Quirky 18th-century, 16 sided house with fascinating interior decoration and collections
Things will look a bit different at A la Ronde this season. Work is happening to fix our leaky roof. Look out for some one-of-a-kind 16-sided scaffolding, find out why we’re doing this essential work and how you can help us keep the unique shell gallery safe and dry.
This unique sixteen-sided house was described by Lucinda Lambton as having 'a magical strangeness that one might dream of only as a child'.
It was built for two spinster cousins, Jane and Mary Parminter, on their return from a grand tour of Europe in the late 18th century. It contains many objects and mementoes of their travels.
The extraordinary interior decoration includes a feather frieze, gathered from native game birds and chickens, laboriously stuck down with isinglass.
There is also a fragile shell-encrusted gallery, said to contain nearly 25,000 shells, which can be viewed in its entirety using a touch screen 360 degree virtual tour.
Last entrance to the house is 4.00pm.
| Gift Aid | Standard | |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | £11.20 | £10.00 |
| Child | £5.60 | £5.00 |
| Family | £28.00 | £25.00 |
| 1 adult and up to 3 children | £16.80 | £15.00 |
|
Group Adult
Minimum group size 15
|
N/A | £9.50 |
Most of our places run the Gift Aid on Entry scheme at their admission points.
Under this scheme, if you're not a member you have the choice of two entry tickets:
If the place runs Gift Aid on Entry, we'll offer you a clear choice between the Gift Aid Admission prices and the Standard Admission prices at the admission point. It's entirely up to you which ticket you choose.
Gift Aid Admission includes a 10 per cent or more voluntary donation. Gift Aid Admissions let us reclaim tax on the whole amount paid - an extra 25 per cent - potentially a very significant boost to our places' funds.
An extra £1 paid under the scheme can be worth over £3 to the National Trust as shown below:
| Gift Aid | Standard | |
|---|---|---|
| Amount paid by visitor | £11.00 | £10.00 |
| Tax refund from Government* | £2.75 | £0.00 |
| Total received by the National Trust | £13.75 | £10.00 |
*Gift Aid Admissions let us reclaim tax on the whole amount paid - an extra 25 per cent - potentially a very significant boost to our places' funds.
Admission prices now apply to all visitors to the house, grounds and/or cafe.
Free entry to National Trust members and under 5s.
Last entry to the house 4pm. 4 Feb - 8 Mar - House: open by guided tour only Monday to Friday (first tour 11am) booking not necessary. At weekends during this period and 18 to 22 February, the house will be open on a free flow basis. Grounds, shop and café: open 10.30am to 5.30pm, last orders café 5pm.
