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?


3 comments:

  1. Hey, Henry!

    Looks like you had another great day out at a stately home! That brings back happy memories of our trips out with you.

    We specially like those tree and tree stump photos. IWe know the house and gardens are amazing but, well, we ARE boys and trees to climb or hide in are even more intersting to us, aren't they?

    We are going to start our own branch of The Merry Men and live in the greenwoods, in the summmer anyway. We aren't telling Robin, Wren's twin, because he'll expect to be Robin Hood and boss us about. He's a nice guy, but doesn't quite have what it takes to boss us about, we are a bit tougher than he is.

    Erm... big thunder storm alert!!! Heading back from the greenwood until it's sunny again.

    Bye for now,
    Your mates,
    James and Emrys

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  2. Hi Guys,

    It is a shame we went here AFTER you had gone home! It was such great fun and you would have loved it...so many places to play hide and seek.

    Sounds like you are going to have fun as The Merry Men living in the greenwoods. Hope you didn't get caught in the thunderstorm. It rained here all morning and then by the afternoon the sun was shining.

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  3. What a fantastic place to visit, so big and beautiful. I think it has to be the coolest cedar tree in the world :) Henry looks like he is having the best time. A great post :) xx

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