Giving Away the Family Fortune

 Killerton House is part of an estate in the depths of Devon that is now part of the National Trust. It’s gift to the trust in 1944 was a very controversial donation by Richard Acland 15th baronet. 

Photo from the internet.

He became a Labour MP and believed that land should not be owned by wealthy landowners and he therefore wanted to sell off the estate. He had lengthy disputes with his wife who foresaw that the sale would endanger many peoples’ livelihood. It was then decided to make this donation including 6 thousand acres of land so that it could continue to be protected and workers jobs and homes would be secured.

He continued to live on the estate and it was many years before the actual house was opened to the public. It was used by a school in the latter part of the war. It was only in the 70’s when the Trust was looking for a home for a collection of costumes that it was opened.

Farmer Husband and I made a visit last week as a stop en route to Cornwall. I had booked in advance as required by the National Trust because the number of visitors is restricted. You book a half hour slot during which you can arrive. This is not easy when you are travelling a distance particularly as each property varies as to where you check you in. Some have the ticket check at the car park gate, others as you enter the garden.  Our timing was even more tricky because we had to swop cars en route at Taunton from a courtesy car to our car which had been in the garage for warranty work all week. We ended up arriving early by about an hour but fortunately the gentleman on the gate was amenable to us coming on into the car park for our picnic lunch.

We were then ready for our visit. Killerton is one of the small number of houses open at the present time. We were required to queue to enter and as the the queue was relatively long we visited the gardens and grounds first. They start with a Victorian Terrace garden overlooking the surrounding park land.

The gardens are still full of colour.

We then wandered off into the more informal woodland gardens. The house and gardens both featured on Sunday’s episode of  “George Clarke’s National Trust Unlocked” on Channel 4. 

In the corner of the garden there are some spectacular Lucombe Oaks. These are a hybrid of the Turkey Oak and the Cork Oak which results in a handsome tree.

We were curious about this cross assuming it was a war memorial but is in fact in honour of a previous Baronet Sir Thomas Acland positioned at his favourite viewpoint.

A lot of the grass in the garden is managed as a wild flower meadow. The flowers have now turned to seed which has dropped onto the surrounding soil. The grass has now been cut and was being turned ready to be baled. Quite a labour intensive job.

The Autumn cyclamen are spectacular and give a carpet of pink. 

We were unable to see the Ice House or Bear Hut which is of course an excuse for another visit!

The National Trust are serving limited refreshments. We were able to get a piece of cake and cup of tea in the cardboard boxes and cups that are pretty standard at the moment. We do try and buy  some refreshments and visit the shop on visits to NT properties during this current crisis. They need our extra funds and get little from members visiting. It was while waiting for our cuppa that I spotted these still blooming agapanthus.