Talk: The Architecture of Ickworth House

Saturday 1st November 2025 at 11.00am

Doors open at 10.30am

Tickets: £10 (including a free tea or coffee)

Tickets are available HERE by phoning 01728 454022, or in person Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 10-12pm at the AJH corner office.

Join us for a fascinating talk by National Trust volunteer Allen Burbidge as he brings to life the remarkable story of Frederick Hervey, 4th Earl of Bristol and Bishop of Derry — the flamboyant aristocrat who imagined an Italianate palace in the heart of the Suffolk countryside.

In this engaging and richly illustrated talk, you’ll uncover the bold vision behind Ickworth House: Hervey’s inspiration drawn from his European travels, his ambitious plans for the estate, and why his grand design was never fully realised in his lifetime. Discover how the house evolved after his death, including the architectural and garden changes that shaped the Ickworth we see today.

Allen will also share the story of a monumental recent achievement — the £5 million conservation project completed in 2020, which restored the iconic rotunda roof and safeguarded this architectural gem for generations to come.

The event ends at approximately 12 noon.