Page 21 - Oundle Life September 2023

seven miles northwest of Oundle – since 1514, when Sir Robert Brudenell took possession of the house and parklands. The estate is still owned, and lived in, by the Brudenell family today.
The Grade I listed mansion was built and refined over a period of 600 years beginning in the 14th century, and boasts medieval, Tudor, and Georgian features. It still houses Tudor manuscripts and Old Masters, but perhaps none as impressive as what it used to house – the original manuscript of Geoffrey Chaucer’s ‘Canterbury Tales’ and the last privately-owned copy of Magna Carta were once in the care of the estate.
In more modern times, the house stood in for Thornfield Hall in the 1983 television series ‘Jane Eyre’, starring Timothy Dalton as Mr Rochester, the owner of Thornfield.
The 2005 movie ‘Tristram Shandy’ starring Steve Coogan and Rob Bryden, was also partly
filmed at Deene Park.
The house is set in 568 acres of beautiful and
historic parkland and (Grade II listed) gardens, including a brook and a fairy-tale stone bridge.
Although it’s still lived in, you can visit the house and gardens on select days throughout
the summer. Tickets cost £15 for the house and gardens or £8 for just the gardens. For opening times and to book tickets, request a group tour, or to book Deene Park for weddings or corporate events, visit www.deenepark.com
Stuart Barker is a professional writer and author. He has a keen interest in local history and likes nothing better than riding round Northants visiting historical sites on his motorcycle.
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All images courtesy of ©Robert & Charlotte Brudenell, Deene Park