Another church to squeeze in - St John the Baptist, Eastnor

 It looked a lovely church in the landscape, and it would have been rude not to visit.  It is Grade 1 listed, although "completely rebuilt" by George Gilbert Scott in 1851-52 for John Somers Cocks, the Lord of the Manor.  

Its roots were in the 12th C but it was rebuilt in the 13th.  Gilbert-Scott had intended to re-use the original stonework and had numbered everything as it was removed, but many stones were found too damaged to reuse.  Only the tower dates from the earlier period.

Apologies for the less than thorough photography of the exterior, but it was bloomin' HOT.  We just wanted to get inside, where it was cooler.

There were heads (various) at the bottoms of the windows too.

The new font, with beautiful marble legs and lovely carvings.

The Pious Pelican here, and I remember the Agnus Dei on another side.  The crispness of those leaves . . .

Fortunately they kept the old one, which looks Norman.

In the Somers-Cocks Memorial chapel, but I couldn't get a photo of the big memorial to John Somers-Cocks, who is interred here (covered over to keep the bat droppings off).  Sadly he died in 1852, before the church was fully restored.

Castleditch was the original manor house, now under the lake . . .

A beautiful memorial to the fallen of the parish.

The Bell-tower contained several wonderful memorials.

Yesterday we went to Abergavenny, and then back to Tretower Court, which you will have seen my photos of before - just as well, as I forgot my phone so couldn't take any.  We had a lovely long talk with one of the Marcher Stuarts re-enactment group.  My gosh, he knows his history and could do lecture tours!  We didn't stay in the period (they were 15th C yesterday) but talked about various periods, and learned so much.  17th C next month.  I still have a year on my CADW Historic Monuments pass, so can get in free.  £7.50 for 3 years is good value!

On Friday we had a walk around Hay, then went up the Golden Valley to Dore Abbey, where we had a picnic lunch in the orchard, and also popped into Bacton Church again.  Today it is Berrington Hall.  No peace for the wicked.

Oh, and would you believe I have been horse-fly bitten just about every day in the past week, latest one top of thigh and sending me NUTS with itching.  Just waiting for extra-strong anti-histamine to kick in now.  Blardy things.  I feel like a Marked Woman, high on the Horse Fly list of tasty Victims.

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.

A Wonderful Day Out - Part I, Eastnor Castle, Near Malvern

 It was a long day out yesterday, as we went to both Eastnor Castle and, 25 miles across country, Lower Brockhampton Manor, which Keith and I went to once we'd moved here.  I also popped into Doughty's as we were going past Hereford, and got a pattern for a dress for Rosie, and some fabric to bind the Baltimore quilt.

Eastnor Castle - we have driven past and near so many times down the years as it's just off the Malvern road - did not disappoint, and I only wish that Keith and I had visited it after going to Malvern Fleamarket, but we were always bushed after walking miles round the Flea.

This was a late-built castle (1811 - 1820) and built for John Cocks, 1st Earl Somers, overlooking the somnolent Herefordshire countryside and the site of the former house there, now under a large lake.  He employed John Smirke, the architect the British Museum, and Augustin Pugin carried out later improvements and it certainly had a feel of his designs.

There were many suits of armour on the walls and some absolutely amazing pieces of furniture.

This was certainly a full-height room!

A very unusual Broadsword with a wavy edge, this is called a Flamberge. The wavy pattern gave a better cutting edge.

What a wonderful exhibition.  Keith would have loved this and the multi-locked Armada chest.  Keith had to be talked out of buying one at auction once (fortunately the price decided this) - my goodness, it would have weighed an arm and a leg!, but would have looked the part at our old farmhouse.

Keith would have loved these displays.

The dining room with a wonderful rosewood extending dining table.

How's that for a posh ceiling?

These beautiful pieces were commissioned from Wedgewood, hence the puce colourway, which is what they use.  So pretty.

Top this for a sitting room.  No surprise that it was designed by Pugin.

The fan-vaulting and that fireplace . . . Nothing like that in my house, but think of all the dusting . . .

The Library with thousands of books, many leather-bound.

This wonderful dolls house was found in the cellar - abandoned when its owner discovered PONIES!!

How's THAT for a mirror?  It was enormous and the surround all amazingly carved much in the style of Grinling Gibbons.

Above and below: there were 4 or 6 of these amazing benches, with their painted leather seats and incredible dragon carvings.

I imagine this is the Red Bedroom.

A stunning inlaid chair featuring an angel - never seen that design before.

Keith would have LOVED the furniture - so many stunning pieces, like this inlaid chest of drawers.

A very grand 4 poster.

Very Victorian Gothic.

Part of a fabulous painting by Lionel Edwards (one of my favourite horse artists, along with Munnings and Lucy Kemp-Welch.)  It is a painting of the MFH of the Hursley Hunt (in Hampshire - I used to Instruct for the Hursley branch of the Pony Club).