Dearest gentle reader,
We have been apart for far too long.
Unfortunately, I was not on a break from writing because I was sojourning in the English countryside like the ton. Well… maybe a little bit.
I never expected my return to be prompted by Bridgerton, but Penelope saying she felt like she was “losing a part of [her]self” by giving up writing was heartrending. I’ve been carrying around a similar sense of loss and I couldn’t take another second of beating myself up for disappearing anymore.
Truthfully, I’ve spent the past two years feeling like Sylvia Plath sitting at the base of a fig tree- unable to choose from the many paths branching out before me, partially out of a refusal to choose only one thing and partially out of fear. Much like Lord Kilmartin “If I am to be bold, I should need some time to think about it.” But the time has come to be bold. I quit my day job a few weeks ago and I’m ready to reclaim writing as well as whatever other opportunities unfold.
There’s much to catch you up on, but for now, here are this season’s diamonds.
Poston Court Estate
Location: Vowchurch, Hereford, Herefordshire, HR2
Guide Price: £9,550,000
Listing: https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/134605700#/?channel=RES_BUY
Poston Court Estate is a 266-acre Grade II-listed property in Herefordshire. The house was designed in 1765 as a hunting lodge for Sir Edward Boughton by the architect Sir William Chambers, who was essentially the official architect for King George III (for my fellow Americans- yes, that King George). The grounds are of a similar pedigree having been designed by Sir Thomas Robinson, who was master gardener to George III.
The heart of the home is the rotunda, a circular, domed dining room with sweeping views of the countryside.
Over the centuries, the home has had cycles of disrepair and renewal. At one point hens were even found nesting in the rotunda. More recently the house has had a series of owners committed to restoring the architecture to fully embody Chambers’ vision while tastefully bringing the decor into modern times.
The latest renovation, designed by Francis Sultana, reminds me of Penelope Featherington’s glow-up. They both have a lot of regency features but in a more refined, mature, and pared-back way. They’re both unafraid to stand out. Plus, the jade color of the primary suite reminds me of the Featherington’s house and Penelope’s dresses this season. The bedroom even has feather decor!
The handpainted silk chinoiserie wallpaper in the bedroom is an excellent nod to Chambers’ Great Pagoda in Kew Gardens. I’m also obsessed with the choice to fully cover the bathroom in a jade Italian marble with lots of movement. It’s a bold move that still feels soft and romantic and balances the traditional and modern so well.
The other buildings onsite center around a courtyard and formal garden. They include a similarly stylish three-bedroom Poston Lodge, four-bedroom Poston Cottage, studio-turned-home office, and a summer house pavilion housing an orangerie, summer dining room, and indoor pool. There’s a tennis court and kitchen garden just behind.
You can find additional pictures of the interiors and learn more about the renovation in this House & Garden article.
Serene in Surrey
Location: High Elms, Laleham, Surrey
Guide Price: £2,750,000
Listing: https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/147492839#/?channel=RES_BUY
Much like the Bridgerton’s house, this Grade II-listed home in Surrey is draped in Wisteria, but thankfully, this Wisteria is not CGI.
Every room on the ground floor is oriented towards the well-manicured gardens. From the moment you step in through the front door, you’re drawn into a tranquil drawing room with a bay window overlooking the front garden, then on to a large orangerie that functions as the sun-drenched living room of the home, and finally outside.
Upstairs you’ll find serene bedrooms with delicate details. The house is tied together by an oak winding staircase crowned with an octagonal cupola that brings in the sunlight.
Everything about this house feels calm and peaceful- exactly the kind of place that would be perfect for Francesca Bridgerton.
The Ivy
Location: The Ivy, Bath Road, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN15
Guide Price: £2,500,000
Listing: https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/147439220#/?channel=RES_BUY
The Ivy is exactly what I imagine would happen if someone like Benedict Bridgerton came into their own. The Baroque Grade I-listed house retains all of the period details, but the materials and styling make them feel less fussy and more lived-in. Fashion designer Liza Bruce and her husband have made it into the perfect canvas for their creativity.
Stacks of contemporary art leaning against the walls and disco ball chandeliers are perfect for the artist/party boy persona.
My favorite room in the house is the drawing room. Every surface has detailed carvings, and paired with the owner’s postmodern interior sensibilities it proves sometimes more is more.
This bedroom in particular feels like a modern, eclectic twist on Lady Tilley Arnold’s bedroom.
The house sits on over four acres featuring a lake, woodland, and many magical gardens. The gardens were designed by Julian and Isabel Bannerman, award-winning garden designers who have designed gardens for many of the ton including King Charles III. They specialize in creating romantic, stately country gardens “with a dreamy ‘left alone’ quality.” The Ivy blends tradition and a bohemian sensibility in a way that perfectly captures the essence of Benedict.
Lyegrove House
Location: Lyegrove, Badminton, South Gloucestershire
Guide Price: £12,500,000
Listing: https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/136640150#/?channel=RES_BUY
While it’s not quite The Badminton Estate (one of the primary filming locations for Bridgerton and Queen Charlotte), Lyegrove House is as close as you could possibly get. The Grade II*-listed house was once a part of the estate, and the property is still neighbored by it. But this house is magnificent in its own right.
The house is arranged around a central courtyard, which gives the home lots of natural light and views of gardens from every angle. The rooms are still decorated much like you would have seen during the days of Bridgerton. It makes it easy to imagine what their country home might be like.
Lyegrove house sits on 18.5 acres. The gardens are the centerpiece of the estate, with many formal features, but the owners also recently modernized the garden by working with Jinny Blom. There is also a small wood, lily pond, and tennis court. I highly recommend checking out this brochure for the estate; it has many more images of the garden, as well as interior photos of the other buildings.
In a renovation worthy of the ton, part of the original stables has been converted to create a fully-featured ”wellness suite” with an indoor swimming pool, gym, changing room, sauna, shower, and even a screening room. The pool has dramatic vaulted ceilings, large arched windows, and strong Neoclassical influences, which would have been very en vogue during the time of Bridgerton and is still chic today.
Expect more issues and updates soon!
Yours Truly,Lady WhistledownAriel
Love love love this! So happy to see I Know a Spot back in my inbox.
LFG!!!!