Knole Park

Knole is named for the knoll on which it stands in the midst of a medieval deer park. Dating from the 15th century and with seven courtyards rambling over 4.5 acres, its boasts 52 staircases and 365 rooms, including 13 state rooms showcasing the treasures of Kings and Dukes, including royal Stuart furniture such as the "Knole settee", safely ensconced behind glass. Knole is as large as a small village and resembles an ancient college more than a home. Sadly, one's first glimpse of the house is hindered by the modern eyesore, the car park.

Worthy of note are the Spangle Bedroom, with its 17th-century bed covered with thousands of silver-gilt sequins, most now tarnished; the Leicester Gallery with the portrait of King James I seated on an x-framed chair of state similar to the actual chair beneath the painting; the frieze in the Ballroom with its carved mermaids, seahorses and sly squatting figures; the silver furniture and the king's "seat of easement" (toilet) in the King's quarters; paintings by Van Dyck, Reynolds and Gainsborough; and of course vistas familiar to fans of the film Orlando.

Visitors are warned not to approach or feed the deer but the creatures are bold enough to approach passers-by, especially if they are carrying what looks like food, a particularly galling fact to the photographer in the family who abandoned wife and child to snap photos and missed an opportunity to catch a curious resident on film.

Date of Our Last Visit: July 2003