Episode Description:

In this episode, the Duchess meets Lady Inglewood of Hutton-In-The-Forest. In the episode, we learn about Hutton's incredible architecture, Lady Inglewood takes us through her exceptional gardening pedigree, and she also discusses with Emma the serendipitous origins of Hutton's world famous Potfest.

Top Quotes:

“Living in this house, and getting older yourself, you realise a hundred years isn’t very long. Time is a telescope.” - Lady Inglewood

“To preserve this place for future generations you need to work with the building.” - Lady Inglewood

About the Guest and Stately Home:

Lady Inglewood is the current custodian of Hutton-In-The-Forest with her husband Richard, Lord Inglewood. The couple have three grown up children together. Before becoming custodian of Hutton, Lady Inglewood was also a professional garden photographer for many years working on books for many publishers such as The National Trust.

Hutton-in-the-Forest is a Grade I listed castled house. The oldest part of Hutton-in-the-Forest is the Pele Tower, built in c. 1350 when the de Hoton family lived on the estate. It was built to fend off the threat from the Scots to the north. Originally it had a moat, and was added onto by successive generations in the local pink sandstone. This classical, almost rococo renaissance facade was built in the time of Sir George Fletcher 2nd Bart in 1685. The light coloured stonework and the delicate classical features contrast dramatically with the rest of the building. In the 19th century the interiors were redone by famous arts and crafts designer William Morris. According to legend, Hutton-in-the-Forest is the Greene Knight’s Castle in the Arthurian story of Sir Gawain and the Greene Knight. Hutton-In-The-Forest also hosts the world famous arts & crafts fair 'Potfest' and the estate has a highly coveted collection of contemporary ceramics today.

About the Host:

Emma, Duchess of Rutland, grew up far away from the world of the aristocracy. Born Emma Watkins, the Duchess grew up the daughter of a Quaker farmer, in the Welsh countryside. She trained as an opera singer in the Guildhall School of Music, and worked as a successful interior designer before meeting her future husband David Manners, the 11th Duke of Rutland, at a dinner party. Their marriage in 1992 thrust Emma into a new world, which included the responsibility of preserving one of the nation's greatest stately homes: Belvoir Castle. While simultaneously running the day to day operations of the castle, and raising five children, the Duchess became fascinated with the history and importance of the other stately homes of the UK. Join Emma as she embarks on a wonderful journey through time, to learn more about the incredible homes that have defined Great Britain and, most importantly, meet the other extraordinary women who work tirelessly in the background, to preserve their homes history and magic for future generations.

Resources:

https://hutton-in-the-forest.co.uk/

https://www.belvoircastle.com/

https://www.onefineplay.com/

https://www.emmaduchessrutland.com/