Historic Buildings – The Vyne – 25th September

The next visit is to The Vyne, near Basingstoke on Wednesday 25th September. The Vyne is a warm red-bricked Tudor mansion built in the 16th century for Lord Sandys, Henry VIII’s Lord Chamberlain, which later passed into the hands of the Chute family, who cared for the house and estate for over 300 years.

It was remodelled to its present configuration in the mid-17th century with the addition of a classical portico and summerhouse, firsts of their kind in England.

Visitors will encounter 500 year-old Majolica tiles, Renaissance stained glass, and exquisite wood carvings in the Tudor chapel and period linen-fold panelling in the oak gallery. The house holds treasures collected by the Chute family, including furniture, tapestries and paintings, Murano glass and silk wall hangings. Stroll through rooms once enjoyed by notable guests like Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, Horace Walpole, and Jane Austen.

The house is set in 1500 acres of beautiful, relaxing gardens. Styles range from the formal summerhouse and stone gallery gardens with fine herbaceous borders, to the more natural wild garden and fruit trees of the orchard and walled garden. The Cost is £15 for the coach plus entry charge on the day for non NT members of £11.  There will be timed entry tickets to the house and there is a tearoom serving drinks and light lunches.  There will be time to explore the gardens and shop.  Details can also be found on the diary page of the WTU3A website.