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Derek H wrote a review Mar 2020
The Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield, United Kingdom17 contributions2 helpful votes
Really interesting house with a family history dating back to the doomsday book. A family of outstanding achievers in a variety of fields House has some interesting furniture and a tiny priest hole for religious articles. The family are it seems pretty much in the picture so open times are limited and I felt that the house has much more to offer behind closed doors. Little tea room with just cakes really not even sandwiches - but try the Woodbridge pub in the village of the same name a couple of miles away pic shows view from bar.…
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Date of experience: March 2020
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Lovely house and probably the gardens would be in the better weather. Very knowledgeable guides brought the property to life. If you are in the area this is a must national trust property to visit.
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Date of experience: October 2019
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If you are a member of the National Trust, and are in the area when this property is open, then it is well worth a visit. It is not open every day so you do need to check on the opening times. Before going in the house we had a nice 2 mile walk... As shown on the data board in the car park. The cafe is well worth a visit... the service was very good. This is a medium sized house, so it does not take too long to go around. However, it is very interesting and the staff are very helpful and pleasant. A wander around the garden completed a pleasant visit.…
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Date of experience: October 2019
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As National Trust members we wanted to include at least one visit to a stately home whilst staying in Shropshire. Unfortunately we checked the House was open when we planned a visit but omitted to check the opening time. So if and when you plan a visit do not get caught out like us. Fortunately it was a lovely sunny day and we walked the 1 hour Woodland walk, and by the time we arrived at the entrance of the House it had opened. One accesses the entry through the grave yard, and on the day we were there the Morgan Motor Club members were seated on the lawn with their prize possession cars parked in front of the House. Made quite a delightful scene. One can stroll around various rooms of the House, and we spoke to both Gerald and his wife, volunteer guides to whom were most knowledgeable and extremely friendly. It's nice to ask questions regarding their particular rooms and for them to engage and interact with visitors. There is a staircase to access upper level, so those in wheelchairs would only be able to do the ground floor. The grounds of this House and Estate have two outer walks, one previously mentioned that takes approximately an hour, uneven pathways and you may encounter horse riders on route. Sensible footwear a must. The second Parkland Walk is about 30 minutes, mainly fields and a wooded copse. Dogs are welcome in the grounds but not in the House and gardens. Benthall gardens surrounding the house itself were still in bloom for September, although other seasons one would see far more. There are pathways to follow and different directions you can choose, very peaceful. There were families having picnics on the lawns, and individuals in chairs reading books. We did have tea and cake in the tea room and because it was a lovely day we sat in the courtyard. Although it was extremely busy and can appreciate limited volunteer staff, we waited far too long for our order, which was disappointing. People who came after us were served well before us. Other visitors sat down but left before an order was taken as the service was that slow.Thankfully we decided to ask a different waitress where our order was and apparently our lady 'had not turned the page in her note pad'! Maybe as an observation, instead of taking numerous orders at once, it may prove that a few at a time would work better possibly? Nearly an hour after placing an order we got our tea! So if you choose to have refreshments and time is ticking, one would suggest you enquire and not patiently wait as we did, as in reflection it may never arrive. Hence the score above of Very Good.…
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Date of experience: September 2019
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We have visited once before but today was lifted as an experience by the stories which the room stewards told us about the chequered and intriguing family history. This is a small property, and all the better for that - not the hordes of visitors that you tend to get at many, which renders the experience unpleasant. Here, as another reviewer has said, you feel a sense of peace, from the church which acts as visitor reception to the meander through the churchyard to reach the perfect Elizabethan small manor house itself. We asked one question of the first room steward, and were treated to an extensive and most interesting discourse on the various incarnations of family and tenants who had lived in the house over time; he pointed us to the lady in the sitting room who filled in the Civil War period in a most delightful way. The National Trust have to realise that it these volunteers who really bring their properties to life, with their personally researched stories, not some superimposed and heavy handed 'story' which is the current NT buzzword. The gardens are charming, particularly with the crocuses which one of the Maw brothers plant hunted himself, peeking through at this time of year. A small tea room in one of the rooms, or an outside terrace if the weather permits, allows you to take refreshments. I would thoroughly recommend this delightful house for all it has to offer in such a small, perfect package.…
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Date of experience: October 2019
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