Spent a fascinating morning at the National Trust property Charlecote Park last week.
Overlooking the river Avon on the edge of Shakespeare’s Stratford and home to the Lucy family for over 900 years, Charlecote Park is an immaculately preserved and presented Victorian family home. I love a Victorian House and this is one of the best- especially the kitchens and courtyard areas. After a wander around the house, the surrounding gardens and parkland provided a great walk with the family. The weather was cold and crisp; a perfect way to spend a Friday afternoon.
Last weekend involved a road trip up to the West Midlands
Wet trip up to Middle England.
And an overnight stay in the Regent Hotel Leamington Spa, now a travel lodge.
It is a beautiful grand old lady of a building and had me wondering about it’s history. Wikipedia told me this:
In 1809, a plot of land was purchased to build the hotel on, which cost £1,000. The foundation stone was laid eight years later, on 18 July 1818 by the granddaughter of the original landowner. The hotel was officially opened on 19 August 1819. The hotel opened as Williams Hotel, but 3 weeks later was renamed The Regent by permission of the then Prince Regent (George IV). In 1830 Princess Victoria, then aged 11, apparently stayed overnight at the hotel with her father. Eight years later from the balcony of the hotel it was announced that Victoria, now Queen, had allowed the prefix Royal on its name, which the town still bears to the day. Moving to more modern times, the cast and crew of the British comedy Keeping Up Appearances stayed at the hotel whilst filming in Leamington. For some years now the hotel has been a Grade II listed building and in 1998 the hotel closed its doors. In 2003 however it was decided that the hotel was to be extensively redecorated and refurbished as part of a scheme to regenerate the surrounding area.
Leamington was also beautiful on a chilly May Sunday morning. I love the architecture and the wide tree- lined avenues.
Couldn’t live in the Midlands. The draw of the coast is too strong, not to mention the warmer climes in the South East of England. However there is still something magical about the Shires- historical and literary.
With tuppence for paper and strings You can have your own set of wings With your feet on the ground You’re a bird in flight With your fist holding tight To the string of your kite
Oh, oh, oh! Let’s go fly a kite Up to the highest height! Let’s go fly a kite and send it soaring Up through the atmosphere Up where the air is clear Oh, let’s go fly a kite!
When you send it flyin’ up there All at once you’re lighter than air You can dance on the breeze Over ‘ouses and trees With your fist ‘olding tight To the string of your kite
Oh, oh, oh! Let’s go fly a kite Up to the highest height! Let’s go fly a kite and send it soaring Up through the atmosphere Up where the air is clear Let’s go fly a kite!
Song by David Tomlinson, Dick Van Dyke, and Londoners (Mary Poppins)
The tearooms are run by mother and daughter, Jo and Jess. Quintessentially English, it’s menu boasts hearty, warming soups, scrumptious cream teas and cakes, real local ales and a whole host of loose leaf teas served in fine bone china teacups- what other way is there to enjoy a cup of tea? All food is freshly prepared using quality ingredients.
Set against the backdrop of Warwick Castle the Tea Rooms building was by Thomas Oken, Philanthropist and one time Mayor of Warwick. It is a perfect place to recuperate after a castle visit.
They have produced this book in response to the may requests from visitors for the recipes to the food sampled in the tea rooms. Copies are available from the online shop website:
Front cover and a mouthwatering lemon drizzle cake
Milly Space 