Apley Park, Astley Abbotts
Introduction
The photograph on this page of Apley Park, Astley Abbotts by Stephen Richards as part of the Geograph project.
The Geograph project started in 2005 with the aim of publishing, organising and preserving representative images for every square kilometre of Great Britain, Ireland and the Isle of Man.
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Apley Park, Astley Abbotts
Image: © Stephen Richards Taken: Unknown
From a distance presenting a picturesque outline, enhanced by battlements, towers and turrets. It is the work of John Webb, mostly known for designing landscapes, c1811-20 for Thomas Whitmore. The material is local Grinshill stone. Grade II* listed. The house was a school between 1962 and 1987, underwent a period of neglect and dereliction before being bought in 1997, restored, sold again in 2004 and since converted into flats. It is said to be the model for P.G. Wodehouse's Blandings Castle. Fellow Geographer Richard Webb tells me that it was a boarding school run by Shropshire County Council and so was free except for boarding fees. "Quite an unusual institution and a well loved one locally".
Images are licensed for reuse under creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0
Image Location
Latitude
52.58093
Longitude
-2.426904