Private tours for up to 40 people may be booked by emailing sarah@rycotepark.com. You will be greeted with a cup of coffee/tea and biscuits in the beautifully restored Barn by Sarah Taylor, who will give an introductory talk on the fascinating history of Rycote. You will then visit the Chapel where either Sarah Taylor or one of the custodians will tell you more about the architecture and history of this glorious building. From there, you will proceed down to the East front of the house to begin the tour of the gardens and grounds, taking in some of the Capability Brown park and the terraces and walled kitchen garden designed by Elizabeth Banks. For afficionados of such things, there are even some large compost bays to admire. You will also see the magnificent Oriental Plane in what was once the privy garden of the Tudor palace.

Tours are £15 a head.

They are also available free of charge for selected local charities as a fund raising event, along with the use of the Barn.