The Royal Oak's Home (Boscobel House)

Member Name: luckyarchers

Product:	Boscobel House
Date:	19/05/08 (440 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Historic house and grounds with friendly staff.

Disadvantages: Very limited disabled access to house.

During the Civil War, when King Charles II's enemies (Cromwell's Parliamentarians) won the battle of Worcester in 1651, he needed somewhere to hide. This is one of the homes where the inhabitants helped him. While in fear of searches being made of the house, Charles II hid in a now famous oak tree in the grounds, after which a lot of pubs where named The Royal Oak.

The original oak no longer survives but its descendant does, and saplings with a Certificate of Authenticity can be brought for £9.99. (As our garden isn't big enough to have an oak tree grow in it without risking the roots causing damage to buildings, we weren't tempted by this offer.)

When we first arrived at the house, we were firstly greeted by ducks in the free car park, which is next to their pond. No doubt they were hoping we had a picnic to share. We met the friendly chickens, and not so friendly geese later in the part of the grounds right next to the house.

We got another friendly welcome by the staff at the reception. They passed us on to an entertaining guide. Our guide looked like he could be a cousin of John Cleese (the actor who played Basil Fawlty). He was tall, largely due to his long legs, slim, had a moustache, and also had a great sense of humour.

Entrance to the main part of the house is by guided tour only, but visitors are welcome to look around the grounds and the exhibition either while they are waiting for a guide, or after the tour.

Our tour took about 40 mins, but seemed to go more quickly due to the entertaining style of our guide. The house had been used as a farm and a hunting lodge. As well as the main rooms, which were furnished close to how they would have been in the 17th century, we saw the hiding places called Priest Holes, where the Catholic Gifford family hid clergy when their faith was out of favour with the authorities. They didn't realise when it was being built that their future king would need to hide there.

English Heritage do their best to show the building as it would have been in the 17th century, but are hampered by the alterations made by successive owners.

In the grounds the thing that struck me most was the painted imitation windows on the outside wall. With the introduction of a Window Tax, the owners of this house (like a lot of others) decided to block some up, so they paid less. I think that the mock windows look like a face looking out over the gardens.


*** Prices for 2009 ***

Adult £5.20, Child £2.60, Concession £4.40.

There was a couple of hours' worth of interest for me at this English Heritage property and as we have annual season tickets, we didn't have to pay the admission charges.


*** Opening Times & How to Get There ***

This property is open on 10.00 am to 5.00 pm on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, plus Bank Holiday Mondays until 31 October 2008.

They have a tea room which is open at peak times only. You are likely to be relieved to know that the toilets are open during all opening hours though.

It is 8 miles north west of Wolverhampton on a minor road between the A5 and A41. It is signposted from these major roads.

Those with a sat-nav will want to know the postcode ST19 9AR.

The nearest public transport is Cosby station which is 3 miles away.

Tel: 01902 850244

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/upload/pdf/bos cobel_ks1_2.pdf has information for teachers, which may also be interesting to other visitors. The guide book is a good souvenir but not essential to my enjoyment of the site.


*** Related Sites Nearby ***

The ruins of nearby White Ladies Priory is signposted from Boscobel House. (Charles II was also helped here.) We followed the signpost but would not recommend others take their car this way. We couldn't get our modest sized card (Ford Focus) down the White Ladies side road without our paintwork being scratched by the overhanging vegetation. Also in wet weather cars are likely to get stuck in the muddy field here. Admission is free.

Moseley Old Hall is now owned by the National Trust and Charles II also hid from Cromwell's men here. We were also very pleased with the entertaining tour of this house, given by a lady who was dressed as the housekeeper. This building is closer to how it would have been in the 17th century than Boscobel House.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-fin daplace/w-moseleyoldhall/


*** Recommendation ***

I think that visitors interested in history would appreciate Boscobel House and grounds, but sadly most of the house is inaccessible to wheelchairs.

Summary: A hiding place of Charles II during the Civil War.