Peckover House

Peckover House entrance

Peckover House is a beautiful Georgian townhouse facing onto The Brink at Wisbech. The house is named for the Peckovers, a family of Quaker bankers. The house was constructed around 1722 and features lovely rococo carvings and plasterwork. It was bought by Joseph Peckover in the late 18th century. For many years Peckover ran his bank from his house until it was eventually moved to another purpose-built building nearby.

In the grounds is a thatched barn, built in the 17th century, and Georgian stables, in addition to a number of Victorian additions to the 2 acres of gardens, including an orangery, fernery, and summerhouses.

The gardens are rated one of the finest walled gardens in England and feature some exotic and unusual plantings, including Ginko Biloba, tulip tree, and fruiting orange trees thought to be over 300 years old.

Visitors can view three floors of rooms. On the ground floor are public rooms, including a drawing room and superb library. Upstairs are several smaller chambers including a family bedroom and a chamber given to memorabilia on the Peckover family and its place in Wisbech society.

Below stairs are the kitchen, pantry, and small activity area for children that includes a 'Cabinet of Curiosities'. There also activities for children, including a quiz trail.

Visiting

The house is a delight; it is not a stately home, but a comfortable house built by a well-to-do family. The interior is elegant but not ostentatious, with lovely furniture and plasterwork. What really sticks in my head, though, are the lovely gardens behind the house.

From the front you have no clue that there are any gardens at all; the front facade is relatively narrow, but once you pass through the house to the rear garden, it all unfolds before you. The gardens a delight in summer, with wonderfully lush colour, and cool nooks to relax in the shade.