SAIRA KHAN’S PICK OF THE WEEK
ON HOW IMAGINATION IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS AS ITS IDYLLIC SUMMER FESTIVAL HITS ALL THE RIGHT NOTES
Seeing these lovely confetti fields blooming (above) ‘
in preparation for weddings to start making a comeback – such as the delphinium (inset), which we can see here at the Real Flower Petal Confetti Company in Pershore, Worcestershire – is great news.
I’ve got quite a few friends who were going to get married just before Covid-19 and I’ve realised it’s not just about the wedding day, it’s about their whole journey. A lot of people have lost money, they haven’t been able to try on dresses with their family, they haven’t been able to do all the preparations..
I think you have to put it into context; so many of us have had to suffer, but I do feel for these couples because it’s a journey of love and togetherness.
Hopefully this summer will be a time of celebration, a time to bring friends together and share their love. I think one thing that Covid-19 will do is make people celebrate with a little bit more joy. And the weddings that are going to take place now are even more special as everyone will be able to celebrate with more vigour.
Even though there are still some restrictions, in a way, I think it is better than not being able to have a wedding at all. Nothing is going to take away from the love that you’ve been through and how beautiful the bride is going to look.
Weddings are all about the bride and the groom and
‘ the party and the friends and family and the love and the food and the drink, and that’s why they are part of our tradition, culture and heritage.
To hear the bells ringing in the countryside for an upcoming wedding will be a great sign that we are getting back to normal.
Set in 600 acres of Hampshire parkland, The Grange in Northington has played host to everyone from Winston Churchill to Hollywood director Baz Luhrmann.
But while the splendid Palladian mansion’s history spans centuries and the estate boasts its very own lord and lady, its sparkling success is down to a very modern approach.
“Once upon a time the main house had a large staff,” says Lady Ashburton, whose husband Mark became the 8th Baron following the death of his father last October. “Today, the family is hands on to keep the estate going, supported by a small team,” she explains. “Gone are the days when country estates could rely only on agricultural income. We, and many others like us, are having to be imaginative. We’re looking at ways to diversify what we do here.”
TO THE MANOR REBORN
A magnificent neoclassical residence resembling a Greek temple, the house was the result of a 19th-century transformation of the original brick mansion first built in the 1660s. After years of decline through a change of ownership, it was bought by the Baring family in 1964 and saved from demolition in 1975. English Heritage took over as
‘Hearing music coming
from inside the theatre on a summer’s evening
is just magical. The
estate really buzzes
during the festival’
guardians, with the freehold remaining with the family.
Inside, only the shell of the original mansion remains, with its soaring ceilings and stunning views of the grass terraces and lake.
“There is always something new to appreciate here as one season follows another. It i s everchanging,” Lady Ashburton – Sophie – tells us.
RETURN OF THE MUSIC
A regular highlight takes place in the theatre, which was built inside the orangery in 2002 to host an annual arts event that became The Grange Festival. It now attracts people from all over the world to enjoy opera, dance and musicals.
Led by renowned opera singer and artistic director Michael Chance and run by a charity, the festival was selected for the government’s Events Research Programme pilot scheme allowing it to open to capacity from 1-18 July.
“After being cancelled last year because of the pandemic, this year’s festival is all the more appreciated,” Sophie says.
“Hearing music coming from inside the theatre on a summer’s evening is just magical. It has become a much-loved part of the British summer and the estate really buzzes during the festival.
“You can enjoy fabulous dining in the house, picnic on china in one of the marquees or just sit on the grass with an M&S sandwich.”
Sophie, 54, and 62- year- old Mark live at Lake House, looking out over the lower lake on the estate. “My late father-in-law built the house in the 1970s and that has become our family home now,” she says. “He created the most beautiful gardens, which we’ve opened as part of the National Garden Scheme.”
But they are not the only residents on the estate, as they now offer overnight stays. “We have self- catering or catered accommodation in Abbotstone Farm House, which sleeps up to 18 and has a pool and tennis court. Garden Cottage is ideal for couples, while The Clock Tower provides a relaxing family stay. Abbotstone Wood offers low-cost family camping and we have a glamping site with our partners Kymani Getaways for the first time this year. Our barn conversion is perfect for meetings and parties.”
Catering at The Grange has a firm focus on local produce.
‘There’s always a fine balance between preserving a heritage site and sharing it’
“Becka Cooper, a former opera singer, is our brilliant food wizard. She uses colourful, seasonal ingredients for her food which is always really creative without being pretentious or unnecessarily fussy.”
Weddings on the estate are particularly stunning. “We also host fashion shoots, film crews and event launches,” adds Sophie.
“People love the fact The Grange isn’t a blank canvas – there’s too much history in the walls for us to call ourselves that – but it’s not a finished product, either. The magic happens when you start making this place your own.”
FAMILY MATTERS
Sophie married Mark in 2016 and is very much part of The Grange team. With a background in business consultancy, her talents are certainly a huge asset, although she’s had to learn a lot on the job.
“Mark always knew he would take over one day and we’re grateful we could do lots of other things first,” she says. “I’ve had to learn to start small and grow from that, rather than be too ambitious at the outset.”
Mark, meanwhile, brings years of experience in finance to the estate and acts as “the senior partner”, as his 31-year-old son Fred from his first marriage puts it. Everyone, titled or not, works together – Fred, who will himself be in charge one day, works and manages the 18-acres of Home Farm, a Victorian model farm based there.
“The farm had become redundant as the majority of the estate was given over to arable crops and grazing. Fred is now growing organic, sustainable
‘Once upon a time the
main house had a
large staff. Today, the family is hands on to
keep the estate going’
fruit and vegetables,” says Sophie. “This year we are selling to local farm shops.”
Meanwhile, Mark’s younger brother Alexander, known as “Zam”, manages the estate’s vineyard, which they started together with their sisters Lucy and Rose. It makes award-winning, sparkling wine under The Grange brand. “We have 52,000 vines now across 30 acres and grow three different varieties of grape,” says Sophie
Sharing the estate with others is something the family believes in. “Since English Heritage became guardians, the house’s exterior and its immediate grounds have been accessible to the public. There’s no charge to come and walk here and it’s great to be able to share the beauty of The Grange with others,” Sophie says.
“There’s always a fine balance between preserving a heritage site and sharing it and I think, thanks to English Heritage and the festival, we’ve been able to do that well here.”
Working with future generations is also key –
‘I’ve had to learn to start small and grow from that, rather than be too ambitious at the outset’
the festival runs education and outreach projects with children across Hampshire, including a collaboration with the World Wide Fund for Nature to highlight threatened habitats across the globe.
Retirement is at least a decade away. There is lots to be done before that. “At some point we’d like to hand the management of the estate on completely to Fred, but that won’t be for a while yet,” says Sophie. “Mark and I always say we’d like to do more travelling together and we’d love to have the freedom to set off to somewhere like Greece and stay for a couple of months. We certainly want to end our days here though. Each day brings new challenges and joy.”
‘The house’s exterior and immediate grounds are accessible to the public. It’s
great to be able to share its beauty with others’