• Henley DFAS

Longford Castle, Bodenham, Salisbury

Longford Castle, Bodenham, Salisbury
Friday 29th August 2025 (booking Thursday 19th June 2025)

Report on the Visit to Longford Castle, Friday 29th August 2025

What a treasure trove, the seat of the 9th Earl of Radnor.  I’m sure that I haven’t been to an historic property so very full of wonderful paintings such as Gainsborough, Van Dyke, Avercamp and Reynolds. 

The guides told us some of the Castle’s collections of paintings are in the National Gallery. BUT that was not all. Every large room was also full of amazing furniture of outstanding quality, fireplaces and ceilings of such interest, and finally a magical beautifully cast and tooled Renaissance metal chair by Thomas Ruker of incalculable value and of international importance. 

In one room we were thrilled to see a wonderful portrait of Queen Elizabeth I with her outstandingly painted ruff, with a crown and pearls wearing her red wig.  In another room we saw a painting of Helen Matilda (nee Chaplin), wife of the 5th Earl of Radnor, who catalogued all the Castle’s contents.

The view from the Chapel Room on the First Floor was most memorable because there was a notable view from each of the angled windows of a delightful vista over a long tree lined avenue, then a splendidly planted garden with statue, and then lastly the cricket pitch. Our guides were outstanding and really knew so much of every treasure they talked about.

I certainly have to visit this special castle again! 

Very many thanks to Angie Green for this report.
 

After visiting the castle we strolled through the beautiful gardens.

We were particularly lucky with the sunny weather.

 

 

 

 

Our final stop was a splendid lunch at the local pub, The Radnor Arms.

It was a most successful, happy day from start to finish.

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We have arranged an additional day visit in August, to Longford Castle.  This will be on 29th August 2025, with booking at the June lecture.  Longford Castle was originally built in the late 16th century to an unusual triangular plan. In the 18th century, the second Earl of Radnor employed the architect James Wyatt to transform it into a hexagonal palace. 
 

(Please click on the blue print above to continue reading)

 
Longford is home to many world-class works of art. The majority of works were collected by the family in the 18th and 19th centuries, but the collection continues to grow and evolve.  
 
 
As well as paintings by Old Masters including Anthony van Dyck, Claude, David Teniers, Frans Hals, Sir Joshua Reynolds, and Thomas Gainsborough, you can also see contemporary art and sculpture.  Alongside magnificent paintings, you can see stunning examples of Oriental porcelain, Brussels tapestries, and 18th-century English and continental furniture on display.  Longford sits on the banks of the River Avon, south of Salisbury, Wiltshire.
                             
The river runs through the estate, providing a spectacular backdrop to the gardens, which will also be open.