Saturday, 20 October 2018

The start of our week in Cornwall

Today was the start of our holiday week in Cornwall with Hayley, Andrew and Izobelle. They invited us to share a week with them based in the Cornish town of Lostwithiel, and we were looking forward to our week away with them.
We started our journey on the Friday, and decided to go clockwise around the M25, onto the M3 and then follow the A303 - stopping at Wincanton for the night. Andrew and Hayley were later starting and they went on to Honiton. We made contact on saturday morning and decided to meet on the Cornish coast at lunchtime, at Charlestown, as we could not get into our accommodation in Lostwithiel until 4pm.

Located about a mile outside the town of St Austell, Charlestown, is an amazingly pristine, unspoiled example of a late Georgian working port. It was constructed between 1791 and 1801 by Charles Rashleigh, entrepreneur and member of the local landowning family, in response to the growth of the growth of the local mining industry. Originally built to export copper and import coal, it was soon being used for the export of China Clay. It is from its creator that the the port gets its name.

Charlestown was formerly known as West Polmear with a population of 9 and a small fishing fleet that used the beach as a harbour. The project began with the construction of the pier to provide shelter for the fishing fleet and then the creation of a basin, cut out of the bedrock to allow the sailing ships in. The roads were widened and paved to allow for the wagons, which carried the cargo to and from the harbour.



The Matthew, a replica of John Cabot's boat, built for the Bristol '96 sea festival, was in Charlestown in July 1996 where filming was taking place for a BBC programme about his epic voyage 500 years ago.
Many films have used Charlestown as a set. These include Poldark Series 1 & 2, Swept From The Sea (1996), Mansfield Park (1998), Man to Man (2004), Treasure Island (2007), Alice in Wonderland, Dr Who (2011), The Adventurer: The Curse of the Midas Box (2012) This is a really pretty place and a great way to spend an hour or two. 
Having had lunch we then set off to Lostwithiel to see where we were to spend our week - Impressive!




A couple of views of our holiday let. To quote a local agent "Boseglos house is a grade II listed landmark property in the heart of Lostwithiel adjacent to St Bartholomew’s church - Bos Eglos (Cornish for 'Home by the Church') This landmark property was originally a mid eighteenth century cottage which was enlarged and altered then with a later nineteenth century Gothic addition The property boasts many original features including Gothic windows and various magnificent open fireplaces"
It was a great place overall, although there were one or two niggles which should have been sorted prior to our stay.
Sunday A walking morning around the town to get our bearings. I love these narrow streets, although they are not so good to drive on I would imagine. Soon a park was spotted and became the next destination.


The Medieval Bridge stands at the site of the original crossing of the River Fowey. The river was first bridged by the Normans. The bridge was rebuilt in the 13th-14th centuries and has been repaired and kept in use ever since.
It has been the scene of many notable and emotional occasions, including the arrival of the Black Prince and his retinue to hold Court at Restormel Castle in 1354, and the dispatch of the defeated Parliamentary army by the angry citizens in 1644.
The foundations of four western arches are buried under North Street. The eastern arches were added as the river changed course.


The Duchy Palace originally reached along the quay as far as the cobbled archway at the end of South Street. All Cornish affairs and the tin industry were controlled from here, including the Courts, Treasury, Maritime offices, the Stannary Parliament, smelting, coinage and assaying of tin and the stannary prison.
The complex was badly damaged by Parliamentary soldiers during the Siege of Lostwithiel in 1644. The Convocation Hall at the corner of Quay Street is the best preserved part of the complex and carries the emblem of the Black Prince (the first Duke of Cornwall) at the apex of the northern gable.
Today the Duchy Palace is owned by the Prince's Regeneration Trust who undertook significant conservation and renovation to the building. To quote the Prince: "We bought Old Duchy Palace, a Grade I listed 700-year-old building, in 2009 to save it from dereliction. We have worked with the Cornwall Buildings Preservation Trust (CBPT) to restore and regenerate it, and CBPT is now running the building, having taken it on a long lease.
The Palace was built by Edmund Earl of Cornwall in 1292. In 1337, the Black Prince became the first Duke of Cornwall and made this Palace his administrative centre. From here the Duchy was managed and developed a strong association with the tin mining industry."
In the afternoon we decided to visit Fowey, where the River Fowey meets the sea. Another pretty Cornish town with beautiful views of the estuary from many parts of the town. The downside being the very steep hill between the carparks and the sea front - this taxed us all on the way back!



What peaceful views - we were to return here later in the week.


Cannot remember where in Fowey I took this but I love it!


The `Rook With The Book` on Fowey river front 


This sculpture is the first piece of public artwork to celebrate the works of Daphne du Maurier, (one of my favourite authors) and was inspired by du Maurier's 1952 short story 'The Birds'. The sculpture marked the launch of the Fowey Festival of Arts and Literature 2018 programme. The sculpture was the idea of Fowey business Mike Redmond and it was made by father and son team, the sculptors Gary and Thomas Thrussell. 
In a county built on history and legends, it is hardly surprising that Daphne du Maurier fell in love with it. The landscape is woven throughout her novels and rich descriptions of the sea and Cornish places add depth to her prose. 
The du Maurier family took holidays in Fowey at Ferryside, Boddinick and Daphne would stay at a little cottage opposite called ‘The Nook’ to continue her writing once the rest of the family returned to London. On remote walks she would discover Menabilly, at Gribben Head, and fell in love with the dilapidated house. Owned by the Rashleigh family, it would be 17 years until she could call it home. 
Now set amongst National Trust land, Menabilly was remote and gave du Maurier the solace she craved. It became her family home for 25 years and she would write from a little hut in the garden. Menabilly doubles as Rebecca’s ‘Manderley’. 
Although born and raised in London in privileged circumstances and to a family of actors and artists, Daphne du Maurier will forever be associated with Cornwall. Cornwall fed her soul and gave her the freedom to follow her passion for writing which in turn gave her the independence she held dear. 
At the peak of her fame, when ‘My Cousin Rachel’ was published, du Maurier was Britain’s highest paid woman writer. However, she also valued her independence and quiet time, preferring a reclusive lifestyle in order to produce her writing - What better place than Cornwall? 


Saturday, 13 October 2018

Marks Hall Gardens and Arboretum

In 1163 the manor house and estate of Markshall were granted to the Markshall family after being confiscated from Hugh de Essex. They descended in the Markshall family until the estate was sold to John Cole, who renovated parts of the house. It was then sold to Edward Deraugh in 1581. In 1605 Robert Honywood purchased Marks Hall from Deraugh's grandson, William, pulled down part of the old timber framed house and built a new brick building in 1609. 
The estate then descended in the Honywood family to John Lamotte Honywood who, dying childless in 1694, left it to his cousin Robert. Robert, the MP for Essex, modernised the house and died in 1735. Several generations later it passed to Philip Honywood and then via his cousin, Filmer Honywood, the MP for Kent to Frances Emma, who died unmarried at Marks Hall in 1895. 

Thomas Phillips Price (1844-1932), a Welsh landowner, mine owner, and Liberal politician, purchased Marks Hall, then a mansion and deer park, at auction in 1898. He made provision in his Will to leave the Marks Hall estate to the nation in the interest of agriculture, arboriculture and forestry. During the Second World War, Earls Colne Airfield was built on the edge of the deer park and much of the property requisitioned for used as the headquarters for a number of local airfields. The 97th Bombardment Wing headquarters was initially located at the manor. By 1949, the mansion was neglected and said to be in a dangerous state, and was demolished in 1950.

The Marks Hall Estate is now the site of gardens and an arboretum, and this was our first visit, primarily to see the (hopefully) autumn colours.


View across the first lake we came to. Legend has it that these lakes were dug by Cromwell's men during the siege of Colchester 1648. Today they are well stocked with coarse fish which were swimming just below the surface, expecting food I guess.


One of our first `finds` was this little fellow, watching us from above 


A different view along the walled garden side of the lake.


The beautiful Edith Holden rose. 


We were surprised by the number of Greylag geese in the garden 


Vivid red leaves at the base of a tree 


Looking back down the first lake 



Some images in the walled garden. Probable my favourite area. 




A few fungi about, but actually not many about as I would expect. The ones I have seen elsewhere, were rather early I thought.



More Greylag geese 


Eucalyptus in Gondwanaland - This was the ancient super continent that formed the evolutionary cradle for the vegetation of South America, the Indian Subcontinents and Australasia. 
At Marks Hall they have developed the area of Gondwanaland for Southern Hemisphere species. It is situated in an area that was devastated by the 1987 hurricane. It is an undulating landscape of low mounds, which are sheltered on the western edge by the planting of Nothofagus (southern beech). Since the start of development in 1999, 200 Eucalyptus trees have been planted and on warm days the oil aroma provides a heady scent. 


The Marks Hall Estate is home to some fine veteran trees. One tree, the Honeywood Oak is around 700-years-old, making it the oldest on the estate. Having stood on the estate for so many years, it has, in its time seen numerous monarchs, wars and increases in population. 
The tree is not just important historically, but also for wildlife. The damaged areas have become home to countless creatures, where it almost acts as another world for them. Some creatures live in the tree and never have to go anywhere else. 
One side of this veteran tree looks like dead wood, but the tree is still sending out new branches all the time. The tree is managing its decline by producing areas of dead wood, dropping branches over the years and rotting back. The tree wants a much smaller canopy and with the help of the Marks Hall estate they can help the tree achieve this, by keeping the canopy back and encouraging healthy young shoots to produce. 



Near to the cafe there is an iron bridge which initially I missed. However, it seems it was built at the turn of the 19th century by Sir Filmar Honeywood who carried out a lot of work in the gardens. It was restored in 1992 and new cast iron work was produced by a local foundry to replace some missing parts. 

A great place to visit and different times of the year will no doubt give a completely different perspective - such as snowdrops etc in spring. We will return. 

Tuesday, 9 October 2018

Autumn colours at Anglesey Abbey

Another visit to Anglesey Abbey to see the autumn colours. This entry is an addition to my previous visit to Anglesey Abbey which took place September 2015. Because of this I have not duplicated many images, so both need to be seen to get the full picture!




This year the garden was far more colourful than when we visited in September 2015, as you can see by our walk toward the winter garden. 


Yes, I did stroke the tree again!


Opted for a skyward view this time


Also a slightly different view of the Cyclamen. I must say that the display appeared more widespread than it was on our last visit. 


We went inside the Mill this time, and this was the view overlooking the Lode, or waterway (in Middle English). Very green, like many of our waterways this year. 


As I said, very green! Difficult to believe it is water.


On the pathway by the waterway was this Hornets nest. Well marked and very busy. 


There are 132 statues ranging from emperors and gods, to men and beasts. Looking after all of these and keeping them in tip top condition for visitors to enjoy is quite a task and requires many hours of hard work 




More views of the glorious colours at this time of year. Just to reiterate what I said at the top of this post - my previous post with more information about this site, can be found here



Saturday, 6 October 2018

Red deer rut 4x4 safaris at RSPB Minsmere

When I saw this advertised on Facebook, I was immediately taken by the idea - and so was Rosey. As it required 4 persons we asked our friends, Andrew and Deb. So, on the 6th October we arrived at Minsmere in chilly damp conditions for our safari!

The resulting pictures are not brilliant as weather and distance were against us. Our guide/driver had a 600 mm lens which was probably a better option. Never mind- here are mine for the day.



Some of the hinds on the move when we approached. No stag here.



Two of the stags that we encountered.


The stag bellows for attention


A young stag- not competing yet!

Pictures not brilliant, but an enjoyable day and one I am glad we experienced.

Tuesday, 11 September 2018

Burnham Deepdale and onto Titchwell Marsh

Moving on next morning, we made our way to Titchwell Nature Reserve, stopping at this unique church on the way in the village of Burnham Deepdale.


Three things make this church stand out, and they are its Saxon round tower, its Norman Font, and its collection of medieval glass.


There are two stunning windows in the porch, one on either side of the passage. The two windows are known as the Sun Window and the Moon Window for the small figures that appear in the top light of each. These windows may have been made to flank a Crucifixion scene. The moon figure is quite obviously a lunar body, while the sun is represented by a cherubic youth with curly golden hair. Mixed among the glass fragments is an inscription reading 'Death is thy sting'. Inside the church are more beautiful medieval windows. In the north aisle is a stunning window decorated with richly coloured glass fragments. 


Unfortunately, my images do not do the windows` colours justice. I needed a brighter day instead of the dull drizzle of today.


The wonderful Norman font once stood in the north aisle of the church, but was broken on being moved, and then spent the next 40 odd years in the garden of Fincham Rectory, until it was finally repaired. The panels, show the farming year from a working man’s point of view. The four base steams are believed to be good copies of the originals ones.
And then to Titchwell - in the drizzle! This is a great RSPB site with some good hides and usually plenty of birds to see.
To quote their site: Located on the north coast of Norfolk, between the villages of Titchwell and Thornham, Titchwell Marsh is blessed with diverse habitats that include reedbeds, saltmarsh and freshwater lagoons where avocets, bearded tits and marsh harriers nest. There's also a wide sandy beach here, which offers extensive views across The Wash.


Redshank


Egret hunting


Black-tailed Godwit


And last, but not least, a garden snail? - I think anyway.


Featured post for the week

Bridges and butterflies in Pipers Vale, Ipswich

Ipswich is blessed with a number of park areas, including the great Christchurch Park. The Park we visited today is called Piper`s Vale, and...