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UK May / June 2016
Inside the Palace is spectacular and outside it is beautiful. (below left) inside the library Other photos are of the beautiful parkland at Blenheim.
One of our tasks at the Carthago Gatherings is organising evening meals and entertainment. This time it was for 100 people. (below) Carthago members enjoying the entertainment provided by Pete Watkins who provided a first class one man show. Both photos by Paul Turner (one of our members)
TEVERSAL, near Mansfield, Notts (5) After the meeting in Adderbury we headed north to Teversal to stay on the Camping and Carvanning Club site which is a short distance from the M1 motorway. We stayed on this site about 6 years ago. It is a pleasant site with very good facilities and it was convenient for two National Trust sites that we wanted to visit, Mr. Straws House, Worksop and The Workhouse, near Mansfield.
Mr. Straws House (right) is actually two houses owned by a local, well to do, grocer. When he died the house was left as it was and passed to the National Trust. It is a facinating glimpse into Victorian times and reminded George of his great aunts house in Hailsham. The NT staff were very knowledgeable and it was an interesting visit. The visitors are controlled by booking timed tickets. Consequently, you are going round the property with just a few other people. Our second NT property to visit was The Workhouse in Southwell, near Mansfield (see below). This property is in remarkably good condition and the visit was really educational. Again the NT staff were well informed. We always believed that one was ‘sent’ to the Workhouse almost as a punishment but no, one had to apply to be taken in. If accepted, you would be given food (of sorts) and shelter until you found employment or passed away. Employers would approach the Workhouse to seek suitable employees when they had a vacancy. So the saying “ A successful Workhouse is an empty one!”
Photo of Workhouse (below) is copied from NT website
Literally, just down the road from the campsite is Hardwick Hall (below). Built by Bess of Hardwick who was allegedly the second richest person in the land after Queen Elizabeth I. Apparently, they knew each other well. Hardwick Hall was ostentatious and designed to brag of Bess’s wealth. The walls are all hung with the most expensive, huge tapestries. The area of glass in the walls was dramatically more than any other building of that era. Very expensive at the time and probably a nightmare to keep warm in winter!
(above) Hardwick Hall (left) The documents office. Here they stored all the deeds and contracts for the numerous Hardwick owned properties. Allegedly, Bess would take guest upon to the roof and tell them “Everything you can see is owned by me”. Not a modest lady then! (below left) We also visited Hardwick Old Hall which is just next door. It was abandoned and remained usuable but the lead was stripped off the roof for the new Hall. As a result water got into the roof timbers and the roof collapsed. It is now a ruin cared for by English Heritage. George says “ how much longer are we going to be?” (below) A clourful display of NT deck chairs in the garden of the new Hardwick Hall
Outside the walls of the Hardwick Hall deer park is a lovely pub, the Hardwick Inn (right). They serve very good food and very good beer. If you stay at the Camping and Caravan Club site in Teversal then this is the pub to go to for evening food. Turn right out of the site and the pub is about 2 miles down the road.
LLANGOLLEN, North Wales (6) Westwards now and into Wales. We were about to experience a ‘Temporary Holiday Site’ for the first time. This is where a club hires a farmers field for a few days to hold a gathering. Providing you are a club member (in this case Camping and Caravanning Club) then you are welcome to take part for as long as you wish. The fee was £8 per night. The site was a mere mile away from Llangollen town and it was an easy and pleasant walk alongside the canal. The canal passed the site on the north side and the picturesque, River Dee was on the south side of the camp field. The other visitors were a friendly bunch but if you wanted to simply do your own thing then that was quite OK. We enjoyed the experience and will probably take advantage of Temporary Holiday Sites again. Llangollen is a delightful town and there is plenty to see. For the more energetic there are many spectacular walks in the hills all around. Continued on the next page -->
The tour of the Hall was enlightening and much of the original furniture is in place. The grounds are also very pretty and the deer park extensive.