On Saturday I decided to take advantage of the warm, sunny weather and my National Trust membership to visit Gibside, a beautiful 18th century country estate overlooking the Derwent Valley, only a few miles away from where I live. Gibside was formerly the home of the Bowes-Lyon family before becoming a National Trust property. I thought I’d share some of my photos with you today.
This is Gibside Hall, sadly now in ruins:
Several views of the Orangery, also a ruin:
The long tree-lined Avenue and the path beside it:
The Column of British Liberty, built in the 1750s:
I loved the pretty colours here:
The estate also includes a chapel, stables and a newly restored walled garden (still a work in progress). I didn’t take any pictures of these this time, but maybe on my next visit!
She Reads Novels 
looks so pretty. I always love seeing photos of English gardens
It’s very pretty at this time of year with all the flowers in bloom.
What a shame this beautiful property is in ruins !!! A lovely place ! Thanks for sharing your pics Helen !
It fell into disrepair in the 1920s. It is a shame, but I’m glad it’s now being protected by the National Trust.
What a beautiful building, it is a shame it has been left to ruin. I too went to a National Trust property this weekend and enjoyed a lovely stroll around the gardens at Stourhead.
It was a lovely weekend for walking around gardens. I’m glad you enjoyed your visit to Stourhead.
What a beautiful place. I do love a ruin, but it is sad that what must have been a fine building went that way.
It was abandoned in the 1920s apparently and fell into ruin after that. It’s a shame, but the rest of the estate is still a lovely place to visit.
Have you read Wedlock by Wendy Moore? It’s the story of Mary Eleanor Bowes, who was brought up at Gibside. There’s a quite a bit about the house in it. I’ve been intending to visit Gibside for ages (I’m also a north-east girl), this summer perhaps.
No, I haven’t read it, but it certainly sounds like something I would be interested in reading. Thanks!
I haven’t been to Gibside thank you for sharing your photos it looks beautiful even if sadly it is in ruins now.
It’s a shame so many of our historic buildings are in ruins, though they’re still interesting places to visit.
That avenue is stunning! Guessing you walk around the walls of the house? (Rather than there being anything left ‘inside’).
No, there’s nothing inside – it’s really just an empty shell. There’s a chapel on the estate that is still intact, though I didn’t manage to take a picture of it.
So much is lost when a property is left to ruin, especially when one like this must have oodles of history in it.
Ruins are still worth visiting but it’s so much more interesting when there are things to look at inside, isn’t it?