Nature’s Beauty in Splendid Isolation- West Wycombe Park

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Driving through the scenic, centuries old village of West Wycombe we approached the serene elegant West Wycombe House surrounded by acres of foliage enveloping a sparkling lake and theatrical garden monuments. It was an exciting thought to be walking on grounds walked by the Bishops of Winchester whose lineage dates back to the 1^st century AD!

The regal West Wycombe House seen across the beautiful North Lawn

Historical Peep

From the car park we walked towards the trees with shrubs lined gravel path my thoughts reverted to the engrossing historical milieu of the West Wycombe House & Park which is the medieval property of the Bishops of Winchester according to the Domesday Record Book. Through multiple turns and twists of fate the Manor landed with the Dashwood-family as part of a family settlement in the year 1698 and has remained so till now.

Regal Britannia Pillar

Goddess Britannia Pillar

Leisurely we headed for the main House & Park on the Woodland-Walk that stretched ahead but diverted first to the tall pillar with the majestic Goddess Britannia that is an eye catcher! Faraway we could see a glistening lake with the Music Temple on a tiny island. I had read earlier that several ornamental monuments, fountains & temples were added in the 18^thcentury as part of garden landscaping by the second Baronet Sir Francis inspired by his travels to Italy.

Goddess Britannia is the national personification of Britain as a female warrior holding a Trident. This was erected in 1986 to commemorate the 60^th birthday of Queen Elizabeth by Lord Dashwood. It is a lead statue of Goddess Britannia taken from the Temple of Diana.

From Venice to England

Bridge

On an impulse we turned on a narrow grassy track to walk along a canal towards the scenic arched brick drawbridge decorated with stone urns. Crossing it we landed on the rolling-sloping vast green North lawn and caught the first view of glorious mustard Villa- West Wycombe Park. In a memory jog I recollected that the 2^nd Baronet Sir Francis had transformed his simple Queen Anne-style home into a Palladian style Villa(influenced by Italian Venetian architect Palladio), as we see it today. He had inherited his father’s fortune made from trading with India, Africa and East. Past the front of the House we walked to the South Colonnade and now Entrance of the House whose pillared veranda and ceiling paintings are exceptional.

Of ancient Greek-Roman decorative Monuments

As we had already seen the rare unique collections inside the West Wycombe House on a previous visit we took a decision to explore parts of its extensive 45 acre park and its temples; strolling around the sparkling lake! I had read earlier that in the 17^th-18^th century when the gardens and parks of medieval Stately homes were restored it became a fashionable trend in landscaping them with statues of Greek and Roman Gods & Goddesses and small traditional monuments too- used for seating or as recreation area. This trend had been followed in the early 18^th century at West Wycombe house too.

Panoramic views

Up ahead was an impressive year 1770, tall grey pillared arch stone Temple of Apollo- a deity in Greek and Roman mythology.

Temple of Apollo

This may have been used as an entrance to the main West Wycombe House which has changed now. As we turned around to undertake a long walk to the next structure in the West Wycombe Park- Temple of Winds in the far distance we strolled along emerald green, rolling-meadows speckled with bright yellow flowers; we spotted an Equestrian fibreglass statue crowning the hilltop against the horizon. We read that Sir Francis had exchanged it with the famous Pinewood Studios against a crate of champagne!!

Temple of Winds & Athens

Temple of Wind in the distance along a grassy embankment

As we approached the distinctive octagonal flint stone decorated; Temple of Winds we heard cars and more sounds in the otherwise super-quiet environs and saw that a set was being created for shooting or an event soon! We remembered reading a long list of movies and serials shot in West Wycombe House and park, while making our plan. Portions of the super hit Television serial Downton Abbey had been filmed in the West Wycombe House and Parks as one recalls the house as Lady Rosamund’s; sister of Lord Grantham. Netflix hit serial- Bridgerton’s crew have often been seen filming in the parklands and the lake around!

The monument is inspired by the 1^st century BC ancient Temple of Winds in Athens, Greece referred to as the ‘oldest meteorological station in the world’ created here in 1750’s. It holds an Ice room below- traditionally used to store ice for Summer months, in old Stately-Homes, in absence of referigerators!

Scenic Music House to the shimmering Cascade

Music temple on an island

Down the steep slope we headed in the direction of the iridescent ‘Island-lake’, one island holding the mustard Music Temple a miniature of the big West Wycombe House. Standing at the bank of the Lake one can step into the Time machine to enjoy the theatre performance once held on the stage inside. Additionally vibrant musical evenings are sometimes organised here and what a sight it must be!!

Next we decided to walk along the shimmering water of the lake with the Music Temple on our right till we came upon the beautiful Cascade an area where 2 streams of the park are dammed to create the Lake!! We photographed the natural beauty from every possible angle- the tiny cascade with the backdrop of the greenish blue lake and fluffy-clouds studded sky, on one side unfolding into the vast lush green meadows dotted with tiny white & yellow wild flowers spread over miles in the other direction!

Panoramic view Walks

I recalled seeing a year 1750 Landscape painting during the House tour earlier which reflected the true glory of this area embellished with statues of Water Gods and rock arrangements but dismantled by 1780’s but now restored to look like it was!

Engravings below Pillar of Brittania

We were impressed to notice the stone slabs with name engravings of monuments to stop by while on the Park tour, on the grass below even though we had the guide map. We walked past Daphne’s temple another ornamental structure named after the Nymph in Greek mythology connected to water bodies- springs streams, wells ; so apt for West Wycombe Park.

Infamous Temple area of the 1700’s

Temple of Venus and Parlour

Our subsequent halt was the hauntingly tranquil Temple of Venus; the Greek-Roman Goddess of love and beauty which surprising had a wicked reputation in the 1700’s due to the notorious Sir Francis and his friends. The small white temple holds the statue on the crest of the green-grassy mound, below which is a cave or grotto with an oval opening that represented’ the opening through which we all enter into the world’. It was rebuilt in 1982 by the late Sir Dashwood after it had been demolished in the 19^th century.

Au Revoir

Au Revoir

With reminiscences of the Dashwoods lavish lifestyles in the previous centuries to create parks with spectacular, eye arresting monuments elaborated with statues around the West Wycombe House added to its exceptional natural beauty; we headed back to car park through the Woodland Walk.