Hatchlands

Hatchlands is a mid-Georgian house built in 1758 for Admiral Boscawen.

There is no record of who designed the building but the interior decoration is some of the earliest work of Robert Adam after his return from Italy. His designs for Hatchlands can be seen in the Soane Museum.

The Admiral did not live to enjoy his house for long and died there of fever in 1761.

Internal and external alterations have been made over the years but Adam's work remains in the drawing room, library and morning room and his ceilings and marble fireplaces are the glory of the house.

The house changed hands several times before being given to the National Trust in 1945. In 1988 the lease on Hatchlands was taken by Alec Cobbe. He brought with him the Cobbe Collection of furniture, pictures and musical instruments.

Mr Cobbe has carried out renovation and redecoration and today the rooms are bright and furnished with mainly Victorian pieces.

The Cobbe collection is the world's largest group of early keyboard instruments. It concentrates particularly on fortepianos and harpsicords dating from 1750 to 1840. The Cobbe Collection Trust holds regular recitals in the Music Room at Hatchlands on original instruments from the collection.

Hatchlands is set in a beautiful Repton park with several park and woodland walks.

The house also has a small garden designed by Gertrude Jekyll which flowers from late May to early July.