Stourhead

With only a few weeks before we leave for our annual trip to my beloved England,

 it's high time to make a start with the two Blog posts

 - I promised myself to write - of our trip last year.

One of them is about our wonderful visit to the beautiful estate Stourhead, 

 of which you can read more about its origins here.

 This was our first view when we entered this 'living work of art'.

Inspired by the work of 16th-century architect Palladio,

 this five-arched stone bridge was built in 1762.

 Although ornamental, the bridge was intended to look practical. 

It was designed to create an illusion that a river flows through the village and under the bridge.

Being there at Summer time there was so much variety of flowers.

Although we were there in high season, it seemed like it was just us and the birds.

The beautiful Temple of Apollo , nowadays often used as wedding venue.

The beautiful Pantheon across the lake designed by Henri Flitcroft
modelled by the original in Rome.

And its indoors.

The cascade was added in 1766 as a decorative way to carry surplus water
 from the main lake down to the lower pond in Turner’s Paddock.

In the distance the Temple of Flora, dedicated to the Roman goddess of flowers and spring.
 This temple was the first garden building erected by Henry Hoare II between 1744 and 1746.
 Over the doorway the Latin inscription reads ‘Keep away, anyone profane, keep away’.
 Henry asks you to enter his garden in the right spirit.

The Gothic Cottage, affectionately called the Watch Cottage, was Alda's
favourite place to write.

We had a lovely picnic at this spot, accompanied by all kind of wildlife.

Next stop was a visit to the impressive Family Home

The library with a gorgeous view through the window seat.

All around the house there were such friendly volunteers who happily told us the

 (family) story of the former residents, especially about the family room.

There was a lot of entertaining (as a lovely lady volunteer told us) in this room.

 Especially for the injured soldiers who returned from the war.

 The former residents had a soft spot regarding them because of their only son

 who died during the First World War.

Apart from all other art a lovely painting of Stonehenge

We concluded our day here with a visit to the walled garden of the house.

To have a greenhouse like this.

Serious shed envy.

My first ever photographed swallow.

It was such a lovely step back in time. Although it's quite some time ago,

 it brought back wonderful memories and can't wait to make some more.

Next post will be about Monk's House, much smaller but just as beautiful.

Hope you will join me again!

Anita

~xo~

Our annual escape on the border of Dorset and Wiltshire ....

After a long wait it was finally time for our annual escape. We left with rain but once on the ferry the sun broke through ....

After have spend our first day in West Sussex to visit The Country Brocante Fair we arrived on our first cottage the next day.

We were both a bit flabbergasted because the cottage situated on Heath House Farm was a real gem, inside and out ....  

With gorgeous views around the whole house ....

And felt at home as soon as we entered ....

With lovely surroundings on our doorstep .... 

There where even lovely books to relax with, especially this book of Reader's Digest  ....

The view from our window on the garden of the owners ....

And enough wildlife to photograph ....

I especially loved this one, hard to photograph because of his speed and not common in my home country, the Pied wagtail ....

And still my all time favourite, the little Robin ...

So much beautiful city's to visit, like Bath where we indeed needed an umbrella ....

And beautiful Bristol ....

Another one on my to-do list was a visit to the wonderful town Frome ....

With the gorgeous street Catherine's Hill ....

Full of quaint shops, even one with a sewing school ....

And not unimportant I found my first keepsake in this street, this lovely small jug from

Hogben Pottery ....

The perfect way to unwind, connecting in line behind number 49 ....

Before we started our climb towards Cheddar Gorge ....

And this was only just the beginning ....

Being observed during our climb ....

Despite the height still so much to see ....

And as a wonderful reward this magnificent view ....

When we came back to the parking area this one was waiting for us to share our bread ....

The next day we visited the picture perfect Castle Combe ....

With lovely details everywhere .... 

In love with these cream foxgloves so I took some seeds from Sarah Raven home with me ....

Real front door envy ....

But what I loved most was this small stall in front of a house with homemade cakes and just couldn't resist to buy some which really tasted delicious ....

The beautiful village church ....

and beautiful cemetery ....

Having the privilege to actually live here ....

But I would also settle for this so easily ....

From one beautiful village to another, lovely - and often used as a television and movie set like Pride and Prejudice and Downton Abbey - Lacock ....

Where you really go back in time with for instance this lovely bakery ....

Not only by interior but also by the clothing ....

On our last day we visited the beautiful estate Stourhead which was so overwhelming I really think it deserves a blog post of its own ....

Couldn't think of a better way to say goodbye to this wonderful area with a visit to the beautiful town Shaftesbury , which treated us with this view ....

I would love to share our next stop, our almost second home county West Sussex, next time with you.


Till then, have a lovely weekend!

Anita
 ~xo~