Joining in GardenMama’s Wednesday wandering.
Here I sit in the gardens of a stately home, waiting for the rest of the family. I am patient, but our dog can hardly bear that her pack is separated in a strange place. I soak in the history surrounding us, hoping she doesn’t slip her collar and dash into the house to round them up.
I love days out when the whole family go. That includes our furry face, four-legged, table surfing hound. We all hate it when venues exclude Gwinny. So today, we were all happy to take her along.
We went down to Arlington Court down in Devon. This estate was in the Chichester family for five hundred years until they gave it to the National Trust, who now manage it and open to the public. At the moment part of it is under wraps, for repairs.
The last family member Miss Chichester was a great collector. The children were fascinated by her extensive collection of model ships, elephants and shells. They were displayed beautifully in the house.
The main reason we visited was to see the carriage museum that the National Trust have set up in the old stable block.
The children were fascinated by the carriages and were fortunate to find a very knowledgeable guide. Some people find just the right level with children and bring museum pieces to life. They were fascinated by her descriptions. She showed them where spikes had been added at the back to of the carriages to stop children jumping up for a free ride. They saw where the servants rode and heard about their discomforts. So much history to absorb and carriage wheels to measure up against.
How could it be a stable block without horses and ponies. They do give carriage rides, but the carriage, they use, is away to be repaired. We looked behind the stable block scene as well.
We saw the horses in the stables and the tack room. I explained to the children that there would have been two of these old black ranges in our house. I showed them the tap for the hot water. We talked about baths. Makes me appreciate my dishwasher and running water in our house. Its strange to think that when the ranges were put in our house, it would have been a modernisation.
Back outside in the gardens there was plenty to see an enjoy.
Did you know that the monkey puzzle tree, was unlikely to have ever puzzled a monkey? It got this name as someone made the comment that a monkey would find it difficult to climb. There are no monkeys where the tree is native.
A day full of history and something to interest us all. I know it inspired the children as AJ made up a story based on the location and time, which kept the other two entertained for part of the journey home. She is writing it up today.
{Due to technical difficulties, I’m publishing this post a day late. I know it is Thursday today!}
what a fun place to explore and learn!
It certainly inspired the older one. She loves history, so really appreciated the trip. The others absorbed it all, I hope.
What a wonderful day together with your family!
Thank you for sharing such lovely photos of where you have wandered! : )
Thank you. We thoroughly enjoyed it. Loving the wandering Wednesday series.
That looks like such fun – love the monkey tree!!! I immediately thought of Doctor Dolittle!!! Have a fun weekend!
They are fun looking trees. There were two trees and both were taller than I’ve seen them before.
I loved this post! So fascinating! That monkey puzzle tree was amazing! I would love to visit some of the old English mansions someday.
I love gardens where they have enough room to have specimen plants and trees like the monkey tree. The old houses are wonderful to wander around.
hey cheryl, i am fascinated. love the old clothes drying rack. LOVE the range. i love the olden days..i would love to live like this actually….is it blacksmith tools hanging above the range? what a wonderful informative day for children. thank you for sharing with us. x
The old black range is in the tack room, so the other walls are lined with all the harness, bridles, etc needed for the horses. You can just imagine the grooms sitting in front of the range, polishing up the leather and metal work, waiting for the kettle to boil. There was no sign of a blacksmith, but I suspect that they would have called him in when they needed him. It was a good day.
Looks a lovely place to visit. I don’t think I’ve seen a monkey puzzle tree that shape, think the ones I’ve seen before must have been pruned beyond recognition.
Now you say that, I know what you mean. The ones I tend to see in private gardens tend to be more sprawling. I wonder if this shape is due to type or careful pruning. Lovely branches.
Great day out! We’ve had a lot of thunder…and sporadic internet as a result. Very annoying. So I’m reading yet another day later!!
I think you are having all the bad weather. We had one major downpour. My water butts were full until the one of the children discovered the fun of emptying it. Grr!
How Excellent..that was a lovely virtual visit that the girls really enjoyed
It also satisfied some questions on harness and tack that had been puzzling them during reading of Gillian Baxter’s Pantomime ponies
Thanks Cheryl
(The Chew dog loves to be in on the act like Gwinny but she’s showing her age greatly now but still managed and enjoyed the annual fishing trip.
Her smile when sitting in the backseat by the girls ready for the journey was something not to be missed
:0)
I’m glad it helped the girls. It was a room straight out of an historical novel. The walls were covered in tack. I find it so difficult to leave Gwinny behind, because she knows we are off doing something fun. So many places ban dogs. Not sure we could pass her of as an assistance dog, although I think she’d love the yellow coat!
Our Snap hates her pack to be scattered too – she longs for us all to spend all day in bed with her asleep! Looks like you had a lovely time – we might try and fit a visit in there on our way down to Cornwall some time….
Gwinny won’t know what to do when they all go back to school. Hoping to fit in a few more outings before then.
I would SO love to visit this place! Very cool.
You would have loved it, Jodi.