… The Children’s Country House at Sudbury
The sun had got its hat so we decided to have a day out. It is a long time since we last visited Sudbury Hall, formerly the home of the Vernon family with the museum of childhood located in the19th-century servant’s wing.
We were disappointed to find that both the ‘Grade I’ listed house and museum had been dumbed down since our previous visits and there is no longer a National Trust shop. The room where the shop was previously located looks a little sad with its door currently locked and closed.
The venue is great for children with opportunities for dressing up and other fun activities but the rich history of the hall, art and architecture is not highlighted. If the property doesn’t change to provide information on the history and art in an educational and engaging way ‘to include adults’ I am unlikely to return.
After our visit we weren’t quite ready to go home so we detoured to the nearby Keddleston Hall for tea and cake. It was to late in the day to visit the house and gardens but we were reminded of how much we enjoy this property. We will be back for a full day visit in the near future.
Yes indeed… if the rich history of a stately home’s art, architecture and gardens is not highlighted, why bother visiting. That can be done so easily through interesting guides, written brochures handed to visitors, films of the home with commentaries and photos with legible details.
The only reason I learned anything about one of the features in the house was when one of the room guides approached me when she saw I was inspecting a feature over a fire place.
So what happened to NT?
Did they return the house to its rightful owner?
The property still belongs the the NT. I read that family connected with the property are not happy with the way it is currently presented.
But the rooms open to the public looked rather good to me.
We need you to go behind those closed doors to see more.
We all like a spy in NT, any volunteers?
My most recent experience was a much lesser experience than on my first visit. The presentation of the property and museum has been dumbed down over the years.
The properly doesn’t even have a NT shop.
What a pity that they are not managing this property properly. It’s interesting to reading your comments that the owners are not happy about it. What a strange situation.
Despite its shortcomings, it does look like a lovely home from the exterior and there must be so many stories to tell about life there
After Covid 19 the property displays were re-invented with input from children. That of course is wonderful but the property is missing a trick by not including more in depth history of the property and arts that it contains.
I don’t know why they decided to close the shop but it is a shame I always like to browse around the shop when I visit a National Trust property.