More of Bodnant Gardens.

 Luckily on our visit to the National Trust's Bodnant Gardens the afternoon weather was quite dry, sunny and warm.  No sudden downpours of rain like there had been in the morning.

There are lots of interesting nooks and crannies to explore as you work your way down to the Mill via the terraces and ponds.

First we wanted to see the huge Laburnum Arch that Bodnant is noted for.  It was looking lovely but I suspect it would be at its zenith this week and possibly next.

Rhododendrons and Azaleas added lots of colour to the garden. 

It was one of those times where there were so many photo opportunities.  In the end I decided just to enjoy the atmosphere, colours and textures of the garden.

Above one of the many gardeners and volunteers who keep the garden looking so wonderful.

Wisteria on the Edwardian Italianate terraces.

The Pin Mill is a Grade II listed 18th century building. I can remember visiting one summer and this pond was alive with Dragonflies and Damselflies skimming all over.  

The Old Mill built c 1827 and the way down to the arboretum where there are many unusual trees.

Down in the Dell, the bridge over the River Hiraethlyn.

We only had a certain amount of time before we needed to move on and check into our accommodation for the next three nights.

Time to make our way back to the courtyard, plant centre and car park.

More on Kedleston

In my last post but one I promised more on our visit to Kedleston during the very sunny week we had earlier this month.

We didn't go into the house this time as we've been in a couple of times before.  We decided to go on one of the estate walks first before lunch and then visit the gardens, bookshop and church.

Lots of sheep baaing in the fields as we walked.  Some were curious, others not.

 

We used Merlin to find out what birds we could hear as we walked along.

Woodpeckers were rat-a-tat tatting almost all the way of the walk.

Kedleston has been owned by the Curzon family since the mid 12th century.  The Mansion was designed by Robert Adam and was commissioned by Nathaniel Curzon in the 18th century c. 1750.  The church is much earlier, probably 13th century and is all that is left of the mediaeval village of Kedleston as it was moved to make way for the building of the Hall.

Inside are many memorials to the Curzon family.  It was difficult to take photos inside as there were a few visitors moving around and also a small group in front of the later tombs.  I was able to take a few photos of the earlier memorials.  the one above from 1456 is of Sir John Curzon and his wife Joan, daughter of Sir John Bagot of Blithfield in Staffordshire.

Both figures have a dog at their feet.

Below, within the chancel, is the memorial to an earlier Sir John Curzon who died in 1406, his wife was Eleanor Twyford.

Apparently he wears  a Lancastrian SS or 'esses' livery collar.  This was an emblem of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster.

I was trying to work out what animal he had at his feet.

Is it a lion? Or is it a mythical creature? I can find little on google but my book on Derbyshire by Arthur Mee says it is a lion.

Three of the six heraldic shields which decorate the ogee arch above the earlier Sir John's effigy

Two of the stained glass windows which were behind the heraldic shields above.  They both have the inscription Curzon of Kedleston.

Back out in the garden the sun was still shining, but it was time to think about heading for home..

Below is a link to a blog post I wrote in September 2018 about the inside of the Hall.

Post of 2018

All for now.

Clumber Park

In the walled garden and glass house at Clumber Park in Nottinghamshire it was all about Apples, Pumpkins and Squashes.

It was a lovely sunny afternoon

 The apples looked wonderful against the warm red brick walls.  There were many different varieties.

In the Apple store there were boxes full of them for sale but still many windfalls in the garden.

The walls and ceiling were full of bunches of dried flowers and grasses.

 

We missed the Apple day as we were there the day before.  I expect it was very popular.

 

 

In the garden the Auricula theatre had been filled with dried flowers and apples.

In the main entance to the glass house were lots of displays of pumpkins and squashes.

Plenty of places to sit, both inside and out.

 

It was warm enough to sit outside with an ice cream but we decided to head towards the cafe for an afternoon cup of tea.

On the way out of the walled garden I spotted a Medlar tree.

 

I've never tasted a Medlar, Have you?

 

After some refreshment in the cafe, where we reminisced about childhood visits, it was time to walk down to the lakeside through the autumnal trees before we moved on.  I'll be back with more in a second post.

Out and About

 It was a beautiful day last Tuesday, dry and sunny.  We went to Shugborough Hall near Stafford to have a look around.  Mostly the grounds and gardens but we did pop into the Servant's Quarters.  I always enjoy those parts of any stately home the most.

The front of the Mansion House taken from the walk across parkland from the car park.

Southdown Sheep and lambs, a tiny one had escaped and staff were trying to get it back into the fold.  Apparently Southdown sheep first arrived at Shugborough in 1700, given as a wedding present.

The River Sow flows through the estate at Shugborough on it's way to meet the River Trent somewhere near the Essex Bridge.

 An old boat house close to the river.

 The facade of the Servant's Quarters.  Bluebells in front and Wisteria growing on it's walls.

 Inside the parlour where the various house servants would have their meals.  The butler at at the top of the table.

 

Each plate had a name of a servant who had worked there according to the 1871 Census.  Their yearly wage on the plate.  The butler John Crisp earned £100 a year and one of the housemaids Jane Thurman earned £18 a year.

There is a huge laundry area, two rooms one for washing and the other for ironing, sewing and mending.

Flat irons and goffering irons which were used for ruffles.

 

Dresses for the servants.  Laundry maids wore blue and kitchen maids wore pink.  This enabled the housekeeper to spot if a maid was in an area she shouldn't be in.

 

The kitchens are across a large courtyard.

Everything looked spick and span.  

 

There was a French Chef.  The kitchen maids lined up each morning to greet him with Good Morning Monsieur.

The chef cooked meals for the occupants of the Mansion House whilst other kitchen workers cooked for the houshold servants and staff.

It wasn't the first time we'd visited Shugborough and I hope it won't be the last.  Each visit we find new things to admire.  One of my favourite buildings The Farmhouse was closed to visitors as were the Lichfield Apartments in the Mansion House.  Everything else was as I remembered.