Photo source: grumpylumixuser, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
About this place
Near Pangbourne in Berkshire, Basildon Park is a Palladian country house begun in 1776 for Sir Francis Sykes, an East India Company nabob who had made his fortune in Bengal.
The house's pale stone front contrasts with the plainer brick villages nearby.
The National Trust has cared for the property since 1978.
Film crews return here often, and visitors can wander rooms dressed for both Jane Austen and 1920s costume drama.
Read more on WikipediaHistory
The house was commissioned by Sir Francis Sykes, who had returned from India with a fortune made under the East India Company, and construction began in 1776, with the house completed in 1783. It changed hands several times over the following two centuries, standing empty and even used for military purposes during periods of the 20th century. Lord and Lady Iliffe bought the house in a poor state after the Second World War and restored it before giving it to the National Trust in 1978.
Architecture
The house is built in the Palladian style, with a central block and flanking pavilions typical of grand 18th-century country house design. A costly imported stone was brought in for the facade, setting it apart from the local brick and flint building tradition.
Worth knowing
Basildon Park has appeared on screen repeatedly, standing in for Netherfield Park in the 2005 film of Pride and Prejudice and featuring in Downton Abbey. Its rooms have doubled for wealthy country estates in several other period productions, thanks to interiors left largely untouched by modern alteration.
Gardens & grounds
The parkland runs down towards the Thames valley, with mature trees and open grass giving long views rather than formal planting.
Facilities
Plan your visit
Nearest station: Goring & Streatley Rail Station (1.6 miles)
Generally open to visitors for most of the year, with reduced or closed periods around Christmas; check the official website for current dates.
Nearby properties