Dorney Court, Buckinghamshire: Tudor Manor House
Dorney Court in Buckinghamshire is one of the finest Tudor manor houses in England and Grade 1 listed.
Dorney Court is Grade 1 listed and renowned for its architectural importance and historical significance.
Built in 1440, the Tudor manor house has been home to the Palmer family for more than 450 years – this remarkable and characterful building has been passed from father to son over thirteen generations.
Dorney is the ancient Saxon word for “island of bees” and the Estate remains famous for its honey which is still produced to this day.
The very first pineapple to be raised in England was grown at Dorney Court and presented to Charles II in 1661, though the King showed more interest in the lady of the house, making Barbara Palmer his mistress.
On first appearances, the building appears to be entirely medieval, but in fact some of the exterior is a Victorian reconstruction.
The remodelling of the house was undertaken at the end of the nineteenth century, and the original bricks were restored to the front façade of the house.
The interior layout is little changed from 1500.
The oldest part is the panelled parlour, which contains some very fine examples of antique furniture.
The great hall has numerous family portraits and contains linenfold panelling brought from Faversham Abbey in Kent; in times past it was used to hold the manor court, and it is still the site of the annual Commoners' meeting.
If you have an interest in furniture and its history, you will be intrigued by the pieces at Dorney Court.
The great majority of it dates from the Restoration but look in the Great Hall and you will see a massive table, created from one piece of oak, bearing the notches and scars that suggest it dates from a much earlier period in history.
Four poster beds, lacquer cabinets and contemporary designs all found favour for practical purposes. Few were collected simply for their aesthetic quality.
The imposing bed in the Great Chamber is of the tester style not just to offer privacy but more importantly to provide a waterproof canopy as protection from a leaking roof.
The lacquer furniture was used on campaign by Palmers serving on Eastern fronts and the modern pieces show the determination of the Palmer family to make use of wood from the Estate.
Each of the 13 generations of the Palmer Family is represented in the wonderfully complete catalogue of family portraits that tell a most compelling and intimate story of a redoubtable family that has epitomised the English squirearchy.
Paintings by Lely, Kneller, Janssen and others cover the walls.
In the Parlour, you will discover the Palmer Needlework depicting the achievements of 17th-century Palmer triplets and which has been described as “one of the rarest in England”.
The house is surrounded by beautiful gardens and acres of mature parkland.
The lawns are divided by ancient yew hedges and herbaceous borders.
The adjacent 13th-Century church of St James the Less, with its Norman front and Tudor tower, are also open to the public.
One of the historic highlights at Dorney is a piece of Elizabethan tapestry, given as a wedding present to Thomas Palmer in 1624 by his mother or grandmother.
The tapestry is one of the finest examples of Elizabethan needlework in existence and depicts the lives of various Palmers in the 16th century.
The tapestry was lost for many years and only rediscovered to Dormey by chance when Country Life magazine ran an article on it in 1902.
Today, Dorney Court remains very much a family home and visitors will find that the house and grounds have an easy charm and a warmth of welcome that reflect continuing family use.
Dorney Court has also featured as a film and TV location since the 1970s.
The house and grounds appearing in a wide range of productions including Bridgerton, The Sandman, The Essex Serpent, 24, Elizabeth: The Golden Age and Inspector Morse.
Visitors will find rooms full of history alongside the tell-tale signs of continuing occupation, not least the sight of an occasional rogue child or spaniel.
However, since it is a family home, visitors are unable to take photos inside.
Oak and beautiful lacquer furniture compete for space with family portraits and treasures collected over six centuries.
Someone who recently visited the manor said: “A fascinating visit to a house steeped in history.
”An excellent and captivating 1-hour guided tour, in which we learned that the house was mentioned in the Domesday Book.
”It was the home of the 16th-century Lord Mayor of London, Sir William Garrard; and has since been inhabited by the Palmer family.
”Also a charming small church opposite with a small 2-manual organ. Garden centre and café close by. Well worth a visit, during the limited opening period (currently afternoons in August).”
Another person added: “We feel honoured and fortunate to see Dorney court.
”Tudor building that have been looked after to maintain their current state. Staff friendly and welcoming and knowledgeable. We found it helpful to listen to the staff.
”I've studied Tudor times and knew about Dorney Court but now I am touching stone work. Walking through rooms and gardens. Getting lost in History is my biggest joy.”
If you’d like to visit, the address is: Dorney Court, Court Ln, Dorney, Windsor SL4 6QP.
To find out more about this stunning property, you can email: info@dorneycourt.co.uk.
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