£55, all day (exc. lunch)

Sezincote House was unique in the United Kingdom when built c 1805-20, a startling Moghul building transported from Rajasthan to the Cotswolds.  Samuel Pepys Cockerell designed it for his brother, Sir Charles Cockerell, Bt, MP, an East India Company paymaster-general and nabob.  Samuel had remodelled the classical Daylesford House 1789-93, for his brother’s friend, Warren Hastings, first governor-general of Bengal.  Sezincote is now the home of the Peake family.

Sir Charles introduced Samuel to the artist Thomas Daniell RA, whose paintings, made over 10 years in India, inspired the architect.  After visiting Sezincote in 1807, the Prince Regent instructed Nash to reflect Indian exoticism in his design for Brighton Pavilion.  Particular features include the copper central bulbous dome and the small domed octagonal chhatris on each corner.  The curved orangery to the SW terminates in the octagonal former aviary surmounted by a chhatri.  The handsome classical interior contains some of Daniell’s paintings and other Indian works of art.

There are many Indian features in the garden, some inspired by Daniell, which was influenced, if not designed, by Humphry Repton.

Members will also visit Chastleton House, a Grade I Jacobean house built 1603-18 for Walter Jones, MP, possibly by Robert Smythson.  It was owned by his descendants for 400 years until acquired by the National Trust in 1991.

Much of its charm derives from the lack of major alterations since it was built – described as ‘magical’ (Edward Peake of Sezincote). Built around a courtyard, of marl stone with contrasting limestone ashlar dressings, the main elevations each have five distinctive gabled bays.  The northern central bay projects, while to the south the middle two project either side of the central entrance bay.  To west and east are large crenellated staircase towers rising to the roof ridge.  The interior has significant contemporary plasterwork, especially the long gallery’s remarkable barrel-vaulted ceiling, the oldest surviving of its date.

Mr and Mrs Dominic Collins, who own Grade II* Adlestrop Park, near Chastleton, are kindly giving members a unique opportunity to see their house and Humphry Repton landscape. Its Jacobean origins and innovative Gothic revival elevations compare strikingly with Sezincote’s exoticism.  The former monastic estate was acquired in 1553 by Sir Thomas Leigh, of Stoneleigh Abbey (lord mayor of London 1558).  William Leigh, sheriff in 1635, rebuilt the manor house, and panelling and a staircase remain from this time.  Dramatic changes were made between 1750 and 1762 for James Leigh, when the pioneering neo-Gothicist, Sanderson Miller, rebuilt much of the house and added the SW extension with his signature two-storey bay windows.  Repton’s work (1799-1812) for Leigh’s brother Thomas, the rector, and son James Henry, is currently being restored. Adlestrop is especially significant this year since Jane Austen visited several times with her mother, Cassandra (née Leigh), a first cousin of James and the Revd Thomas.

Andrew Wells leads.

The event is for Georgian Group members’ only. Please read our terms and conditions before booking. 

If tickets have sold out for this event, please email members@georgiangroup.org.uk to be added to the waiting list.