AA Dorney Court

About trip

Distance: 5 miles, Minnimum Time: 1hr 45mins, Difficulty: Easy, Description: Located in Buckinghamshire’s most southerly village, close to the Thames, Dorney Court prides itself on being a genuine medieval village manor house. Motorways and modern housing estates grow ever closer, but the Grade I listed house with its jumble of timber-framed gables has survived intact and unchanged for almost 600 years, looking much the same today as when it was first built. Fruit and Honey. The village of Dorney stands on a gentle rise in the Thames flood plain and is cut off from the river by spacious meadows where evidence of prehistoric life can be found. The name Dorney means ‘island of bumblebees’ and the local Dorney Court honey is renowned for its delicate, light flavours. But it is not just honey for which the house is justly famous. The large carved stone pineapple standing in the corner of the Great Hall commemorates the first pineapple to be grown in England. The story suggests that the top of a pineapple, imported from Barbados, was sliced off at a dinner in the City of London and given to the Earl of Castlemaine’s gardener to plant at Dorney Court. The pineapple thrived and was subsequently presented to Charles II in 1661. Nobody can be sure if it really happened but it makes a good story. Medieval Manor House. Back in the mid-1920s, Country Life described Dorney Court as ‘one of the finest Tudor manor houses in England’. Few would dispute that label and what endears the house to so many people is its long tradition of continuous family occupation - more than 450 years. The first owner was recorded after the Norman Conquest and after changing hands several times in the 15th century, the house was sold in 1504 for 500 marks. By the middle of the 16th century the manor, together with 600 acres (243ha), was owned by Sir William Garrard, Lord Mayor of London. It is through this family that the town of Gerrards Cross got its name. Sir William Garrard’s daughter Martha married Sir James Palmer of Kent and Dorney Court has remained in the Palmer family to this day. One family portraits depicts Jane Palmer, born in 1564 and a forebear of Diana, Princess of Wales. The layout of the house has changed little, although work has been undertaken to restore furniture and paintings. While you're there: After visiting Dorney Court, take time to look at the Church of St James the Less at Dorney, which dates from the 13th century. Note the Norman font, the 17th-century gallery, the Garrard tomb and the porch that was built in 1661 to celebrate the birth of Lady Anne Palmer. What to look out for: With its Victorian Gothic façade, Oakley Court is an obvious choice for Hammer horror film producers - especially as it lies next door to Bray studios, home of Hammer. The house, now a hotel, has been used in various movie productions, including The Curse of Frankenstein (1957) and The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975). The Chapel of St Mary Magdalen has been a place of worship since before the Norman Conquest. Parts of it date back to the 12th and 13th centuries. Where to eat and drink: The Palmer Arms at Dorney has been a public house since the 18th century and is said to be haunted by a white lady. The usual snacks and main meals, including jacket potatoes, sandwiches, liver and onions and grilled salmon, are available along with Sunday roast. Directions: From the car park turn left to follow the road across Dorney Common, towards Dorney village. Pass Wakehams, a timberframed house with a well situated at the front. Away to the right is a fine view of Windsor Castle and its famous Round Tower. Keep left at the T-junction, cross a cattle grid and join the pavement. Walk through Dorney, keeping the Palmer Arms on your right. Bear left into Court Lane, follow the path parallel to the road and pass the entrance to Dorney Court. You soon reach the Church of St James the Less. Continue on the path now on the left side of the lane and when the road bends right, go straight ahead at the sign for Eton College Rowing Centre. Keep to the right-hand side of the drive and follow the parallel path as it sweeps away to the right by a plaque and a car park. The path curves past the end of the rowing lake and over a footbridge. Make for some trees and reach the Thames Path by a Sustrans waymark. Turn left here and follow the national trail, keeping Bray Marina on the opposite bank. Further downstream the imposing cream façade of Bray film studios edges into view, its sweeping riverside lawns and weeping willows enhancing the elegant scene. Continue on the leafy Thames Path and soon catch sight of Oakley Court across the water on the Berkshire bank. Beyond the hotel can be seen the cabin cruisers and gin palaces of Windsor Marina and next to it lines of caravans and mobile homes overlooking the river. Through the trees on the Buckinghamshire bank is the outline of Eton College’s new boathouse and its superb rowing lake. To gain a closer view, briefly follow a path beside the river boathouse and slipway, through a gate walk towards the lake and then retrace your steps to the Thames Path. On the opposite bank of the river is Windsor Race Course Yacht Basin and ahead now is the Chapel of St Mary Magdalen. Follow the path alongside the chapel to a kissing gate and about 50yds (46m) beyond it reach a lane. With the Old Place opposite and an avenue of chestnut trees on the right, turn left and return to the car park.