National Trust - Avebury Manor — Attraction in Avebury

We went to Avebury on a sunny Sunday and had a pleasant time. We arrived at the car park and managed to luckily get a space. I definitely advise getting there early if you can.

We then walked down a narrow tarmac path towards Avebury. There were lots of really helpful signs and maps to guide us to the Visitor Reception area. First though, we went into the shop for, of course, to get a fridge magnet and a pin badge. They had a fridge magnet, but the lady said they used to have pin badges but no longer, which was sad. We chatted a bit and then headed to Visitor Reception, which is a massive barn, with so much information to read about the site in. We made our way to the desk, and low and behold, there were property pin badges. We were very happy and obviously surprised to see them when, under the assumption, they didn't do them anymore. They also had pin badges in the museum, too. Maybe they should get some more for the shop or at least tell the shop team that there are pin badges to get in other places on site. But anyway, tangent over, the lovely VR guy explained the significance of every detail on the pin badge, which was really cool how well thought out it was. He gave us a map and the tickets for the museum and the house and gardens. Whilst my partner used the loos, our child found the colouring in and puzzles table, which was really nice to have to keep small children entertained.

We made our way into the museum, and it was small but interesting. Personally, it's not really my sort of history I liked, but it was really well displayed and good information. We only spent a small while there and then headed for the house and gardens.

We entered the walled garden next to the church, and it was so colourful still despite it being the middle of Autumn. The dahlias were so pretty, and we also got to see the resident Robin up close, which was cute.

We made it to the Manor House and parked the buggy outside. The volunteer on the door was really sweet and really helped us with finding our way round the house. We also got given a map of the floor plan of the house which was needed as it was a maze of amazing rooms. It definitely was one of the most atmospheric houses we have been too with each room having its own style and story. It had ambient sounds and music as well as fake fireplaces with orangey glows. The kitchen did this brilliant with the glow from the oven and the clattering of utensils. We met another house volunteer called Andrea in the dining room. She explained the story of the wallpaper and the gout chair and the exercise chair in the corner. She was also very good with our child. She was ever so friendly and informative. We also really enjoyed the dressing up room, and the house really felt like they wanted children there, whereas most National Trust houses you feel them on edge whenever you walk in with children. It is a really welcoming, friendly house for everyone with so much to see.

Once we had finished the house, we headed outside into the rest of the gardens. They were very pretty and pleasure to stroll around. We headed back out towards the Visitor Reception area, where there were loads of seats, so we decided to have lunch there. We finished up and made our way into the village. My partner loved the Henge shop, which isn't National Trust, but had lots of lovely stuff all the same to see and buy. We stopped off at the bookshop and perused.

Eventually, we made it to the The Cove, which is the 2 main big rocks in the centre of the Avebury circle. These are enormous and great for photo opportunities. We said hi to the sheep and went back across the road to see more of the stone circles before heading back to the car park.

The only problem with Avebury is that it is definitely not pram/buggy friendly. It is very narrow everywhere, such as the pathway down front the car park or the gateways or just the area in general. So, if you can, try and avoid one as you will enjoy it more. Overall, we loved Avebury, but we will definitely not bring a buggy next time when...

Really great national trust house, great how you can touch, feel and sit on everything, they actually ask you to try things, the horse riding machine was mad, and look for the secret door. Although the staff could answer most questions, it all seemed to be from the time of The Manor Reborn series onwards, we needed to know more about the house itself, so back home asked Google, and found this really interesting. The manor house was built on or near the site of a Benedictine cell or priory of St Georges de Boscherville, Normandy, founded in 1114. Subsequently, the estate passed into the ownership of Fotheringhay College, Northamptonshire, in 1411. Fragments of the religious foundation were incorporated into the later house.

William Sharington bought and surveyed the manor in 1548, suggesting alterations to the existing building. The earliest parts of the present house were probably built after William Dunch of Little Wittenham in Berkshire (now Oxfordshire) purchased the estate in 1551. It was some distance from most of his lands which centred on Wittenham, but he appears to have purchased it because of an interest in ancient monuments such as the Avebury stone circles. Around that time, a stone dovecote was erected in the grounds. In the 1580s, Dunch passed it on to his younger son, Walter, whose daughter, Deborah, Lady Moody, grew up at the manor before emigrating to America and founding Gravesend in Brooklyn in 1645.

After Walter Dunch's death in 1594, his widow, Deborah, married Sir James Mervyn or Marvyn (who served as High Sheriff of Wiltshire in 1596), and the couple were responsible for a major extension or remodelling of the house around 1601, especially the south range. In 1640 the Dunch family sold it to John Stawell, and the estate was sequestered when he was accused of treason in 1646. It was sold to George Long in 1652 but restored to Stawell in 1660 on his release from the...

Unlike most Nat Trust properties, in as much as we're asked not to touch, not to sit etc .... not a thistle in sight !!! Met at the entrance with 'touch everything, enjoy, sit, go to bed .. ' !!! The empty manor was left to the Trust, in need of renovation. The BBC approached with an offer of filming a 'To the Manor Reborn' series, featuring Penelope Keith etc, looking at completing the much needed work, and providing replica (handmade) furniture, fitting each room from a different period of time it was lived in by its current occupants. Unlike many, this Manor hasn't been passed down from generation to generation, so there is little family history, but lots of seperate family stories. The result is an eclectic mix of times, families and stories. Absolutely superb for children, it was a real pleasure seeing the children dressing up, going to bed, holding kitchen utensils and having to guess they're uses. The guides were simply brilliant - most especially the kitchen guide, the children were totally transfixed by his stories. Beautiful gardens, plenty to see. Usual gifts, cafe, toilets etc. Lovely sculptures on display in the gardens. Would recommend, and then there's the stone circle !!! ... what more could...