Althorp

Stately Home to the Spencer family for 500 years, Althorp is one of England's premier historic houses.

[Althorp @AlthorpHouse]

We are thrilled to confirm the full line up for the Althorp Literary Festival, which will take place 11th - 13th April 2025 📚

Tickets will be available to purchase from our website on Friday 21st February.

Day schedule and FAQs to follow early next week.

[Adey A @AdeysAlthorp]

The magnificent "Crimea" oak in Althorp Park this foggy morning. This huge oak is so called because at the time of the Crimean war 1853 - 1856 The Royal Navy tried to buy her for ship building. She is 650 years old.
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#Spencerestates #oaktrees #History

[Adey A @AdeysAlthorp]

The month of March gets off to a decent start weather wise here at Althorp. It's actually feeling a little like spring at the moment.
Our brown hare population certainty have a "spring" in their step.
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#hares #springtime #Spencerestates

[Adey A @AdeysAlthorp]

Taking the waist measurements of a mature lady for our records.
This particular lady is over 750 years of age and looking very good for her years I must say.
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#oaks #Spencerestates

[Charles Spencer @cspencer1508]

My handsome neighbours at @AlthorpHouse are looking their very finest now.

[Charles Spencer @cspencer1508]

Lovely shot by the head of Conservation here of one of the birds that grace the Park at @AlthorpHouse

[Adey A @AdeysAlthorp]

Biggest brood of tufted ducks I've ever seen @AlthorpHouse
They were all busy chasing insects across the water.
Mother did well to hatch that lot!
[email protected] #Spencerestates

[Adey A @AdeysAlthorp]

A rather chilled out hare on the lawn @AlthorpHouse this morning.
The brown hares here in the park are definitely less concerned about humans being around them.
Visitors to Althorp often comment on how nice it is to see them.
[email protected] #hares #Spencerestates

[Charles Spencer @cspencer1508]

The Billiard Room at ⁦@AlthorpHouse⁩ - ready to receive this month and August’s day visitors to Althorp.

[Charles Spencer @cspencer1508]

Quite a bed…. The Queen Mary Room, at ⁦@AlthorpHouse⁩

[Charles Spencer @cspencer1508]

Tim the Peacock on manoeuvres, at ⁦@AlthorpHouse⁩ Tim loves July and August, when Althorp is open to day visitors, because he’s worked out that people always drop crumbs from the cafe tables.

[Charles Spencer @cspencer1508]

The Great Room at ⁦@AlthorpHouse⁩ - once the main reception room for guests of the family, but now a dining room.

[Adey A @AdeysAlthorp]

Tufted ducks nest hidden in the Lake margins @AlthorpHouse today.
Hoping to see 11 ducklings very soon🤞
[email protected] #wildfowl #Spencerestates

[Adey A @AdeysAlthorp]

Sika deer calf sitting tightly in long grass @AlthorpHouse today.
Sika calves are small and very vulnerable at this age, the mother leaves them for several hours at a time. Never attempt to touch them and always keep dogs under control.
[email protected] #deer

[Charles Spencer @cspencer1508]

At the top of the main staircase at ⁦@AlthorpHouse⁩ - 20th century family portraits by William Orpen, Augustus John, and (2 by) Nelson Shanks.

[Althorp @AlthorpHouse]

Meet our newest recruits: Andora, Embla, Tyra and Oda the alpacas!

The two mothers and their adorable crias joined us at Althorp at the start of June and are settling in beautifully.

[Charles Spencer @cspencer1508]

First thing today - the pollarded lime avenue at ⁦@AlthorpHouse⁩

[Charles Spencer @cspencer1508]

The new Althorp Alpaca herd started today, with the arrival of this gorgeous quartet; two mothers with their crias (babes).

[Adey A @AdeysAlthorp]

A beautiful common spotted Orchid @AlthorpHouse today.
There are two other species of orchid found in Althorp Park, they are, Bee orchids & Pyramidal orchids.
[email protected] #orchids Spencerestates

[Charles Spencer @cspencer1508]

Fun evening at ⁦@AlthorpHouse⁩ last night, hosting a bbq for ⁦@NorthantsCCC⁩ team. Coach ⁦@darren_lehmann⁩, captains ⁦@david_willey⁩ & Luke Procter, plus wives & girlfriends. I’ve been a Life Member of the club for 40 years, was president & am now patron.

[Charles Spencer @cspencer1508]

Early morning manoeuvres at ⁦@AlthorpHouse⁩ today - adult geese beginning to show their goslings round the Park. The warm weather this spring has played its part in ensuring a particularly successful breeding season.