Audley End is a huge Jacobean mansion near Saffron Walden in Essex, sitting beside the River Cam with rolling parkland all around it. Back in the early 1600s it was one of the largest houses in the country, built to impress kings. It is only about a third of that size now, but it still feels enormous when you stand in front of it. To capture this impressive estate it is easiest to start with the west front, the long pale stone face of the house standing at the top of an open lawn that rolls down to the river. That side catches the sun from late afternoon into the evening and the whole front lights up, with a big old cedar tree off to the side to give you a sense of scale. Down by the water, the river opens out into a slow curving lake, and there is a lovely old stone bridge crossing it a short walk from the house. If you shoot the bridge from the north west, you can sometimes capture get its rounded shape mirrored in the water below. Closer to the house there is a tidy formal flower garden built around a central fountain, the kind of thing meant to be looked down on from the windows above, so climb a bit higher if you can to get the full pattern. Wander further and you will find old stables, a walled vegetable garden, and a handful of little stone temples and follies dotted through the grounds. There is an entry fee that helps with the upkeep of the estate. Sine the place is so big give yourself plenty of time to roam between the house, the bridge, and the gardens. (Saffron Walden, Essex, England)
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