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Monday 19 September 2016

Sudeley Castle Part 2, other pretty Cotswold places and a Sea Life Adventure

I think I mentioned that Sudeley Castle is chock full of history, I love walking the grounds of these places, the gardens where royalty and people from our past have walked before, it's somehow very calming.

Katherine Parr lived and died here, although it seems that for a time her coffin was lost.


Bu thankfully she was given a final and fitting resting place in the church of St Mary in the castle grounds.



The church outside



and in.


You cannot take photos of the rooms in the castle which are still used by the family, which is understandable but you can take photos of the other rooms and the exhibitions.
(These were took on my phone so the quality is not too good)



The ceiling in Katherine Parr's room

 How about this for a loo, lol

The exhibitions were of Henry VIII and his wives, Richard III and a replica of his skeleton
and this reconstruction commissioned by Lady Ashcombe

 There were many lovely samplers and tapestries too




These were nice additions around the grounds


And I wouldn't mind this view from my back garden wall either!


There is also a pheasantry with quite exotic looking birds, I only managed to catch a snap of two.
This beautiful coloured one


And this rather stern looking one


I found plenty to do for the rest of the week too.  I decided to stick with the Cotswolds and took a ride out to Chipping Norton on Wednesday, which was a nice little town with quite a few shops, including this knitting shop which had a wonderful selection of yarns, I didn't buy anything though, I was very good :-)


It was still early afternoon so I took a trip over to Chipping Campden.
Now this was a proper Cotswolds village.

When you think of the Cotswolds you think of thatched cottages, right?
Lovely isn't it?


But then you turn round and see this.
Have you ever seen anything so pretty!


And a little closer, can you see the two birds on the roof?  I think that each thatcher has his own trademark and birds must be this particular craftsman's trademark, (there was a fox on another roof).

I could quite happily have stayed on that corner and sighed over this house for hours, I reluctantly walked away before they called the police.


The village itself was very nice although quite busy with traffic because it was picking up from school time, I noticed a couple of nice place that were serving afternoon tea so perhaps a visit back there soon will be on the cards :-)

Church on the high street



Clear blue skies made a perfect afternoon

I had a little wander around some of the side streets and all the houses were so pretty with lovely colourful displays in their gardens, I loved all these Dalia's, so pretty!


I could have stayed much longer looking around, well worth a visit.

I was on my travels again on Thursday, this time I had some company in the form of the little dude and we went to the Sea Life Centre in Birmingham.


We both loved the penguins who put on a great show diving in the water, i took a video on my phone but for some reason it won't load up onto my computer.

Oliver was obsessed with sharks that day

But Nanny loved the turtle.
They have one of those tunnel type of things that you walk through and everything is swimming around and above you, very good, i was mesmerised, but by that time Oliver was already thinking about what soft toy he was going to buy from the shop!


I'm quite pleased I got a good, (considering it was taken on my phone) photo of the turtle


Normal service has been resumed this morning with me back in the office, although weather wise I think I chose a great week, this morning was all change, it was dark and raining when I went out and there is a definite change in the air tonight.

It's a 3 day working week for me, I have Wednesday and Thursday off, nothing planned as yet, I might just have a Gilmore Girl fest with my feet up on the sofa if nothing else calls to me :-)

If you got to the end of this looooong post, thank you, I know I go on a bit sometimes, lol

Hoping to post a stitching and knitting update next time :-)

Until then
-X-

11 comments:

Chocolates4Breakfast (Terri Malinovich) said...

What a wonderful post, Maggie! Your pictures looked just fine to me and certainly make me want to visit. The sculpted roof on the Cotswald cottage was amazing. How long do they last? What a beautiful way to top a home; so much prettier than traditional roofing. The little dude is adorable!

Rowyn said...

Wow, such fabulous photos! I love English castles and cottages. Thanks for sharing.

Oliver is a wee cutie.

Jo said...

I really enjoyed this post, Sudeley Castle is definitely somewhere that would interest me with all its history. I love looking at old samplers and tapestries and that loo, wow. How sad that Katherine Parr wasn't left in peace after she died but at least she's got a fitting tribute now. I've never been to the Cotswolds but I drool every time I see those beautiful cottages, I'm not sure I'd fancy actually living in a house with a thatched roof though myself but they're certainly pretty to look at. Oliver's such a cutie, it's a long time since I've been to a Sealife Centre, though I did swim with turtles in Barbados, they're beautiful creatures but can be snappy, Mick got bit.

Vickie said...

Wow! Sudeley Castle is just amazing! And the Cotswolds! Oh I could spend many, many, many hours there!

Mary - Lecoeurceltique said...

Sudeley Castle is now on my 'must see' list. I love travelling through the Cotswolds too. To my eyes it is so 'English'. Lovely photo of Oliver.

Tina said...

Looks like a fab week off,lovely photo's,would love a thatched cottage too.lovely photo of Oliver xx

Barb said...

Thanks to your wonderful posts, I feel like I have been visiting your wonderful country! That house was lovely. I think I could just move right in!

Hazel said...

I've never been to the Cotswolds. Looks fab and what an interesting place to visit! Xx

Diana Stitching said...

Enjoyed this post very much. Lots of lovely photos and really interesting stuff x

Lowcarb team member said...

Oh Maggie, I really enjoyed this post from beginning to end and everything in between!

Your photo's are lovely and so much to see.

Sea life centres are great places to visit, and your pictures are great. So pleased Oliver enjoyed his day.
The turtles are amazing, and lovely colour in your photo's.

Good wishes for the coming weekend

All the best Jan

Julie said...

I think we could all do with a day in the Cotswolds, it does look idyllic. Your phone takes a great pic.