ThamesMOG members hear of a salacious story
just thought I would share with you an artcile I have just written to be included in Miscellany.
ThamesMOG members hear of a salacious story on their visit to Basildon Park.
For anyone who says that Morgan owners are not hardy folk and their Morgans should be kept wrapped up for the winter, just take a look at ThamesMOGers. On the last Sunday of February, four Morgans, with some supporting tin-tops, ventured out to Basildon Park. Some Morgans arrived with their hoods down, despite the ambient temperature being 1 degree C, and with a chill factor of -3 degrees.
The construction of the current Basildon Park was begun in 1772 by Sir Francis Sykes, who had made his fortune in the British East India Company. He commissioned the architect John Carr of York, who was one of the leading architects in northern England, to build him a country house near to London. The design was influenced by the Palladian architects and it has been speculated that the principal facade, the West Front, was inspired by Palladio's Villa Emo. It was in front of this impressive facade that our Morgans parked, to the pleasure of many of the visitors who were keen to have their photos taken alongside our cars.
Our group split into two. While one group took their dogs for a walk around one of the four woodland walks, the other group were given a fascinating guided tour of the house’s interior. We learnt about the ups and downs of the Park’s many owners. We heard why elements from the Dining Room were sold to the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York, and other features can be found in other American museums. The house has been frequently used as a film set, including: in the 2005 “Pride & Prejudice”; 2006 “Marie-Antoinette”; 2009 “Dorian Gray”; and more recently the 2016 film "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies". The interiors of Basildon House was used as the winter residence in the TV series Downton Abbey. We were told that Basildon Bond paper acquired its name when some of its manufacturing directors fell to liking the alliteration of "Basildon" and "bond” whilst holidaying at Basildon Park. There is also a salacious story regarding Disraeli, Sir Francis Sykes the 3rd, an artist, and Charles Dickens, but to hear that you will have to visit Basildon House and take the guided tour.
Why not come and join ThamesMOG on one of our monthly National Trust visits, you never know what you might discover.
