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Bowood House & Gardens



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People come again and again to rediscover the enchantment of Bowood - a family stately home embracing a whole world of fascination in the splendour of a bygone age. Fine rooms filled with superb furniture, porcelain and family heirlooms collected over the centuries. The Adam Orangery, originally designed as a conservatory for orange and lemon trees, is now a magnificent gallery for important 18th and 19th century works as well as Old Masters.

The Chapel, designed by Sir Charles Cockerell, is still used for family services; the great Adam Library holds over 5,000 leather-bound volumes; and the Sculpture Gallery, furnished with superb Flemish tapestries, is remarkable for its collection of classical and 19th century marbles. You will see the Bowood

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laboratory where Dr Joseph Priestley, tutor to the 1st Marquess of Lansdowne's son, discovered oxygen in 1774.

The Exhibition Rooms contain fascinating displays of furniture, pictures, ivory, costumes, silver, miniatures and other family heirlooms from Georgian times to the Indian Raj. Among the most exciting exhibits are Napoleon's death mask, Byron's Albanian costume, the glittering Kieth jewels and an exceptional collection of English watercolours, including works by Bonnington and Turner.

Glorious Parkland to Explore

The house and grounds of Bowood lie within one of Britain's most beautiful parks designed by 'Capability' Brown. Gently sloping lawns stretch away from the terraced rose garden to the tranquil lake beyond, while other splendours include the Arboretum, Pinetum, Doric Temple, Cascade Waterfall and Hermit's Cave.

The Rhododendron Walks

Bowood's Rhododendron Walks are situated in a separate spectacular 50-acre garden 3 miles from the house. This woodland garden of azaleas and rhododendrons is considered to be one of the most exciting gardens of its type in the country and is open during the six week flowering season from late April to early June.

For the Children

Children under 12 love spending the whole day at Bowood playing in one of the finest adventure playgrounds in the country. Here is adventure, fun and excitement galore aboard the life-size pirate ship, complete with rigging and crow's nest! There's an amazing Space Dive (for those who dare), giant slides, chutes, trampolines, high level rope-walks - and lots more besides to keep children happy for hours on end! The brilliant under 7's play area was designed and built by the Grounds Team, using wood from the Estate, and includes low level balancing and climbing apparatus.

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Directions

House & Gardens Entrance off the A4 in Derry Hill Village, midway between Calne and Chippenham.

Rhododendron Walks: Entrance off the A342 Chippenham to Devizes Road, midway between Derry Hill and Sandy Lane Villages.
Well behaved dogs on leads welcome

Bowood House & Gardens Postcode for SatNav: SN11 0LZ

Contact

 
Tel:
+44 (0)1249 812 102
Fax:
+44 (0)1249 821 757
Email:
Web:


The Estate Office
Bowood
Calne
Wiltshire
SN11 0LZ

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