Hughenden Manor

Built in 1750's and home to Disraeli (known by his wealthy wife as 'Dizzy)--a very colourful PM of Britain, it also housed 'Operation Hillside', in the basement,  for cartography in WWII--and was on Hitler's 'hit list', since  the maps showed the Peenemunda rocket base.

Disraeli read widely and was famous for some very unusual and often thought-provoking quotes,

like the one about his political  rival Mr. Gladstone--to illustrate the difference between 'misfortune'and 'calamity'

A 'boy' in Victorian times would be aged anything up to age 21.

Lovely formal flower beds and a splendid kitchen garden-with a 'Bug Hotel' (you wouldn't encourage insects in Australia!)

and varied scarecrows.

There are many volunteer gardeners. The whole place is very 'homely'.The cafe offered the best stew I have ever tasted.

Most visitors are retired but this pic shows the age span from mauve hair to wheelchair!