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Deene Park

Deene Park is a large sixteenth century house near Corby, whose main claim to fame is that it was once the seat of the Earls of Cardigan. The 7th Earl, James Brudenell, was the commander of the Light Brigade which made its famous charge during the Crimean War. Deene Park is a beautiful house set in a landscaped park, built at a time when the rich were richer and the poor were poorer. James Brudenell was a deluded bully who got away with terrible behaviour simply because he was rich and titled. Brudenell purchased positions of power within the army, and bullied competant career officers. He purchased his command of the 11th Hussars for £40,000 and led them in the Crimea. Brudenell wasn't responsibe for the misunderstanding which led to a crazy charge against Russian guns; but on reaching the guns, the secondary waves of charging cavalry were surprised to see their commanding officer riding swiftly in the opposite direction. Brudenell lived on a yacht while his men suffered the privations of a war in which many thousands died of disease. And yet when news of the charge of the Light Brigade got back to England, and was worked up into a tale of heroism, Brudenell described his own heroism enthusiastically. Even when his version of events was comprehensively challenged, the mad Earl acted as though nothing was wrong and continued to play the hero.

Brudenell illustrates the worst of the old society which was passing with social and political reforms of the nineteenth century. The Duke of Wellington, who had died in 1852, a few years before the Crimean War, had, like Brudenell opposed social reform. He had considered stability more important. For all his desire to maintain the past, Wellington also had an unexpectedly modern outlook: he may have preferred talent with a title to talent without, but he demanded competance, and lived with his men as a soldier. Wellington had no time for the frippery of old style formaility. Brudenell wasn't like this. He used and abused his position in a society that continued to defer to his wealth and title. The Crimean War was the first to be reported back by electronic telegraph and while the news was reported in this revolutionary way, it described a social structure which was disappearing. Deene Park is of course beautiful, and in its beauty you might see the kind of world that the Duke of Wellington wanted to preserve. Places like Deene Park represent continuity, the kind of stability that Wellington had valued so much. But the very fact that it is possible to visit Deene Park and feel a sense of continuity in itself show things have changed. As a visitor you are walking freely around the house of a man who in his lifetime would have set the dogs on you.

Deene Park still belongs to the Brudenell family.

Cream teas are available.

Opening Times: Deene Park is open the Sunday and Monday of Easter and August Bank Holiday weekends, and on Sundays from June to August, 2pm - 5pm.

Directions: Leave the M1at junction 15and then follow the A43 towards Corby. Deene Park is about five miles north east of Corby. There is plenty of space for car parking. Click here for an interactive map centred on Deene Park

Access: level access is limited to the ground floor in the house. The grounds are generally suitable for wheelchair users. Adapted toilet facilities are provided.

Contact:

phone: 01780 450278

web site: http://www.deenepark.com/index.htm