Harewood or Harwood depending on your preference (and this extends to the locals) is located in the rolling hills of West Yorkshire. The Main House is surrounded by manicured pastures of deer, (two types) and sheep. We were fortunate to stay within the Park at the comfortable Lavender Cottage allowing ease of access to the Home and Parkland.
My first morning walk was full of rolling hills, deer and cool sunshine. I had an Elizabeth Bennett moment wandering the pathways; some edged with dry stone walls, overhung with beech and others just dirt tracks sprinkled with spring bluebells under mighty oaks.
Harewood House itself did not disappoint. Five hours of photos, innate questions of obliging attendants; topped off by a Coronation Afternoon Tea in the Billiard room, overlooking the terrace. A beautiful backdrop for such film locations as Lost in Austen, Death Comes to Pemberley and Victoria.
I shan’t bore you with a room by room monologue, however, I am shall mention two particular rooms.
Gallery Room
The ceiling features 10 hand-painted roundels, once thought to be by Angelica Kauffman but more likely now to be the work of her husband Atonio Zucchi.
The pelmets are wooden whoever carved ingeniously from timber. Most of the furniture is attested to Chippendale.
The Library
Formerly the Saloon and dominated by a spectacular Adam ceiling together with plaster overmantels and sculptures reliefs. The Saloon would have been the entertainment area for visitors as it leads from the spectacular main hallway / antechamber.
Below, at few beautiful images in Princess Mary's Boudoir - detail on the ceiling and fireplaces of her cypher.
Next time I will be showing some of the delights of Nostell Priory