Arriving on Wednesday, we hired a car and drove to our friend's home near Oxford, rewarded with this view of Wittenham Clumps from our bedroom window!
Tuesday, 7-Apr-26:
We flew from Perth (Qantas) via Singapore (transferred to BA) to London.
Arriving on Wednesday, we hired a car and drove to our friend's home near Oxford, rewarded with this view of Wittenham Clumps from our bedroom window!
Early in our visit to tyhe UK we went on a 7-day tour of Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro, starting on Sunday, 12-Apr-26.
Details of that tour can be seen in a separate Blog at
https://alex-reid.com/Blog/Croatia-Apr26/
We returned to the UK on Sunday, 19-Apr, and we spent Tuesday (21-Apr) visiting a friend in Reading, and checking out the Reading Museum, as well as the ruins of Reading Abbey, which was quite huge. We also spent time looking at the Bayeux Tapestry copy (made in 1885) which they have on display there. A good replica, I believe, and so much better than having to travel to Bayeux, be hurried along because of the crowds, and/or spend lots to see it. Quite wonderful! They should make it more widely known (free to enter!!). They also have an ancient music manuscript (the Reading Rota), and some great mosaics (from Silchester), and quite a good Museum overall.
Here are some photos of that day:
Friday, 24-Apr-26:
With Anzac Day coming up (25 April) I felt compelled, even though I'm currently in Blighty (and remembering Churchill's role in the Gallipoli campaign), to bake some Anzac bikkies. Wonderfully, the recipe still works even though the world is upside down and in a foreign kitchen (and my memory served me well, too!). Here's the result (after a couple of samples were taken - quality control, you know!). [and, Louisa, no incorrect ingredients this time!!]
Saturday, 25-Apr-26:
Today wer started out on our adventure to visit many National Trust properties in the Midlands, staying first in Telford (5 nights; visiting properties out from there), and then in Worcester (3 nights) to visit properties nearby.
En route to Telford, we visited Hanbury Hall.
What beautiful weather we had! Lovely parterre, and orchard, and woodland, and bulb displays. Interesting rooms too, but the piece de resistance was a description given by a lady in costume representing the mother of Emma about whom there was lots of scandal - made Downton Abbey look tame!
Sunday, 26-Apr-26:
Our second National Trust property was seen today, Sunday, 26 April - it was Benthall Hall, Shropshire. Another lovely day showing up the gardens well. George Maw was the most famous of the Vernons; he lived here in the mid- to late- 18th Century; the family made its fortune making tiles and the main hall was made of their tiles, but not discovered till the mid-1900's, as it had been covered in wood. This man also made a lifetime study of crocuses and other bulbs, and his treatise (1885) on crocuses is still the definitive work. Here are some photos taken at Benthall Hall (or should it really be "Bent Hall"?
Monday, 27-Apr-26:
Today, Monday 27 April, we drove to Attingham Estate, near Shrewsbury, the home of the Berwick family (gifted to the NT in 1947 by the 8th Lord Berwick). A very fine house, and parkland, as well as walled garden, woodland bluebells, etc.
After having visited Attingham Estate, we drove a few miles into Shrewsbury to check out the Abbey (home to Brother Cadfael); here see the new Cadfael window, as well as Saint Winefride memorial...
Tuesday, 28-Apr-26:
Today, Tuesday 28 April, we drove into Wales (just) to visit Powis Castle. This was the home of Robert Clive (1st Lord Clive, "Clive of India") and his son Edward Clive, who made their fortunes as leaders of the British East India Company, whose private army actually exceeded the size of the British Army, and took control of most of India on behalf of the company. Unfortunately, photography inside the castle was not permitted, so all my photos are of the very impressive grounds, with the castle looming over tiers of garden borders and walled formal gardens. Inside were some very impressive rooms, as well as samples from the extensive collection of artifacts from India.
Wednesday, 29-Apr-26:
Today is Wednesday, 29 April, and we started out for our next NT property, but stopped at Ironbridge on the way. A beautiful day again! The bridge itself is very impressive, as is the Severn River gorge over which it spans. Here are several pics, including close-up of the silhouette of the central plate joining the 2 halves of the bridge. Only visible from the left bank, they look remarkably like the face of a woman and of a man - but the museum officials are adamant it's just a coincidence. Talking of museum, the group of museums here have recently been taken over by the NT, but they haven't yet reopened, so we couldn't see in them. Also nearby was a beautiful patch of wild garlic in the pretty woodland. Here are some photos.
After visiting Ironbridge, we travelled again into Wales to visit Chirk Castle. A fascinating place, which combines medieval castle (with a dungeon), with stately home (with really flashy rooms), and luxuriant gardens, carved into "rooms" by numerous yew hedges and borders. First built in 1295, it changed hands 20 times over the next 300 years. In recent times, its rooms and gardens have been remodelled several times to suit the fashion of the day. A local project has been to create a replica of the Bayeux Tapestry (just with art work, of highly varying quality, and some humour), and they have accumulated over 70 panels now, and the castle has provided a lovely round room in which to display the scroll.
Thursday, 30-Apr-26:
On Thursday, 30 April, we left our accommodation in Telford, bound for a hotel in Worcester, but a lot of adventure along the way. We first drove to Wolverhampton to visit Wightwick Manor (pronounced Wit'ick), which was a lovely Elizabethan house, and some lovely gardens. But the main attraction was that the owners (Sir Geoffrey Mander and his second wife, Lady Mander (Rosalie Glynn Grylls)) were very good friends of the Rosetti Family, so everywhere you went indoors there were references to the Rosetti parents and their 4 children and spouses, all famously artistic, but in different ways. Note the amazing weather!!!!
After Wightwick Manor, we drove into the centre of Birmingham to visit the preserved "Back to Back" dwellings that characterised the housing for as many of half a million people in the mid-19th century, now under the care of the National Trust. They were called "back to back" because that is how they were built, with one set facing the road, and another, backing onto a common wall, facing an inner courtyard. Here we saw a typical courtyard, and the inside of several houses, in particular that of a relatively well-to-do Jewish clock hand maker - quite palatial by comparison with some of the houses. Some of the impact of how they lived "in them days" was lost because we personally remember some of the "primitive" appliances - eg hot irons, ceramic hot water bottles. But we never contemplated living with 11 children in a 3-roomed house, one room per storey! (plus cellar). A bit different from the NT stately homes we usually visit!
Friday, 1-May-26:
Today, Friday, 1 May, we spent in Worcester, with everything within walking distance of our hotel, which faces onto the River Severn; here are some shots of the river, including the view from our window. And the various flood levels - the latest (and worst) being in 2014 (2007 was the previous one). Note our continuing fine weather (but expecting rain overnight).
Today in Worcester we also visited the cathedral. Very impressive building, and houses the tombs of King John (he was "not a good king") and Prince Arthur, Henry VIII's older brother. Today we witnessed a rock band practising for tonight's concert (a sign outside said "it may be quite noisy in here today" - it sure was!). The crypt is the only part of the original (1084) catherdral that remains. One of the guides said he had visited Fremantle, and so I checked and was delighted to find that, despite being behind in their game against the Western Bulldogs for most of the game, Fremantle actually ran out winners!
The main attraction today (Friday) was to visit Greyfriars House (a NT property), located in Friar Street, in which street all (or most) of the buildings were quite picturesque. Greyfriars was built in 1490 by merchant Thomas Greene; it was never actually related to friars, but next door was a friary, and it was assumed that it had been used as a hostel by the Friary; further research proved this to be wrong, but the name stuck. Most recently, it was owned by Malcolm and Elsie Matley-Moore (brother and sister) who had saved the building from demolition in the 1930s, and then left it to the National Trust after they had both died, by 1985.
Saturday, 2-May-26:
Today's visits to National Trust properties started with Croft Castle, 45 mins from Worcester. The site has been owned by the Croft family since the Norman Invasion, though in the 18th century it had to be sold off to meet debts, but bought back in 1923. Some lovely ceilings and well-appointed rooms, and a huge walled garden (3 acres) which includes a vineyard, and lots of plants crammed in. Lots more wisteria, and other spring flowers.
On our return from Croft Castle today (Saturday) we visited nearby Berrington Hall. Gardens and grounds were designed by Capability Brown, and attempts are being made to restore them to their original condition. This includes a huge walled garden (in 3 parts, one of which has a sweeping curved wall). The Hall itself dates from the late 1770s, built for a wealthy merchant (Thomas Harley) who became Lord Mayor of London. A prized possession is a "Court Mantua" which Ann Harley wore at regal occasions. It was then boxed up and not opened until the 20th century when it was sold at Christies in 2016 and bought by the National Trust.
Sunday, 3-May-26:
Today, Sunday 3 May, we returned "home", but took in Croome Park on the way. A house built by the 6th Earl of Coventry, in the 1720's, and with grounds and gardens designed by Lancelot "Capability" Brown, his first commission. So views across the doctored landscape are key ingredients, eg the Chinese Bridge, and the carefully placed Cedar. The interiors have largely been removed, with plans gradually to re-establish them in the style of that period. The Earl was also a huge collector of plants and the catalogue is a great resource.
So, after 10 days away from "home", having had a veritable Feast of enjoying varied, iteresting and beautiful National Trust properties, we return to "normal life".
Thursday, 7-May-26:
Took a drive to visit Bourton-on-the-Water, where we once owned a small terrace house. Lots of memories and lots and lots of tourists!!
Friday, 8-May-26:
Today we visited wonderful Waddesdon Manor, one of the National Trust's finest properties, and the grounds and rooms were as stunning as I remember them. Here are some views of the outside, the gardens, the parkland... (we were blessed with fine weather again!). One of the reasons to visit was to demonstrate to Steve the value of NT membership (he'd never thought much about joining).
More on Waddesdon Manor, this time of the inside - here are numerous photos (just a sample!) of rooms within the Manor, along with their furniture, paintings and collections as left by the Rothschilds when they bequeathed the Manor to the NT in 1957.
Tuesday, 12-May-26:
Today we visited Grey's Court, a short drive from where we're staying. We've been there many times before - since it is National Trust, our sturdy Australian NT card allows us free entry. Today our focus was on the huge wisteria plants they have there, and we weren't disappointed. We have seen a lot of wisteria around in England (and Croatia) this Spring, so were hoping it would be at or near its peak, which it certainly was - you judge for yourself in the photos. Other parts of the gardens were also lovely, though the roses (another feature of Grey's Court) were barely flowering.)
Tuesday, 12-May-26:
In the quaint "Midsomer" village of Warborough, there is a classic car rally on the first Tuesday of every month. Today a wonderful range of fascinating cars were on show - classics every one! Here's a sample - there must have been at least 50...
Wednesday, 13-May-26:
Today (Wednesday) we visited Broughton Grange Gardens, near Banbury (not National Trust, so we had to pay to enter!). The primary reason was to view the laburnum arch they have there. They are only open on Wednesdays, and this is our last week in England, but we've seen plenty of laburnums as we've driven around the countryside, so were confident that the arch would put on a good show. It sure did - see photos. But the rest of the gardens were also wonderful, and I'll post some photos of that later. Weather billed as "sunshine and showers", and so it was.
Here I will put more photos of the gardens of Broughton Grange, as well as one of nearby Broughton Castle, which we confused with the Grange initially.
Saturday, 16-May-26:
This evening, we attended a Mozart concert in Dorchester Abbey (across the fields from Warborough), performed by the Orchestra and Voices of St John's. Beautiful music in beautiful setting.
Tuesday, 19-May-26:
Today we said farewell to Warborough and Oxford and Lynda and drove to the airport (taking Lynda, too, who was off to Helsinki). We flew from there to Prague for a river cruise with Croisi Cruises.
To follow that cruise, go to
https://alex-reid.com/Blog/Prague-May26/
We returned to Heathrow from Prague on Monday, 25-May-26, cooled our heels at Heathrow Airport for one night+day, then flew back to Perth via Kuala Lumpure.
And so we returned to Perth, arriving at 1am on Thursday, 28-May-26.
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Alex Reid
14-Oct-26