Inside Dyrham Park, English Country House: Uncovering Its Colonial and Slavery Connections

Dyrham Park, located near Dyrham in Gloucestershire, has a rich history and a significant cultural heritage. The current house, built for William Blathwayt in stages during the 17th and early 18th centuries, stands on the site of a previous manor house. William III Blathwayt (1719-87), who inherited Dyrham Park as a young man, faced financial difficulties and auctioned paintings in 1765 to raise funds. His son, the fourth William Blathwayt (1751-1806), initiated repairs on the house with designer Charles Harcourt-Masters. The family’s prominence partly stemmed from an earlier William Blathwayt’s role in the ‘plantations office,’ which led him to become the Auditor-General of Plantations Revenue. This position made him responsible for accounting for all the income due to the Crown from royal colonies such as Virginia, Jamaica, and Barbados. William III Blathwayt’s link to slavery is primarily through his role in the British colonial administration, particularly as the Auditor-General of Plantations Revenue. In this capacity, he was responsible for overseeing and accounting for the income due to the Crown from its colonies, including those heavily involved in the transatlantic slave trade, such as Virginia, Jamaica, and Barbados. In 1956, the Ministry of Works purchased Dyrham Park through the National Land Fund, an endowment created to acquire culturally significant properties as a memorial to those who died during the Second World War. Dyrham Park was subsequently transferred to the National Trust, and after extensive repairs, it opened to visitors in 1961. The estate features a collection of artworks and artifacts, including furniture, china, and pictures with a strong Dutch influence. The orangery, built as a greenhouse in 1701, was designed to hide the view of the servants’ quarters from the main house. The Anglican parish church of St Peter, originally built in the mid-13th century with a three-stage tower added in the 15th century, was extensively restored when the main house was constructed in the late 17th century. Today, the house and gardens are open to the public on certain days, while the grounds remain accessible year-round. Dyrham Park has also served as a filming location for various films and TV shows, including the BBC’s Doctor Who sixth series episode “Night Terrors,“ filmed in September 2010. 🗓 DATE RECORDED: ⏱️TIME: 2:30 pm 📍 FILMING POSTCODE: SN14 🗺️ MAP: 🥾 ABOUT MY CHANNEL: *========================================* Join me on soothing and peaceful walks through quaint English villages and towns as I explore the English Countryside. Every week, I will share videos of my leisurely strolls in the countryside, and occasionally beyond. My videos offer a serene and tranquil experience, with no background music or commentary, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the calming ambiance of nature. Through my lens, you can appreciate the beauty of the English Countryside and perhaps find inspiration for your next walk or holiday. *PLAYLIST* *========================================* English Countryside Walk Towns and City Walk English Countryside Driving Beach And Seaside Walk *SUBCRIBE HERE* *========================================* Instagram: *SUPPORT ME* *========================================* All support greatly appreciated Paypal me: Join Channel Membership (monthly subscription): *STORE FRONT* *========================================* Teespring shop: Amazon Storefront: *THANK YOU CHANNEL MEMBERS* *========================================* Sheila Cassanova, Cynthia Lynch, Valerie Anderson, Regina Barton, Jo, Deborah Szemplinski, Jenny K Gilman, Petegoochonline5909, John Werner, TT, Natalia T, Kenneth Hartman *========================================* *Please note that some of the links in this video may be part of an affiliate program, which means that if you make a purchase through these links, I may receive a commission* Please do not copy, reproduce or distribute any content without my permission. If you would like to get in touch, please email: thecountrymanKevin@ K̳e̳v̳i̳n̳ T̳h̳e̳ C̳o̳u̳n̳t̳r̳y̳m̳a̳n̳ #cotswolds #thecotswolds #englishvillage #earlymorningwalk