Rare chance to peek inside 18th century mansion

Sandy Town Council’s next organised walk will visit Sandye Place on Wednesday, July 6, formerly a manor house and now an academy.

The red brick house dates from the 1750’s and during the tour you can see the remaining parts of the original medieval stone house.

There will be a chance to look around the interior with its panelled rooms, including a barrelled staircase, Jacobean Gallery and Powder Room where men and ladies had their hair powdered in the 18th century. There is also a warren of servant’s rooms in the service wing and basements.

The group will also walk in the delightful grounds, which retain much of their charm as when they were a 35-acre wooded park. There is a circular ironstone dovecote, the home of fantailed doves, standing on the banks of the River Ivel which runs through the grounds.

Walkers can hear about the famous families who lived at Sandye Place and of the Sandy Show, once the largest one day horticultural show in the midlands, which started at the manor in 1869.

The cost of the guided walks are £5.50 per person and payment is required on booking. Please note that no refunds are available unless the council cancels or changes the date of the walk. Meet at 7pm outside Sandy Town Council offices in Cambridge Road.

Call 01767 681491 of email [email protected]

The next walks are Cardington on Sunday, August 14, and The Squires Walk, part of the Bedfordshire Walking Festival, on Wednesday, September 14.