Our last full day in England again saw the boys and girls split up. After a hearty 'full English fry up', we dropped the boys off at Beaulieu, to attend a HUGE car and motorcycle extravaganza while the girls headed off for more culture.
An hour outside of the New Forest sits another one of England's treasures; Kingston Lacey, a magnificent estate complete with manor house and many types of gardens.
Owned by the Banks family for over 300 years, (now owned by the National Trust) it has an outstanding collection of art, including a Guido Reni fresco, returned to the library ceiling for the first time in a quarter of a century.
The drawing room was elegant, yet cozy.
Can you just imagine being invited to a formal dinner and being lavished with a 10 course meal accompanied by music as you ate..
The 'Spanish Room' had an impressive gilded ceiling.
I would have felt very comfortable if this was my bedroom and bathroom (given how old it was...)
My favourite painting had so many shadows, that the artist gave it a life of its own tricking you into seeing a chiseled statue.
Heading to the very top of the house, the children's bedrooms and play areas were well lit by the elegantly carved dome.
The dishes used in the kitchen were obviously chosen by a cat lover. Note the bells in the kitchen that alerted the servants where they were needed by the gentry of the home.
I would have loved to have the key to this wine cellar!
As we strolled the estate, we were taken aback at the beauty of the well manicured lawns and gardens.
Our final evening meal was at the local village pub, The Bell. The perfect burger!
The following day, we said our final good-byes to my aunt, cousins and Isle of Man travel mates (who ironically live in the same village) and flew a quiet, smooth flight back across the pond.
The fork in this road took me back to my home, furries and friends.
A special thanks to everyone who hosted us, drove us, looked after our animals, checked on the house, looked after my business and did airport chauffeuring. You know who you are! THANK YOU.
We headed east for 2 days of checking out old car and motorcycle parts (for the boys) and estates for the girls. The New Forest is very unique in that once you cross over the 'cattle grids', cows, ponies and horses roam free. The speed limit is kept low and is it not uncommon to find four legged friends wandering on the roads and in the villages.
After depositing the boys at Netley Marsh, one of the biggest motorcycle flea markets in Britain, we headed off to Mottisfont, a mediaeval county priory with gardens, orchards and a grand house. A meandering man-made stream was fed by the clearest spring I had every seen.
The original buildings date back to the 13th century, with many owners 'updating' it to reflect their tastes and the times. The Russell family were the last owners and during their 'update' they incorporated parts of the original buildings in the walls to show the ancient stonework.
If you remember my post 'the 2 Lawrences', I mention Laurence Whistler's brother Rex. He was well known for his 'trompe-l'oeil' art ('trick the eye)' which is a form of optical illusion. He painted the main drawing room to give the illusion of curtains on all the walls.
The house is now a museum, rich with art and unusual gardens. I came across a fabulous magnolia that had the scent of lemon. I even had tea with Pooh, Tiger and Piglet, as there was space at their party.
We spent the night at the Mortimer Arms and enjoyed many delights that the chef had on offer.
Tomorrow: our last day - a visit to Kingston Lacey.
One of the charms of living in a village is Market Day. Ilminster is a quaint town in Somerset, not far from my aunt's, so we checked out all the vendor's wares.
The village also has a grand 'church', called a 'Minster', which in religious hierarchy, means it's importance is between a church and an abbey.
We continued our afternoon at Barrington Court. The court house was built in the 1500's, from mellow Ham Stone. By the early 1900's, it had become a derelict shell, but was lovingly restored by the Lyle family (of the Golden Syrup fame). The house sits empty but is open for visitation. The rooms are often used for art shows and time can be spent strolling around the estate and through the traditional British gardens.
Check out the 'hidden' door in the paneling that leads to the 'powder room'.
These grand halls on the third floor were used for exercise during bad weather.
The art exhibits today were willow arches and fancy gloves.
Interior court fountain.
Stables for the livestock.
We spent a lovely evening feasting on salmon and visiting with my cousin.
Tomorrow: Heading into the New Forest.....
