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Published: August 14th 2006
Anne and Ambrose
Wiltshire B&B at its most entertaining!!Last Wednesday went for four days to Wiltshire, primarily to visit Tyntesfield, the recently acquired NT property which is still being catalogued and brought up to standard plus going to buy some big terracotta rhubarb forcers from a pottery I found on the internet. Started with B&B outside Bradford on Avon staying with an ex RAF chap who looked and moved like a moustached moorhen. He was actually very informative and hilarious about his wife (she who must be obeyed) who was upstairs with some mysterious complaint.
First day we went and visited Great Chalford Manor, a fifteenth century moated manor house which was stunning and really spoilt us for everything that followed. The Courts garden which was nearby was a more masculine garden, far more controlled, but beautifully laid out. Our last visit of the day was to Peto's garden at Iford House, situated on a steep hill. Very italianate and statues to die for. As usual Anne and I existed on cream teas until the evening when we went into Bath and visited the Royal Crescent and ended up dining in the Pump Room - very Jane Austen.
The next day wasn't so successful. The pottery which
Great Chalford Manor
Beautiful 1450s Manor House was situated across the Severn Bridge just north of Cinderford turned out to be a closed portakabin - when we enquired in the local butchers he said they were selling up. We had lunch at Symonds Yat which has a lovely view and the RSPB twitchers were at the top of the hill with telescopes trained on a peregrine falcon. Never have been much good with binoculars and the like - looked like a large feral pidgeon to me (which is what they are supposed to eat). We spent the afternoon at Tintern Abbey which was covered in scaffolding and the surrounding buildings catering for the tourists are horrible. I fell asleep due to the spritzer at lunch time while Anne did a painting of the river. Our B&B was in the RHS book so should have had an impressive garden. It was except the couple had abandoned their nursery in the middle of it and were ecologically minded so everything was very overgrown - rather a plantsman's jungle rather than garden. the B&B was a suite of rooms in a modern extension at the back of the house - a little damp and Anne didn't like the decor and
the Courts
Late summer herbaceous border insisted on having the door shut incase wildlife came in, but it was actually a lot cooler than of late. (I have been travelling with a large electric fan!!).
Breakfast was wonderful - loads of fresh fruit and homemade bread(fill you up for the day variety).
WE set off early to get to Tyntesfield for the first house visit at 11. A real gothic pile, again very masculine, but very interesting, especially the kitchens. Nice to see it before it has been upgraded too much. they gave you a brief lecture in each room. the best was the wife's sitting room which had wonderful carving of fruit and insects, every one different. The rest of the house was rather overdone. Will be interesting to go back in a year or two. Went to Clevedon on the coast for lunch - yum - blackcurrant and apple tart comes with highest recommendation!!
Enjoyable trip. Arrived back in time for Tamsin's farewell party before she is off round the world on 16th. Boohoo.
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Anne
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OOOoooo...Is anybody there?
I am not dead. (I don't think.)