The Wild (South) West

The Wild (South) West

In spite of very variable weather – sun, wind, rain – we did get to visit lots of gardens here in Cornwall, and there are plenty to choose from. We chose Godolphin, Tregwainton, Trelissick, Lanhydrock and a little gem: Bonython. On the way back we also...
Picardy

Picardy

One of the many delightful buildings in St Valery, Picardy, a few miles down the road from Ponches Estruval, a small village where we were staying with friends. Gardening, eating, drinking and listening to music at the local music festival made up a pretty near...
Perfect Mixture of Science and Aesthetics

Perfect Mixture of Science and Aesthetics

It’s always a joy to see the wonderful clocks made by John Harrison of Barrow on Humber. Doubly so this time as I was lucky enough to have a guided tour of the Observatoiry at Greenwich with the Senior Horologist, Jonathan Betts and visit the room where the...
Cragside

Cragside

This is the Butler’s Room at Cragside in Northumberland. Cragside is one of the many mansions built in the 19th century by the nouveau very rich who made their money out of trade and manufacturing, be it matches or sugar or guano. In this case it was...
Wightwick Manor

Wightwick Manor

A Victorian ‘Tudor’ mansion, complete with Jacobean chimneys. Quite a stunner – and the interior is even better.  The owners collected pre-Raphaelite and Arts and Crafts art-works so you never quite know what to expect each time you enter a new...
Hotham Hall

Hotham Hall

It’s the swathes of daffodils that make this garden so attractive at this time of year. There are some formal aspects but this is a garden to wander in rather than peer at multiple plantings and plant varieties (though we did some of that too).  There’s...

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