Once a grand stately home, Witley Court is now a shell of its former splendour. Ravaged by fire in 1937, the remains are open to the elements but that doesn’t stop it being any less awe-inspiring or fascinating; scraps of ornate plasterwork adorn the walls, signs of the grand staircase remain and the huge conservatory, now missing its glass domed roof, is still impressive.

Arriving early, the woodland gardens were cool and lush, and we wandered around the edge of lake, which was glassy in its stillness. The newly built children’s play area proved very popular, especially the outdoor musical instruments and the tree house. The formal gardens that wrap around the house are impressive in their manicured precision, but we preferred the wilderness area that is covered in a mass of waist-height ox-eye daisies and other wild flowers.

I can’t write about Witley Court without making mention of the fountain – the feature my two-year old was most excited to see. A huge Victorian statue of Perseus and Andromeda, it is said to shoot water over 90ft into the air. We settled ourselves under a large, shady tree to eat our picnic and awaited the 12 o-clock fountain display – it didn’t disappoint.

Images by Helen Mackinnon