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Basildon Park added to National Trust in South East by clinkadink on 10/09/2023

Parking & TOAL: 51.493479, -1.115587

The masterpiece of John Carr of York, this Palladian villa was built for Sir Francis Sykes between 1776 and 1783. It is a beautifully balanced building of warm Bath stone consisting of a main central block joined to individual pavilions by single-storey linkages.

Sykes was the youngest son of a Yorkshire yeoman farmer who made a fortune working for the East India Company on the great Sub-Continent. He held many important posts including Factor & Chief of Kasimbazara and resided at the Court of the Nawab of Bengal, until ill-health forced him to return to England in 1768. He bought Basildon from the estate of Viscount Fane, three years later. Sykes was a close friend of Warren Hastings, the Governor-General of India, who lived at nearby Purley Hall and, along with a number of other 'nabobs' resident in the vicinity, he helped give Berkshire its reputation of being the "English Hindoostan". He was created a baronet in 1781.

Basildon was inherited by Sir Francis' grandson and namesake in 1804, when parts of the house were still incomplete. Unfortunately, Sir Francis Junior inherited massive debts from his spendthrift father and, in 1838, the estate was sold to James Morrison MP, one of the richest of the early Victorian merchant princes. He was a famous art-lover who became instrumental in the setting up of the National Gallery. He exclaimed of Basildon, "What a casket to enclose pictorial gems!". His architect, John Papworth, undertook a number of sympathetic alterations at the house between 1837 and 1842, after which the family took up full residence in the best of Victorian traditions.

The last of the Morrisons died in 1910, after which Basildon often stood empty. It was used as a convalescent home for Berkshire regimental soldiers during the Great War, but subsequently fell into an increasing state of dilapidation. The estate was purchased by the 1st Lord Iliffe in 1928 in order to expand his Yattendon lands and the house was sold on to a George Ferdinando. This man had planned to have the place systematically demolished and re-erected in the United States! A scheme which, fortunately, never came to fruition, though many of the decorative fittings can now be seen in the Waldorf Astoria Hotel.

Miraculously, in 1952, Basildon was repurchased by Lord Iliffe's son and his new bride who set about restoring the place to its present splendour. Many fixtures and fittings were bought from other country houses whose fate was not so fortunate.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basildon_Park

Land owner permission not required.

View and discuss this location in more detail on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 51.49878, -1.121342 • what3words: ///stealthier.curated.tumble

The originator declared that this location was not inside a Flight Restriction Zone at the time of being flown on 10/09/2023. It remains the responsibility of any pilot to check for any changes before flying at the same location.

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Dunskey Castle (By Toby999)

Dunskey Castle is a short 20min walk from Portpatrick along a public footpath.

Land owner permission requirements unknown.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 54.83544, -5.109852 • what3words: ///cigar.purse.lined

Boscobel House and the Royal Oak, Brewood, Staffordshire (By D0c.Col)

Boscobel House is a great historic place to visit, easy to find just off the A5, and as it's an English Heritage property, it has their full usual amenities available. At the time of my visit you could get a 15% discount by obtaining tickets online before you go. It has a large carpark that costs £3 for all day (you can leave and come back same day), but on the day of my flight, I parked just passed the house on the grass verge by the entrance to a farmers field, on Shackerley Lane. There is also other historic buildings nearby such as Chillington Hall and the White Ladies Priory (the latter is also on the edge of the Cosford FRZ).

Some of the footage I took was taken inside a FRZ so I strongly suggest you get prior authorisation from RAF Cosford before you fly here. Cosford ATC is not always manned during the day so you need to request their form by email to [email protected]. You need to submit your forms by email at least 24 hours prior to your intended flight, however, they do not check their emails on a Thu or Fri as they work the weekends, therefore you need to take this into account. They have a contact number of 01902 377030, but all you can generally do is leave a message. The RAF also have a pre-flight reporting number of 0800 515544 but I've never had to use it yet.

Happy flying!

Land owner permission not required.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 52.6717, -2.241865 • what3words: ///create.worms.regret

Brocton Sundial & Cave houses (By G4YTK)

Two fights close together. Park on the small carpark for free W3W " conceals, skips. reserving. Take the right path, walk up the hill with the houses on your left, pass the gate pole, approx 75m the Cave House are on your left in the dip. W3W gourmet. dabble. baguette. Be careful of the trees keep the drone low.
Re join the path walk 50m and you will come to a stone with a hole through it, a arrow points left, follow the path up the hill and you come to the stone sun dial W3W, reserving. walnuts. dress.

Land owner permission requirements unknown.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 52.78069, -2.041029 • what3words: ///drank.width.duties

Gawton's Well, Knypersley Pool (By AlbionDrones)

Gawton's Well is a peaceful hidden spot - a healing well hidden in a grove of Yew Trees, if not for the signage showing where it is then I am sure most would never find it...

Depending on your sources, Gawton was either a servant at nearby Knypersley Hall or a local villager, who was afflicted with a skin complaint and bathed in the waters of the well, which was said to cure him, he then became a hermit, living in the woods under the nearby Gawton's Stone...

The second of 4 videos from that day, and 3 filmed within a quarter of a mile of each other. I was aiming to show the peace of the place and to document what is, given the shaded area and abundance of trees I flew only the AVATA as it was not really safe to fly either of the cine camera drones, I hope I have done the place justice...

To get here, follow the path inland from the Warder's Tower and then follow the signs, path can be muddy, but otherwise accessible to the wall and within, but the well itself requires a few steep steps to be climbed.

Land owner permission not required.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 53.0971, -2.15339 • what3words: ///cuddling.attracts.strumming

Ardgour lighthouse (By BIGboyzelluf)

Nice place to fly in de morning sun!
Wait for the ferry to leave Ardgour for the perfect picture!

Land owner permission not required.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 56.72145, -5.242674 • what3words: ///brings.urgent.baseballs

Warder's Tower, Knypersley Pool, Stoke-on-Stoke on Trent (By AlbionDrones)

Hidden behind the trees on the banks of Knypersley Pool - a reservoir built between 1825 and 1827 to feed the canal system - lies the impressive sandstone Warder's Tower - or Warden's Tower as it was called when I was a child growing up in the area!

Home now to several endangered and at-risk species of bat it was originally a gamekeeper's lodge for the Knypersley Estate, and was lived in until the 20th Century.

Captured at the end of September 2024 with the MINI3 Pro and AVATA1, just with the first blushes of autumn colours in the trees, I think another few weeks and the woods there will be stunning...

Parking can usually be had roadside near the dam, which gives about a half mile walk to the tower, but the road is currently shot for maintenance, meaning you have to park in the free car park - marked on map - which makes it a much longer walk - about 4 miles all told but only about 200ft of ascent in total.

Land owner permission not required.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 53.09521, -2.155606 • what3words: ///plug.thundered.melons

Highland Stream, Allt an Lagain, Loch Eriboll (By AlbionDrones)

Along the A838 (NC500), between Tongue and Durness, the long road snakes around Loch Eriboll, and at the Choraidh Tearoom there lies a small Highland Stream, Allt an Lagain.

With far-reaching views across Loch Eriboll this small river drops from the higher moors down a series of exposed rock runs and small waterfalls past clumps of bright purple heather flowers - and through one of the first privately built and run Hydro-Electric systems. The water is stained brown with Peat, and some of the exposed rocks are thusly stained red.

Perhaps not as stunning as a large waterfall, but it has its own quiet peace and beauty, and although the wind was on the limits of what was possible on our visit, we managed to make a quick flight up the river to capture this short video, I hope it is enjoyed...

Car Parking available at roadside or in the cafe Car Park. Fly up the hill, watch out for Golden Eagles and Peregrine Falcon though, both had a look at the drone on this flight!

Land owner permission not required.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 58.49235, -4.729075 • what3words: ///deploying.shopper.curbed

Castle Tioram (By BIGboyzelluf)

Great an quit place to fly!!!

Land owner permission not required.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 56.7845, -5.82922 • what3words: ///views.skylights.crashing

St James' Church (By Brooksy789)

Parking available on the B6011 via a layby between Linby and Papplewick villages. A small walk down a trail gets you to this historic church.

The church is thought to have been built in the 12th century. In the grant made by Henry II to Newstead Priory, part of the endowment was “The Town of Papplewick with the Church of the same name and the Mill.”. Legend has it that Alan A’Dale, one of Robin Hood’s men, was married here. The present tower dates from the 14th century. The nave and chancel were rebuilt by the Right Hon. Frederick Montagu in 1795 (after he had rebuilt the Hall.). In 1855, Papplewick was united with Linby. The Parish is now called ‘the Parish of St. Michael, Linby cum St. James, Papplewick‘. The building was further restored and repaired in 1938 in memory of John Chadburn, son of Mr. C. W. Chadburn who lived in the Parish.

Land owner permission requirements unknown.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 53.05827, -1.187194 • what3words: ///flushes.mindset.clockwork

Bestwood Village clocktower (By Buzbysdrone)

Built between 1873 and 1876 the clocktower was formerly the offices of the Bestwood Coal and Iron Company. Bestwood Iron Works was opened to the west of the colliery in 1881 and remained in use until 1928. The colliery was nationalised in 1947 and later closed in 1967. The clocktower is Grade II listed and remained the offices of the National Coal Board until 1985. After a period of being vacant, the building transferred into private ownership and resumed its use as offices in 2004.

Parking and TOAL was on the adjacent public highway.

Land owner permission requirements unknown.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 53.02283, -1.178944 • what3words: ///humble.shakes.turned


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