Location
Bowood House, Calne, Wiltshire SN11 0LZ
From London M4/J17, 2 hrs S of A4 between Chippenham and Calne. Swindon 17m, Bristol 26m, Bath 16m.
History
Bowood is the family home of the Earl and Countess of Shelburne, the Earl being the eldest son of the Marquess of Lansdowne. Begun c1720 for the Bridgeman family, the house was purchased by the 2nd Earl of Shelburne in 1754 and completed soon afterwards. Part of the house was demolished in 1955, leaving a perfectly proportioned Georgian home, over half of which is open to visitors. Robert Adam's magnificent Diocletian wing contains a splendid library, the laboratory where Joseph Priestley discovered oxygen gas in 1774, the orangery, now a picture gallery, the Chapel and a sculpture gallery in which some of the famous Lansdowne Marbles are displayed.
Among the family treasures shown in the numerous exhibition rooms are Georgian costumes, including Lord Byron's Albanian dress; Victoriana; Indiana (the 5th Marquess was Viceroy 1888-94); and superb collections of watercolours, miniatures and jewellery.
The House is set in one of the most beautiful parks in England. Over 2,000 acres of gardens and grounds were landscaped by 'Capability' Brown between 1762 and 1768, and are embellished with a Doric temple, a cascade, a pinetum and an arboretum. The Rhododendron Gardens are open for six weeks during May and June. All the walks have seats.
Facilities & Amenities
Shop. Receptions, film location, 2,000 acre park, 40 acre lake, 18-hole golf course and Country Club, open to all players holding a current handicap.
Catering available for special functions, for 45 - 85 persons.
Disabled visitors may alight at the House before parking. Disabled WCs.
The Bothy (self-service light snacks, capacity 50) and the Restaurant (waitress-service, capacity 85). Parties that require lunch or tea should book in advance.
On request, groups can be given an introductory talk, or for an extra charge, a guided tour. Tour time 1 1/4 hours. Guide sheets in French, German, Dutch, Spanish & Japanese.
Parking for 1,000 cars, unlimited for coaches, 400 yds from house. Allow 2-3 hrs to visit house, gardens and grounds.
School groups welcome. Special guide books. Picnic areas. Adventure playground.
No dogs allowed.
