A Wonderful Day Out, Part II - Lower Brockhampton Manor

 

Keith and I visited here in 2022.  HERE is a much better post I wrote then.  I am in a default, reporting mode at present, as my friend is here so I can't spend much time writing these posts up.

Isn't this just the most perfect place?  Keith and Tam and I visited when we first moved here.  He was a bit wobbly on his feet, but insisted on going upstairs.  They were clearly a bit worried about him coming down again, and posted a Strong Bloke at the other end, in case he needed help but of course he was blardy-minded and managed perfectly well.  He loved the house, as I did.

I didn't take a photo, but the moat was almost dry - large expanses of mud.  It's been a proper draught year this year.

The chimney breast hosts a number of firearms, but the interesting one is the short chunky one at the bottom which is as rare as rocking horse droppings.  It was found at the very bottom of a pile of rubbish in the corner of a barn, after the estate had been passed to the National Trust.  This was a flintlock gun designed to get rid of poachers.  It was attached to a trip wire, and the wide blunderbuss type mouthpiece would fire shot over a more than human-sized target.  They had been outlawed about 1820 and it spent the next 120 years resting in a barn.  A very rare survivor as most would have been destroyed.  To the left of the fireplace floor is a Man Trap - a similar deterrent - this one would break your leg.  The one the other side merely stop you in your tracks.

A lovely Court Cupboard, probably 17th C.

A beautiful corner chair and its offspring.

I wondered why there was a gap in the loops of the design, but then saw it had been repaired.  Perhaps a lock taken out and replaced.  Bible box on stand, I believe.

Just look at that superbly-carved design, and the inlay. Not many this good have survived. 

Home on leave  . . .

Then downstairs to my favourite room.  

That's the washing sorted then . . .

They had found a metal bread peel from somewhere (perhaps it was a survivor from a commercial bakery).

Looks like they ran out of plates to dress the top shelf . . .

Then back through to the lounge.

I liked the "Christmas Beer - do not touch" on the furthest barrel.

This would have been the Still Room in former days, and a slight nod to this here with the dried herbs and flowers.

The Norman chapel at the back, sadly once their roof goes, the rest soon follows.

A lovely day out and I would love to go at Christmas.