You know you’re in the thick of adulting/midlife when you finally treat yourself to a National Trust membership huh and so here we are, enjoying as many properties as possible wherever we are in the country and absolutely loving it!
Living in Harrogate, I feel it’s pretty ridiculous we had not yet visited Goddards, a National Trust property in York nearby, until last weekend. I’d never even heard of it until said membership was acquired to be honest!
So what is Goddards?
The house blends Jacobean, Queen Anne, neo-Georgian, and vernacular styles, featuring exquisite hand-made details, oak-carved staircases, and a barrel-vaulted drawing room ceiling made to last, which indeed did last!
The gardens are not only staggeringly beautiful to behold but they stir something within the visitor, they equally calm and inspire!
With five acres of formal ‘garden rooms’ thoughtfully designed by Dillistone, there is much to roam around from a formal terrace to herbaceous borders, wildlife pond, tennis courts, bowling green and even a historic glasshouse brimming with fruit and vegetables, remaining exactly as it was designed in the 20s.
Open from March to October on selected days, it’s well worth a visit. A secret garden of sorts, you leave the bustle of the city behind you as soon as you enter the breathtaking grounds.
Noel and Kathleen raised their four children—Peter, Kenneth, Betty, and Richard—at Goddards, living a life intimately connected to the rise of the Terry’s brand (famous for treats like the Chocolate Orange), providing you with a tangible feel of their lives in this enchanting property.
With nostalgic memorabilia in frames on the wall, I was personally transported back to my own childhood and the UK’s obsession with chocolate orange. Fun fact: chocolate apple came first and was later discontinued. Every day’s a school day!
Let’s take a moment to marvel at my husband Peter’s photos, because he couldn’t stop snapping! I told you it was inspiring there.
Whilst the house is now the National Trust’s head office with the house closed to the public, you can visit the gardens during opening times, enjoying a picnic in the grounds or visiting the on-site cafe.
They are well equipped for children of all ages too, providing wooden hobby horses, tennis and squash rackets and balls, wooden bricks and books to entertain all!
We strolled, we picnicked, we immersed ourselves in the history of the property and the Terry’s family archive; we played tennis on the courts, lounged on sun loungers and marvelled at the flowers. Bliss.
We were lucky to attend a book reading for children in the grounds whilst the late sun tickled our cheeks, a blueberry scone from the cafe in one hand, an iced latte in the other, making it one of the most memorable Sundays we’ve had in a long time.
Have you visited?
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