Day 137 - May 17th

Today we spent the day at Knebworth House with Wayne's cousin and her husband, who are currently visiting the UK from New Zealand. As it was John's first time in the country, we felt it was the perfect place to give him a taste of English history.

Knebworth House is a Grade II listed building and has been in the ownership of the same family for 19 generations. 

While I've visited Knebworth Park many times, I don't think I've been inside the house itself since primary school. I have a vague recollection of a school trip there.

Today, to get inside, we joined one of Knebworth House's official tours, a 30-minute experience shared with about 12 other visitors.

Banqueting Hall

Dining Parlour

The Library

Armoury Staircase

The State Drawing Room

View of the Banqueting Hall from The Minstrel's Gallery

The Falkland Room - Chinese Bed

The Nursery

Signed First Edition of Winnie the Pooh

Mrs Bulwer Lytton’s Room

Queen Elizabeth Room - a reconstruction (Queen Elizabeth I did visit at least three times but she would likely have had the best rooms - perhaps the State Drawing Room – rather than this one.) 

After looking round the house we climbed to the top of the 'Watchman's Tower'. The tower was originally used by the night watchman, but had been out of use since the 1950s until it was reopened in 2020 following restoration.

From the top of the tower we could see the nearby St Mary's Church.