Kentwell Hall & Gardens Pt. 1

We were so pleased to find this gem Kentwell Hall

Although only 90 mins. from home we had never heard of it and only visited because we saw it on our Atlas when planning our holiday in Suffolk

The house is a loved and lived-in family home, something it has been for 500 years

Added to that so much history, beautiful gardens, a rare breed farm and many other interesting things to see in the grounds

We visited on our way to the cottage and spent most of the day there

I have lots of photos which will take a number of posts so will just take you walking around with us

Our first glimpse of a sculptured Cedar tree that was damaged in a storm

depicting The Tower of Babel

Very clever indeed

We will enter the house from this courtyard

note the mosaic yard

Before entering the lived in part of the house we see the old Tudor kitchens

and the old privy

and maid's parlour

and rush matting crib

We are now entering the main part of  the house and pass this fine sculpture

The house still has it's original panelling from 1550

Many interesting artefacts abound and there is definitely a Chinese connection

Tapestries too

and fine panelling even on the ceilings

In the next post I will be taking you through this door

Autumn Garden

Bringing the roses in now as the rain and wind spoils them

Also we are digging out both island rose beds, 

replanting one with David Austin L D Braithwaite - a gorgious deep red (keeping my rose beds with one colour rather than the mixed beds I have had in the past)

and grassing over the other one as the shrub border alongside is now very mature  leaving little room between the rose bed and shrub border - also a little less work! 

The colours are changing

and all temporary Geraniums gone from new bottom area and keeping only Sedums, lavender, herbs and roses (less work and watering)

Butterfly from Joyce (USA guests)

and the newly planted grassy area growing well

but still have the slabs to level off and

'my special feature' to be finished

Have decided the bunting will not go up until the better weather in the Spring (if I have it made by then - I am not a 'sewer')

Thinking of my son Peter who is at this moment in the middle of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania (aprox 18,000 ft), having been on Safari in the Serengeti before ending his trip relaxing in Zanzibar.

Wishing him the best as I know he is hoping to make it to the summit - many don't 

All Good Things Come to an End

The evening after supper with Lord Carey (last post)

we were able to take Joyce and Don to 'The Burn'

http://www.immanuelcommunity.org.uk/news/news/post/106-the-burn-launchromford

I did not take photographs but the above link will tell you just what the burn is all about

http://www.immanuelcommunity.org.uk/news/news/post/143-the-lord-carey-of-clifton-at-immanuel-community/

More on Lord Carey's visit in above link for anyone interested

Monday, Joyce and Don's last day we eventually decided to drive to the Olympic site

All the temporary stuff is now being dismantled but there is still plenty to see, however we are not now allowed on the site till all dismantling is over

Of course the site is next to Westfield Mall so several hours were spent there shopping

There is a large outside shopping area too

Nobody sitting at this table

A very large eating area on 3 levels

apart from many other restaurants and coffee shops

Something I have not noticed before

the 4 red boxes (lower right) are for charging up ones phones and i-pads etc.

I have posted on Westfield many times so for now we are in Liberty where a small silk scarf costs £150 - just looking!

Not forgetting lunch in Jamie Oliver's

and our last evening at home together

with the girls chilling out in their 'sweats' after an extremely full 6 days