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Ragley is the family home of the ninth Marquess and Marchioness of Hertford and their four children. Ragley Hall was designed by Robert Hooke a friend of Sir Christopher Wren in 1680, but due to a shortage of money was not fully furnished
and decorated until the middle of the 18th
century. Ragley is one of the earliest and best of England's great Palladian
Houses, the perfect symmetry of the architecture remains unchanged, save for
the spectacular portico by Wyatt added in 1780. The Hall houses a superb collection of 18th century paintings, porcelain and furniture, with Grisaille panels and inserts by Angelica Kaufmann. One of the highlights of the tour is the mural in the South Staircase Hall commissioned by the 8th Marquess. Called "The Temptation" it was painted by Graham Rust between October 1969 and March 1985 and includes the four children of the family with their godparents. It does have a very strong impact on the viewer due to its clever incorporation into the architecture of the stairway.
Ragley is set in 400 acres of picturesque parkland landscaped by the prodigious Lancelot 'Capability' Brown with 27 acres of gardens to the rear and side of the house including the circular rose Garden.
Ragley is 8 miles west of Stratford-upon-Avon off the A46/A435. Enjoy a picnic by the beautiful lake if the weather is fine.
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