Tag: National Trust
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Thinking and not thinking
Just sitting here listening to thunder rumble around somewhere not that far away – isn’t May a frustrating month for weather? No sooner have you turned off the central heating for the summer when temperatures plummet and the rain decides to give you a months worth in one afternoon. Oh well. Anyway, I’m just sneaking…
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Garden aspirations
Hello again. It’s that time of year when all sorts of things that have been lying dormant in the garden suddenly start to reappear. Of course, the main things that reappear in my garden are the bindweed, ground elder, creeping buttercup and green alkanet, but hay-ho, some things are sent to try us. On the…
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In and out in December…
It’s no secret that I tend to find the low-light days of winter something of a challenge, which is why I’m delighted to say that so far this year, I’m managing to stay pretty buoyant. Maybe it’s the generally mild weather we’ve been having or just a determined effort to stay relaxed. Whichever, all I…
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Quirky Grey’s Court
In which we make an impromptu visit to a 16th-century manor house and wish we’d taken our gloves. Just before the heat wave that we’re still enjoying started, we found ourselves rather unexpectedly over near Henley -on-Thames one Sunday afternoon, and as we don’t go out in that direction very often, decided to visit the…
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Hanbury Hall – Resurgam
A rather sad old house, comes back to life. Hanbury Hall, Worcestershire. I made a flying visit to Worcestershire on Monday and not having huge amounts of time to spare, but wanting a few minutes calm and culture, I drove over to Hanbury Hall, which isn’t far from Droitwich. The little leaflet/map you’re given with…
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Bess of Hardwick
On our recent trip to Hay-on-Wye, I picked up a copy of Mary S. Lovell’s book, Bess of Hardwick, First Lady of Chatsworth. Although I’ve known bits and pieces about Bess for a long time, this is the first time I’ve read a whole biography of this remarkable woman. Bess was no beautiful princess like…
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A Visit To Canon’s Ashby & A Picnic.
Canon’s Ashby House in very rural Northamptonshire, is one of those half forgotten manor houses that pepper England, and when you find them, you feel as if you’ve been let into a precious secret. I probably shouldn’t even write about Canon’s Ashby in case it gets big headed and loses it’s charm; but I will,…
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Hardwick Hall Gets Our Thumbs Up.
If you’re in the Peak District, don’t miss the opportunity to visit Hardwick Hall. We’ve just returned from a few days camping and cycling between Buxton and Bakewell and decided to take in the Hall on our way back to the M1 (it’s just off Junction 29). We had been once before. That was years…
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Coffee and Cake at Powis Castle
Have you ever walked around a ruined castle and wondered what it would have been like if it hadn’t been ruined? Well, for me, Powis Castle, just outside Welshpool in the English/Welsh Marches feels like an ancient castle that survived intact. We stopped off there at the weekend on our way home from Snowdon. Powis Castle sits…
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Claydon House, Buckinghamshire
Number Two daughter and I paid a visit to Claydon House, near Aylesbury, this afternoon. It’s one of those places that makes a good afternoon trip. I’m not sure you’d want to spend all day there though, unless you decided to walk around the fields – very lovely, especially at this time of the year…
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Ascott House Afternoon
Well, true to my word, yesterday afternoon (after the snail racing…) number two daughter, her friend and I went off to have a stroll around Ascott House and the gardens. (Sorry the pictures are very dark – it was a bit hazy/misty – don’t let that put you off seeing Ascott for yourself) It’s the…
Mostly Motley 