13th August 2025 : Apethorpe, Northamptonshire.

A fascinating visit to Apethorpe Palace which is a recently restored private house that opens for a limited number of days each year through an agreement with English Heritage (booking through English Heritage).

Sisters Emma and Molly gave an excellent tour of this multilayered house which has interesting parts from each century between the 15th and 21st. There was much to learn about the rebuilding of the house to be used as a hunting lodge by James I in the 1620’s and how he was introduced to his favourite George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham at Apethorpe.

Also notable mentions for decorative details including 17th century carrots and the Brassey duck. More will be revealed in my online course : The English Country House 1990-Present ; Country Houses in Rude Health? Which starts in January 2026.

My visit concluded with a visit to St. Leonard’s church in Apethorpe which contains the spectacular classical monument to Grace and Anthony Mildmay dating to the early 1620’s and which will feature in a future Friday morning online lecture.