Stately Cheshire

July 9, 2017July 9, 2017 / mikeosbornphoto / 8 Comments

Tatton Park is a grand mansion with sumptuous grounds which was once home to a very privileged family. But these days, it attracts thousands of visitors and is an excellent day trip from Manchester.

There are formal gardens, water features and even an old potting shed to explore, while an orchid show was a dazzling side attraction. The house is exquisitely decorated. Photography is permitted but the light is kept very low, which may have proved to be an unexpected advantage…

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Glass cathedral

May 8, 2016May 8, 2016 / mikeosbornphoto / 21 Comments

Syon Park is the London home of the Duke of Northumberland. And such a grand estate needs a fitting greenhouse. Well, this is called the Grand Conservatory and is an impressively elegant glasshouse, with a smattering of tropical plants and a magical setting for a wedding reception.

I was in my element with this building, with its layers of glass, architectural lines and symmetry – all topped off with a cathedral-like dome. There were few other visitors, so I could even lie flat on the ground to capture its height. A glasshouse fit for the aristocracy, a photographer’s delight.

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2014 moments #8

January 2, 2015 / mikeosbornphoto / 9 Comments

I would like to share my 10 most memorable photographs of the past year over the coming days with you. These are shots that I am particularly proud of, while each evokes a sense of place and meaning from 2014.

LONER IN THE GALLERY

This is a glimpse into one of London’s grand, stately homes – a dazzling Gothic pile called Strawberry Hill House. It’s a photograph that captures the sumptuous architecture of it gallery and the order of a row of chairs set out at the end of this room. The surprise – which I didn’t notice when taking the shot – is the shoes of a volunteer guide on the right hand side, seated for a moment between visitors.

A country estate

May 31, 2014May 31, 2014 / mikeosbornphoto / 14 Comments

Osterley Park has it all. Acres of formal gardens and waterways, lush woodlands and an impressive stately pile right at its heart.

You would think it lies in some English shire, but it’s just a handful of Tube stations away from my urban west London manor of Hammersmith.

As you walk around the grounds, the rural illusion is occasionally shattered by jets thundering over from nearby Heathrow Airport. But even so, this is a wonderful oasis close to the city.

This set of photographs captures just a little of a very enjoyable wander around a slice of National Trust goodness close to the heart of London.

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Stately seating

May 29, 2014May 29, 2014 / mikeosbornphoto / 3 Comments

This elegant bench looked so neat that I couldn’t sit on it – I took its photograph instead.

If you roam the beautiful grounds of Osterley Park in west London, there are no shortage of spots to rest your weary legs, from logs in the woods to stately seats close to the house at the centre of the estate.

I’ll share more from this London oasis with you soon.

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