During the last 100 years or so, increasing numbers of Stately Homes and Estates fell into a state of disrepair. Many reasons for this, but one big contributor was the First World War (1914 - 1918). Here many generations of the 'upper classes' were killed off, leaving nobody to inherit/ run the family estates. The National Trust was set up by a bunch of volunteers, mostly women, who set out to raise funds to rescue the estates. The Trust is now Massive with Millions of members ... not least, Pat & I.
We drove into Norfolk and it reminded me so much of Holland: flat, agricultural, with the 'broads' (canals).
The names of the villages originate from way back in history, and are amusing to modern ears; typically: Little Snoring, Great Snoring, Gayworme and Saracen's Head!
DAY ONE
We went to see Peckover House. It was quite interesting and the little building on the extreme left was turned into a small bank which ended up as Barclay's Bank (currently being sued for interest rigging on both sides of the Atlantic!)... It Rained!
DAY TWO
We went to see the wonderful Oxbrugh Hall .....it rained!
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/oxburgh-hall/
The family still live here, with lots of grown-up grandchildren. It's nice to find a place where the family haven't all died out
DAY THREE
We went to Felbrigg Hall ... it rained!
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/felbrigg/
DAY FOUR
We went to Blicking Hall the house that Anne Boleyn was born in, and has at least one ghost ... it didn't rain ..... but ... that night there was the mother-of-all storms and the hotel was almost flooded.
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/blickling/
Being both British and waterproof, we had a fantastic time despite the weather.
When asked why, as such a small island race, the British attempted to colonise the world, the answer is simple ... to get away from the weather.
Yesterday it was blue skies and 30 C ... expect snow tomorrow :0))
I will try to catch up with all my friends blogs ... but have a million urgent tasks to complete before I can even get back to drawing
It's been a long time since I have been in your country, but I always loved to visit stately homes and learn about their history (and ghosts!). I'm sorry about the rain! We have some sunny days here too, but snow would not surprise me anymore. ;) What a summer!
ReplyDeleteYes freaky weather,globally. It hasn't rained for days now, but we keep looking over our shoulders, Coming to see you in the moment, Judy.
ReplyDeleteHello,John!Here temperatures are rising dangerously
ReplyDeleteand it does not rain ....
I read your post and I smile! Thanks for the words ,the pictures, and links .
THANK YOU ,ALWAYS FOR INVALUABLE sense of humor!
Ciao Rita. Glad I can make you smile - life is too short for sadness. Stay cool and Stay Kool!
DeleteWhat? It only rained on 3 days out of the 4? Didn't you do well. lol. I'm also a fan of stately homes John, and there are a few there I must put on my "must visit" list. Great photo's.
ReplyDeleteWe have such a lot in common, John ... except I can't paint
DeleteYou are welcome to my raft if this keeps up. If it was worse, you might have taken a cruise.
ReplyDeleteThe homes are lovely. Lots of drawings to be made. I would have loved the stately home tours; Ellis would have been at the nearest pub. I'll bet your camera never cooled down. Welcome home. It takes about a week to unwind from a vacation.
Here the corn crops are in trouble--that's not good for the world.
What a fabulous tour. Those estates are amazing. That is one of the things I loved about living in Europe was the imaportance placed on history!! And send us some of your rain. We're in serious need.
ReplyDeleteCarrie - nice to see you. Hope you have recovered from your move and settled in to your new home. Glad you liked the picture. I've started a new project, it's on the drawing board - it is such a challenge I'm not sure I will be able to finish it.
DeleteOh John, I did so enjoy this post! First time I've seen a moat in real life! Gorgeous homes each and every one and I am just dying to see the insides of all of them. Being English bred (mom's side is Lancaster and Alvord, dad's side is Kent), I've always felt a strong connection to England and have wanted to visit. The best I've gotten was a layover in London and having to take a bus from one spot in the airport to another. Sigh...
ReplyDeletePat was born in Kent (the Garden of England), and we grew up there. I'm glad you enjoyed the post, Sherry.
DeleteHi John, I could not help smiling as I read this post. Here in the area of milan, it is almost two months that all days the temperatures arrived above 30 degrees celsius and that throughout this period we saw a few drops of rain in a couple of occasions!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your beautiful photos! Ciao!!
There must be somewhere in the world where the weather is perfect ... but I haven't found it yet. I don't know Italy although I have been to Rome a few times.
DeleteGlad you liked the photos. Ciao!
We get a lot of rain here in Oregon and I don't mind it at all..like you, I'm used to it. The rain keeps everything looking no nice. What gorgeous estates. I felt like I was right there and all I had to do was just sit here on my couch! haha! I watch a fair amount of British television and I have huge respect for all things "across the pond". The architecture! the royalty! the humor! (sometimes I can only understand 1/3 of it, but no matter...I laugh and laugh. One (on the subject of an old huge home) originates from Scotland. I think, called "The Monarchs of the Glen"? Are you familiar with that one?
ReplyDeleteI'll be looking forward to your next drawing....! :)
I know America quite well (from Alaska to Hawaii) and I think I was in Oregon once - at the Air Force Base a Kingsley? My daughter spends four months a year in the US (American boyfriend) so we are fans :o))
DeleteI've heard of the TV series but never watched it. British humour is like our beer: it's an acquired taste. Most of the World doesn't get it either, although the British to tend to enjoy American humor (humour).
The next drawing is a massive challenge and to be honest I'm not sure if I can make it work (there's even colour/color in it!!) It's going to take some time. Maybe more than one attempt.
Hi John. It sounds like you would fit in, in Vancouver. We have liquid sunshine, and we all grow webbed toes! The estates you posted are absolutely gorgeous, especially Blickling Hall. But, wet summer be damned, I hope you get some real warm, sunny weather soon!!!
ReplyDeleteBritish and waterproof, LOL!! Wow, what an amazing trip you must have had. :)) Those buildings are just calling out to you to draw John!! Thanks for sharing your trip with us John, makes me feel like I was there with you.
ReplyDeleteI looked all over for an e-mail address, but could find none. I wanted to tell you I have honored you with the Liebster Blog Award. You'll have to come read all about it.
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile yesterday I had written a clever comment about all the lovely homes you saw on your cruise and never clicked on publish. I obviously was still under the influence of whatever anesthetic they gave me for my endoscopy yesterday morning. These are going to make great drawings. I'm sorry it rained, but I did offer the use of my raft. Congratulations John. You are a sweetheart blogger who does amazing things with graphite and that's what the Liebster award is all about. I have several images on my post that you can select if you care to accept. (There are rules, aren't there always)?
It sounds like you had the most fabulous time, despite the weather! Paul and I went to Norfolk a few years ago and stayed on a canal boat. It is a stunning place! I believe it's where The Wind in the Willows was filmed? We were much luckier with the weather though! It's a shame the sun waited until your trip was over to shine, but at least it's beautiful now! I wonder if you'll be drawing any of those buildings :0)
ReplyDeletewhat an interesting post! I'd no idea there were so many stately homes in Norfolk. I've never been but it looks lovely (despite the rain!) I loved the title of your post-how funny andunfortunately how true!
ReplyDeleteSo many beautiful and interesting buildings and great subject matter for you, John. It seems you will never run out of ideas or inspiration.They are all architecturally astounding but I am quite taken by Oxbrugh Hall. I mean - a real moat! Now that is astounding!
ReplyDeleteTell us what you think of the Olympic opening! I am STILL watching it! I've been watching it forever! Will Paul McCartney ever sing??
ReplyDeleteOh could you share some of that rain with our Midwest please? We are having a mild summer and loving it. I enjoyed your post. I wondered how the national trusts worked. I did get a chuckle or two when reading why the English wanted to colonize the world. :)))Will we be seeing some of these as drawings?
ReplyDeleteWonderful places, great pictures; thanks for sharing.
ReplyDelete