On our way we stopped at Stourhead Garden. The Stourhead landscape garden and manor first opened in the 1740's and people of the day described it as a "living work of art." We concur. Stourhead is amazing and not only because it is featured in one of our favorite movies.
The estate is 2,650 acres and features a town, farm lands, woods, walking trails, lakes, temples, grottos, stables and extensive gardens, and the scene where handsome Mr. Darcy is rejected by the prejudiced Elizabeth Bennett...poor Mr. Darcy.
This magnificent estate was graciously donated to the National Trust in 1946 by Henry Hugh Arthur Hoare. Who was the 7th generation of Hoare's to inherit Stourhead. He devoted his life to Stourhead, he lost his only son in World War I and donated the estate to the national trust in order to keep it intact, lucky us, and all visitors! Trivia about the Hoare family: Hoare Bank is England’s oldest privately owned bank. Sir Richard Hoare founded the bank in London in 1672. Still family-owned, it is managed today by the 11th generation of Sir Richard’s descendants. Amazing family and amazing grounds. We'll let the pictures do the talking.
Of course the first picture has to be of a Defender in front of a stable. Its the quintessential modern English country dream.....now how do we get this dream to Seattle, and the Defender in blue.
Wish this was a scratch and sniff blog, this image would smell like Horses and not in a good way.
Brian standing in front of the Icehouse, basically the freezer/fridge for the house until 1930. The estate even had a full time "ice boy" for many years until he was fired because his dog barked too much. One of Tug's ancestors perhaps?
Mr. Darcy we know you are up there, and we're coming for you.
250 year old cave made entirely of stones.
They were setting up a tea for some group, so the chairs kind of kill this shot. But if you picture the far left chair as Elizabeth Bennett (Keira Knightley) and the far right chair as Mr. Darcy (Matthew Macfadyen) its almost a spot on recreation of Darcy leaving Ms. Elizabeth if they were white modern chairs......also add pouring rain for good measure. Visualize it people.
Pretty nice spot to reject a marriage proposal from a gorgeous multi-millionaire if we had to pick one. Well done Elizabeth.
An emotionally distraught Elizabeth runs over this bridge after hearing that Mr. Darcy played a major role in preventing the engagement of her sister Jane to Mr. Bingley. Darcy, you bastard...ohhh, we can't stay mad at you, we love you.
How cute is our room in Salisbury? And the room number is 3. So come on knock on our door, we've been waiting for you......
Notice the pillows? Yeah, they are frenchies. In case you were wondering we are calling the dog painting Mr. Dogcy.
Awesome surprise behind our door. Trish is one happy girl right now. Brian may have tried to hug this, for his benefit we are not sharing that picture.
Good night from Salisbury. (It's 1:30pm at home, so goodnight eventually)
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Your blog makes me happy.
ReplyDeleteDitto!��
ReplyDeleteBrian really looks like he's having a good time.
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