National Trust Love!
04/06/2015 § 6 Comments
I can’t believe I haven’t joined the National Trust before. I guess there are many and varied reasons given the difficulties we’ve faced over the past few years but I’m savouring the delights of wandering through beautiful grounds and grand country homes – it’s real therapy. Here are a few of my snaps from last weekend’s visit to Hinton Ampner, here in Hampshire …
I sat here for a few minutes, admiring the parkland landscape beyond
a few weeks ago I bought one of the daisy plants Erigeron, I think it’s called and it’s just beginning to bloom
I popped in to visit, as I was passing that way en route home from yet another village fete …
I’d enjoyed a scone with cream & jam and a lovely cup of tea, did some people watching – always fascinating, scoured the bric-a-brac stall with some success and came away with so many plants and a heavy manger to plant them in! Have I already said “I love summer fetes” … well, I truly do. This weekend I have something of a dilemma – there are 2 fetes at the same time, in different villages, some miles apart but quite close to Winchester. I think I’ll have to toss a coin to decide which one to visit. AND … there’s another one on Sunday – it must be THE weekend for summer fetes!
Yesterday, with my NT pass still burning a hole in my pocket, I met up with a friend and we visited Mottisfont. This is a grand house with a long and detailed history that is documented in many displays from the 12th Century as a Priory, through private ownership and family home, to country weekend retreat during the 1930’s. We toured the rooms, including the Whistler room then tiptoed upstairs to the maids’ quarters where to my delight, I found a patchwork quilt!
one of the maids’ rooms
antique quilt with more recent patchwork added to cover the damage
the quilt has been wadded with sheeps wool but the original outer cotton has badly deteriorated
amazing wall coverings – just look at those colours
The roses in the walled gardens have taken a bit of a battering in recent high winds, but they’re still breathtaking – quite literally …
Such a lovely place to visit. We walked right around the grounds, up to the fisherman’s hut and back around the meadow by the shepherd’s hut. Next time I’ll take some photos in the stable block, which is one of my favourite parts of the whole estate.
It’s been a beautiful day here and I’ve just returned from a long walk around the farm, with the collies. There’s a pink sky, promising sunshine tomorrow so I’d best finish doing a bit of quilting so that I can enjoy the afternoon sunshine tomorrow, whilst stitching around the binding edges. Simple pleasures!
Have fun …
Adaliza
Lovely post! I think we will all be benefitted by your joining of the Natl Trust this year! I can live vicariously through you!
Thank you!
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Trips to Winchester City Mill and Mompresson House in Salisbury (where Pride & Prejudice was filmed) are already planned!
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I’m glad you have become a NT convert. There really are some magical places to visit. I am currently trying to tick off all of the sites across the south west!
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I can’t imagine how the NT has escaped me for all these years. Let me know of any that are especially good! I went to our very own Winchester’s City Mill today which was lovely and Montacute House near Yeovil is high on my list of places to visit very soon. So exciting!
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Montacute is lovely. I went there a few weeks ago. Very nice Tudor house.
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I can’t wait to see it.
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