The
Lydiard Park Project 
Tour of Lydiard House and Park Today
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Lydiard Park is the remains of a once great estate which belonged to the St.John family, the Viscounts Bolingbroke, for over 500 years up until 1943. In that year the empty house and surrounding parkland were purchased by Swindon Corporation and effectively rescued from ruin. The Corporation restored the fine Palladian House, set about tracing its original contents and opened the park to the public. |
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Today the ground floor State Rooms of Lydiard House are a registered museum and are open to the public throughout the year. The apartments now contain much of the original family furnishings, portrait collection and memorabilia, while character figures of the family bring the rooms to life. The collections continue to grow as further original items are traced and acquired for the museum. |
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In the Dressing Room you can see paintings by the celebrated 18th Century society artist and Lady of the Manor, Diana Spencer. Lydiard's Lady Di shares a common ancestry and startling likeness to the late Princess Diana of Wales. |
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Just behind the house you will find the parish church of St. Mary's, Lydiard Tregoze. It is renowned for the quality of its 17th Century monuments to the St.John family, such as the Golden Cavalier. |
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The parkland itself is used by around a quarter of a million people every year, picnicking on the lawns in summer, strolling in the woodlands, feeding the ducks and enjoying the changing seasons. |
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| Many visitors might not guess that a great lake once lay at the bottom of the lawn and the whole landscape, complete with avenues, gardens, scenic paths and vistas, was designed to create a beautiful setting for the 18th Century house. | |
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With the launch of The Lydiard Park Project you can now begin to trace this lost landscape and discover more about the exciting plans to restore it. |
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For more information, contact details, or how to get to Lydiard Park please click here |
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