Berkshire Historic Houses

Ashdown House 

This 17th-century house built in the  Dutch-style house is famous for its association with Elizabeth of Bohemia (‘The Winter Queen’), Charles I’s sister, to whom the house was ‘consecrated’. The interior has an impressive great staircase rising from hall to attic and important paintings contemporary with the house. There are spectacular views from the roof over the formal parterre, lawns and surrounding countryside, as well as beautiful walks in neighbouring Ashdown Woods.

Lambourn  Newbury  RG17 8RE  Tel:01793 762209  Email

Basildon Park 

This beautiful Palladian mansion was built in 1776–83 by John Carr for Francis Sykes, who had made his fortune in India. The interior is notable for its original delicate plasterwork and elegant staircase, as well as for the unusual Octagon Room. The house fell on hard times in the early part of the last century, but was rescued by Lord and Lady Iliffe, who restored it and filled it with fine pictures and furniture. The early 19th-century pleasure grounds are currently being restored, and there are waymarked trails through the parkland. At the top of Streatley Hill 2 miles away is a car park giving access to The Holies, Lough Down and Lardon Chase, an outstanding area of downland and woodland with many beautiful walks and breathtaking views.

Lower Basildon, Reading, RG8 9NR  Tel: 01189 843 040 Email

Dorney Court 

A Grade I listed building, and designated as being of outstanding architectural and historical interest. Dorney Court has been the home of the Palmer family for more than 450 years, passing from father to son through twelve generations. The drive to the house, through ancient woodlands, passes the old Saxon winter larder for villagers, a pond, formerly stocked with carp, and its four islands where fowl and small animals were kept safe from predators. The early Tudor manor house, is half timbered in gabled pinkish brick, close to the Church of St James. Dorney Court has always been the manor house of Dorney village which was first recorded in the Doomsday Book

Windsor SL4 6QP Tel: 01628 604638. Email

Englefield House 

Built in the Tudor period; substantial additions and alterations were made in the 18th and 19th centuries.  A house on this site is recorded in the Domesday Book. The Queen granted Englefield to her favourite, Sir Francis Walsingham, from whom the present owner, Sir William Benyon is indirectly descended. Thus there have been only two families in ownership since before the Norman conquest and the property has been held by the same family for well over three hundred years. Queen Elizabeth I visited the house on two occasions, entering through the Long Gallery. The buildings to the right and left of the Long Gallery, (now converted to a house) were the laundry and the brew house. In Elizabethan times and later, there were 40 servants living in the house who had to be catered for. To meet the requirements of the household, vegetables and fruit were grown in three large kitchen gardens which now have been partly developed as a commercial market garden and stables.

Englefield, Reading, RG7 5EN  Tel: 01189 302 221 Email 

Eton College  

Founded in 1440 by King Henry VI. The College originally had 70 King’s Scholars or ‘Collegers’ who lived in the College and were educated free, and a small number of ‘Oppidans’ who lived in the town of Eton and paid for their education.

Today it is a secondary school (a ‘high school’ in the American sense) for approximately 1,290 boys between the ages of 13 and 18, all of whom are boarders

Windsor, SL4 6DW  Tel: 01753 671177

Mapledurham House & Watermill