Lower Brockhampton and Harold

On 31 Jul 201431 Jul 2014 By geoffspagesIn NT and EH, Photography1 Comment

Monday 28th July: it’s an impossibly quaint house, with matching gatehouse, in the depths of the Herefordshire countryside just to the east of Bromyard. One of those places where none of the floors are quite level, none of the verticals fit to be so described.

There are walks in the woods nearby (after the obligatory ice creams – it was a warm afternoon) – down to the brook where Harold the wooden horse drinks, then a gentle ascent to the Lawn Pool. Muddy water almost, but not quite, hides the huge carp cruising just below the surface.

Brockhampton Estate NT

Little Moreton

On 11 Jul 2014 By geoffspagesIn NT and EH, Photography2 Comments

We’d started yesterday’s outing relatively early in the day – there was plenty of time for another visit before heading homewards. Little Moreton Hall isn’t far from Biddulph – it ought to be good for a few photos, and perhaps an ice cream on this warm afternoon. It needs no introduction – must be Cheshire’s most-photographed building…

Little Moreton Hall NT

Biddulph Grange

On 10 Jul 201411 Jul 2014 By geoffspagesIn NT and EH, PhotographyLeave a comment

It’s a bright sunny day – far too good to stay at home. “How about Biddulph Grange? We could get some oatcakes on the way”. No further discussion required. The gardens at Biddulph are wonderful – different compartments connected by unlikely hidden tunnels and stairways – great fun! (The oatcakes – bought on the outward journey, and sampled when we’re home again, are pretty good too.)

Biddulph Grange NT

Rurality

On 09 Jul 2014 By geoffspagesIn NT and EH, PhotographyLeave a comment

Just wandering across the fields to Benthall Hall – for tea and cake…

Benthall Hall NT

Walled garden

On 29 Jun 2014 By geoffspagesIn NT and EH, PhotographyLeave a comment

We’re wandering around Attingham this afternoon – the walled garden provided colour, the rest of the estate just shades of green.

Attingham Park NT

Hidcote

On 12 Jun 201412 Jun 2014 By geoffspagesIn NT and EH, Photography1 Comment

A warm Wednesday afternoon at the National Trust’s north Cotswold garden. Its style is described as “Arts and Crafts”, with “colourful and intricately designed outdoor ‘rooms’”. It’s deservedly popular – and clearly on the Cotswold tourist trail (between Stratford, Chipping Campden and Broadway), evidenced by the hundreds of visitors, many from distant corners of the world. They’re not all visible at the same time, of course – it’s easy to lose most of them – and oneself – in the intricate landscape.

Hidcote NT

The pipeworks

On 27 May 2014 By geoffspagesIn NT and EH, Photography2 Comments

The first time I found the tiny bottle kiln, abandoned and apparently forgotten, in a quiet corner of Broseley, I was amazed. It had been used for firing the clay tobacco pipes made in the small factory alongside. With the industry in decline, it was closed and left to decay nearly 60 years ago. It’s now part of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum, one of their lesser-known sites. Other than necessary safety measures, the factory is preserved as found – a real “time capsule”. Well worth an hour’s exploration.

Broseley Pipeworks IGMT

Dudmaston and the Dower House

On 19 May 2014 By geoffspagesIn NT and EH, PhotographyLeave a comment

Two pleasant and lazy afternoons after Saturday’s leg stretch. The Dower House garden is at Morville, and is open to the public on Sunday and Wednesday afternoons. The house adjoins Morville Hall, which, though a National Trust property, is not open to the general public. Dudmaston is on the other side of Bridgnorth, and at the other end of the scale – a pleasant spot for a wander around the lake. It was too warm for anything more energetic.

Dower House garden, Morville
Dudmaston Estate

Wenlock Priory: dodging the showers

On 09 May 201412 May 2014 By geoffspagesIn NT and EH, Photography1 Comment

More than half the abbey has gone, but what remains is a pleasant spot for a brief exploration on an afternoon when heavy showers threatened between bursts of sunshine. The threat was not followed through, apart from a few spots in the wind, but the sunshine did its best to confound. There are some nice little details in the stonework, and the topiary is wonderful!

Wenlock Priory EH