Friday 13 June 2014

Hughenden - A great day out.


Today we went here!  


This is the house that Benjamin Disraeli lived for the last thirty years of his life.

We listened to a VERY good talk about Benjamin Disraeli and his life.  The speaker knew just how long to make it, paced it well and injected the right amount of humour and interest.


We were really interested to go into Disraeli's study after hearing that Queen Victoria spent some time in here in quiet contemplation after his death...from a poor impression when she first met him, she eventually came to hold him in very high regard.


It was a really lovely study and if I was to become a Prime Minister, or even a country estate owner, I want a study just like this one!

We also heard a talk about the activities at the house during World War Two: Operation Hillside...I have to admit this talk wasn't as well given...as Mum said, less could have been said and it would have proved to have been more.  Not really sure what she meant by that...but I think she meant that he needed to be a bit more concise and not um, well waffle quite so much.  It was interesting though to hear about what happened here.  In the basement were displays of that period in time.



The basement looks like it must have been fortified...there were walls within the walls.

Mum said it looked like I was in jail here!


Peggy Sue came with us today and she was actually good company.  We were interested in the old uniforms, but the helmet and clothes were too big for us.



We looked at the different machines used to transmit messages in code.


In the bunk room we played with the cards.



There was a room recreated like the sitting room of the two children that lived on site during the war years.

We were fascinated by the Children's Newspaper.







Next we ventured outside to look at the gardens.


Very impressive they were as well.




I thought this was a bit rood. rude, but it made Peggy Sue giggle.





Imitating art.



Peggy Sue liked the flowers.



I liked the little baby rabbit that was in the garden soaking up the warmth.



Of course no outing is complete without a spot of tree climbing...


Mum nearly left me behind here!


Peggy Sue found what she called a 'Tree Throne'




There were fabulous views of the surrounding countryside.


Although as Mum pointed out, sadly marred by the sound of traffic.


Inspecting a giant grasshopper.


Wow, this bug hotel was really impressive.  We want to build one in our garden now!


We are sure we could...we have a lot of stuff just like the things that were used in here.


We discuss just the place we would put it.





A pretty flower for Mum


A scarecrow for Dad (Teehee hee)


Even I have to admit these roses were very bright and colourful.

A grand day out indeed, the weather was perfect, the talks were interesting as was the house and gardens.  Still much more to explore walk wise, so we may go back one day with Percy.








Saturday 7 June 2014

Henry goes to Stowe Gardens

Today we had an enjoyable afternoon at Stowe Gardens in Buckingham.  These gardens are National Trust and free for members to visit.



Stowe House.


These grand gardens of around 250 acres were created by Lord Cobham in the 18th Century.  Lord Cobham was a highly influential aristocrat and politician and the family at the height of their wealth and power were richer than the King and the gardens were a bold statement to show this.  These gardens very quickly became on of the country's first tourist attractions and visitors have been coming to the gardens for over 300 years.



The gardens were wonderful to explore.  Nooks and crannies in tree stumps...







Pebble Alcove


The Temple family motto 'Templa Quam Dilecta' which means 'How lovely are thy temples'






Palladian Bridge


Views from the bridge.





Gothic Temple - you can rent this as a holiday cottage.



Could be fun staying here...what do you think?




Temple of Friendship


Swans n the lake with their cygnets.


Sheep resting in the fields.




Walking along I saw....


A Speckled Wood butterfly.



Saxon Dieties who gave their names to the seven days of the week.




I pose with one of them...




Lord Cobham's Pillar


Loved the lion.


Temple of Concord and Victory







Standing on the steps of the temple




Looking down over the hand made valley which Capability Brown had planned to hold water, but miscalculated somewhat and so it turned into a valley.  He obviously had trouble with his maths homework like me!


You can see both the obelisk 


and Lord Cobham's Pillar from the temple.




Standing on this wonderful old contorted Cedar tree






Fane of Pastoral Poetry - I could just imagine Francis coming here to write poetry!


Shell Bridge


Temple of Ancient Virtue


Temple of British Worthies


Chatting with Sir Isaac Newton



In conversation with William Shakespeare




Eastern and Western Lake Pavilions.



Cascade and Artificial Ruins



It was a great day to get out and about and I had fun exploring all these amazing temples and grounds.  

I got another stamp in my National Trust Passport.  I wonder where we will go next time?