"There will be access to the back stairs and laundry room. There will be candle snuffers, chamber pots and coal buckets to the fore," said Christine Clappison, head steward.

"In the dining room, the table will be laid for a formal dinner with best glass and cutlery, and probably many will not know that it was quite usual for the Georgians to use the chamber pot before they left the dining room, so we will have one on display on the sideboard."

In the magnificent long library, overlooking the beautifully landscaped gardens and the deer park, people will be able to look inside secret cupboards and inspect the shelves with their remarkable collection of books.

Excitingly, visitors can go below ground to see the site of the Turkish bath, beneath the magnificent tiled Turkish Room which was designed for Sir Mark Sykes, 6th Baronet, as a copy of one of the Sultan's apartments in Instanbul, after he had undertaken the fashionable Grand Tour.

At last, a chance to see for yourself much of what is depicted in Christopher Simon Sykes' (Sir Tatton's brother) photographic book, The Big House, available from www.sledmerehouse.com/history
There is no need to pre-book, normal admission times for the house apply:- 11am until 3.30pm for last admissions.