Another day out

You may think that I do nothing but go out, but this was another U3A History Group outing that I didn't want to miss.  The History Group will now stop outings until the Spring because of the weather and also because many of the stately homes/houses we visit are closed for the winter as they catch up with conservation work and most of them are not heated!!

Yesterday's trip was to Broughton Castle, near Banbury, the home of Lord Saye and Sele.

I particularly wanted to go to this house as I have discovered that, back in the 17th century the family are part of my family tree and I had never heard of the place before.  It is the home of the Fiennes family and though the 21st Lord doesn't live in it, his son does.  The current Lord is 94 and whilst my friend and I walked in the grounds afterwards we met him and his wife and I stopped to discuss my family tree with them.  I had previously emailed them a copy so they knew I was coming, but they were very gracious about this awful woman accosting them to talk about something which was very boring to them - her family tree.  I hope I look as sprightly at 94 as Lord Saye does.

An incredible ceiling in the Great Parlour took my fancy.  They look like icicles

 The next photo was taken from the roof, looking down onto the wonderfully clipped 'fleur de lis' box hedges.  There is one gardener full time and he was very obliging when we didn't know what some of the plants were.  The door to the roof is next to the Council Chamber which was said to be the place conspirators plotted to overthrow Charles 1 between 1629 - 1642. They were members of the Providence Island Company, formed to colonise islands in the Caribbean and later New England.  One of these settlements at the mouth of the Connecticut River was called Saybrook (now Old Saybrook) after Lord Saye and Lord Brooke another attendee in the Council Chamber at this time.

This is a view of the house from the garden and I love the honey coloured ironstone, with a wonderful sky in the background. 

I have a clear weekend ahead of me to finish some of my patchwork items and I am hoping to show you a 'crafty' something which is easy to make, needs no sewing and is delightful to look at.  So watch this space .....