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Bentley Wildfowl And Motor Museum
Bentley Wildfowl and Motor Museum
Halland, Lewes,
East Sussex BN8 5AF
Tel: 01825 840573
About Bentley Wildflowl and Motor Museum
Bentley Wildfowl And Motor Museum is located at Halland, not far from Lewes in East Sussex, and it provides ticket holders with a multifaceted family day out, making it a super family attraction for everyone to enjoy. Bentley Wildfowl not only has a fabulous collection of more than 1000 swans, geese and ducks from all over the world, nor just an unparalleled coterie of Veteran, Edwardian and Vintage Cars and Motorcycles. A ticket to Bentley Wildfowl gives its holder the opportunity to revel in its perfectly cultivated gardens and a stately house of amazing grandeur, taking in magnificently sculpted trees and re-creations of prehistoric abodes, to a craft centre and a plethora of all year-round activities that pull in thousands of visitors and make Bentley Wildfowl a superb family day out.
At Bentley Wildfowl, ticket holders are confronted by the opulence of Bentley House, a Palladian manor located on a farmstead with a 700 year history and revamped by Raymond Erith for the Askews after the Second World War. The stately pile was extended and furnished with a jaw-dropping collection of antiques, furnishings and interior decor. For those in the know, the mid-18th century wallpaper of the Chinese Drawing Room is a major draw, while smoked mirrors between the windows and Jean Hornak paintwork make for a stunning sight in this extended east wing of the house, dating to the 1950s. Gilt furniture adds to the splendour on show, as do garden urns placed in each corner of the room, while delicate ceiling plaster with fruit emblems taken from a Kent design complete the stylish picture.
Erith started working on a second Palladian space in 1965, the Bird Room, which was finished just prior to Gerald Askew’s death. Dedicated to him, it includes his collection of Philip Rickman wildfowl paintings, among them a study of Askew feeding his birds. The Bird Room follows the pattern of the Chinese Drawing Room, albeit more understated, as embodied by the chimney stack based on one at Palladio's Villa Maser. Even so, the Rickman Gallery houses more than 150 watercolours by the Sussex painter and is an enthralling feature among Bentley Wildfowl’s numerous family attractions.
There’s an enfilade between the two Palladian rooms, the oval ante-room being the point where the old and new houses meet, and there’s an adjoining sitting room with corner fireplace and wave-top bookcase designed by Erith. The low-beam dining room contains elegant painted furniture and is one of the oldest features in the house, its table originating in the 17th century, the Venetian chairs the 18th.
This spectacle would warrant a family day out alone, but the adjacent gardens are a major draw for Bentley Wildfowl as well, underlining its status as a variegated family attraction. Its ancient yew hedges mimic a number of rooms following the house layout, and the informal stylings of landscape gardener Jim Russell showcase rare trees and plants, notably roses, including Bourbons, Gallicas and Damasks. The Askews were impressed by gardens seen at Isfield Place, Sissinghurst and Charleston Manor, and they were lucky enough to inherit Ginkgo Biloba and Swamp Cypress trees at the front of the estate. Additionally, in 2006-07, Bentley Wildfowl laid out 100 metres of willow tunnels, paths, domes, arbours and bridges, running to an islet after the design of local artist Jenny Arran. The 10 willow types offer numerous shades and are the latest feature in an estate unveiled by Mary Askew in 1978.
Celebrating its 30th anniversary year, Bentley Wildfowl’s many aspects ensure that it remains just the ticket for both bird and car lovers. In 1962, Gerald Askew went to Slimbridge Wildfowl Trust and decided to set up his own Wildfowl facility at Bentley Wildfowl. He started off by introducing 20 pairs of Swans, Geese and Ducks. A bulldozer dug out a pond in one of the fields and a spring was discovered perchance. With this water source, the Bentley Wildfowl Duckery was founded, soon bringing in Mandarins, Carolinas, Emperor Geese and Black-necked Swans from Australia. The Bentley Wildfowl sanctuary has no fewer than 125 of the planet’s 147 wildfowl species on its 23 acre site, among them exotic examples like flamingos, cranes and Hawaiian Geese, which are one of the endangered species saved with the help of Bentley Wildfowl’s ongoing breeding work. Ticket holders can see a whole host of birds, not to mention the Education zone, where visitors and school parties can find out all about their habitats and behaviour.
The other nationally-respected collection that can be viewed on site is the Bentley Wildfowl Motor Museum, containing vehicles loaned by those who wish them to be seen by fellow motor buffs. Thus, the collection changes with regularity, though nearly all are in roadworthy condition and drive well.
The Bentley Wildfowl Motor Museum was founded by Hugh Stuart-Roberts, who was in possession of several ancient motors, classed as Veteran (built before the end of 1904), Edwardian (between 1905 and 1914) and Vintage (between 1915 and 1930). They formed the core of a collection that has grown ever since, including historic cars from all eras, notably a 1934 BMW 315, 1927 Minerva, 1909 Alldays & Onions, 1987 Lamborghini Countach and 1992 Diablo, 1953 Jaguar XK 120, 1985 DMC DeLorean, 1937 Lagonda Rapide, 1937 Derby Bentley, 1950 Frazer Nash Mille Miglia and 1987 Benetton F-1 racing car.
An awesome display, but Bentley Wildfowl has even more for the price of your ticket! Among the other features that make it a splendid family day out are the mixed woods that were part of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s 17th Century estate. Boasting more than 10 acres of idyllic circular paths (for which a leaflet can be acquired from the Information Centre and in boxes near the estate entrance), Glyndebourne Woods offer a calming walk through conifers and deciduous trees, airy glades and, in May, carpets of bluebells. Additionally, there’s an Ancient Buildings Trail with several authentic re-creations of olde buildings, built by the East Sussex Archaeology & Museums Partnership. Among them are Mesolithic, Bronze Age and Saxon huts crafted after archaeological finds, making for a thrilling peak into the distant past. The same goes for a trail with interactive displays that make learning about wildlife fun on a family day out to Bentley Wildfowl. Then there’s the childrens' adventure playground, a gift shop, and a cafe with home-made food. Further, Childrens' Parties are set in the former stable block, with a licensed tearoom dishing out lovely home-made cakes and cream teas. In addition, there’s plenty of picnic space and the Woodsman at Bentley Wildfowl puts on woodland children’s birthday parties with goody bags. Bentley Wildfowl offers disabled facilities throughout and free electric wheelchairs, making it a super family day out for everyone.
During School holidays and on weekends, extra family attractions included in the ticket price include a mini steam railway manned by volunteers between April and September, and each Sunday in Winter (weather permitting). Other activities for youngsters include an Easter egg hunt, orienteering and free quiz sheets. Older ticket holders can go to the Bentley Wildfowl Shire Barn crafts centre, with resident woodcarvers, a glass engraver, toy maker and others making wood, glass and leather ware and model ships. Further, the estate is available for weddings and special occasions and events throughout the year (details at the Bentley Wildfowl website).