contains the earliest recorded decorations in an English country house by Robert Adam - whose ceilings here appropriately feature nautical motives.

On display is the Cobbe Collection, the world's largest group of keyboard instruments, many associated with famous composers such as Purcell, J.C. Bach, Chopin, Mahler and Elgar. The house is set in beautiful woodlands and open parkland.