My politics have always disinclined me towards any sort of aristocracy and opulent displays of wealth but I am beginning to appreciate the relevance of the great houses and estates in Britain
today. Visits to Duncombe Park and, most recently, Castle Howard (both still in private ownership) have made me realise what an important part these estates play (alongside the National Trust and English Heritage) in preserving not only cultural heritage but
natural heritage as well. Hundreds of acres of land that might otherwise be gobbled up for development. And the families who still live in these grand homes are actively conserving the land, which often provides an oasis for humans and other animals/birds in an increasingly stressed environment.
When it comes to opulence it must be hard to beat Castle Howard (the setting for the 1980s? TV adaptation of Evelyn Waugh's
Brideshead Revisited). The approach alone (of which I have no photos since I was behind the wheel) is mind-boggling. Again, despite the cold, there were lots of families enjoying the grounds (house is closed over winter) and the wooded areas. Here is a selection of Castle Howard shots on a day that alternated between sun and showers. Click on the images for a larger version.
And here is a photo of the landscape typical of this Ryedale area taken from one of the boundaries of the Castle Howard estate.
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