Postcards from England Chapter 3
 

Good morning from Marlow on Thames :)

My name is Karim and I live in Marlow on Thames.

Those of you who have been in the forum for years might remember my Postcards from England topic where I shared my journey of discovery in pictures & historic anecdotes.

Since I did not travel much since my last post in the forum and lost my dear Mum 2 and a half years ago, I did not have much to share and I must say that looking after my little garden here in Marlow did help me tremendously to go through grief and I am utterly delighted to say that I am happy, confident & positive again and very much looking forward to opening the third chapter of my Poscards from England and share my new adventures with you.

My career in Hospitality took my New Zealand ( Russell, Bay of Islands ), Australia ( Sydney ), Canada ( Montreal ) , UK ( Windsor ), Luxembourg and now Marlow on Thames for the past 7 years.

I simply everything Victorian and like many of my Fellow Frenchies, I am huge fan of everything quintessentially British staring with afternoon tea of course !

After 2 and a half of a very difficult struggle with grief, I finally decided that time had come for me to step back into the world last Christmas and thoroughly enjoyed discovering the Worcester Victorian Christmas Fayre, Winchester & Canterbury Christmas Market and a delightful day at Covent Garden and the Somerset House Ice Skating Rink.

And it is in the most unexpected way that I received a reminder that I had not posted for a while - a sweet understatement considering that my last post dates back to December 2018 :o- that I checked my Postcards from England 2nd Chapter topic and found out that pictures I thought I had lost for ever and therefore had not seen for 7 years were all there and this truly filled my heart of Joy as this brought me back to a very happy time in my life.

Beyond travelling which I adore, I also love History & the little anecdotes of it, gardening, photography and I also create miniatures on a 1/12th scale mostly mini foods as a hobby.

I will be embarking on a brand new journey of discovery around England that will take me from historic gardens & arboretums to steam train journeys, historic towns & castles, seaside resorts, food festivals and all sort of fun places that I am so looking forward to visit :D

So here it is to opening a new happy chapter in a brand new year and I thank you all for welcoming me back after all these years !

Best wishes,

Karim

Re: Postcards from England Chapter 3
 

Steeped in history, Blenheim Palace in Woodstock, Oxfordshire is one of England's largest houses, home to the Dukes of Marlborough and the famous William Churchill and very popular all year round.

I had visited the castle many years ago and could not resist visiting it again this year for its festive illuminated trail that I can only describe as truly spectacular and enchanting.

We started our journey on one of the coldest days of the season with a visibly frozen ground with remains of the previous day's snow and let's just say that the experience was refreshing with just one little degree outside so the cheerful stands offering mulled wine & other hot drinks were very popular with visitors.

We arrived at the castle at 17.00 with evening settling and we were greeted with a colourful big wheel and the entrance courtyard to the palace two cheerful merry go rounds with old fashion horses very much in the spirit of Mary Poppins, the Orangery restaurant that was closed at the time but serves afternoon teas and the beautiful gift shop and its parlour serving hot drinks and a very welcome warm heaven from the outside freezing cold.

Then walking into the grand courtyard of the palace is like stepping into a fairytale of colours & graphics animating the beautiful classical facade in tune with the cheerful songs being played. The courtyard itself is filled with various Christmas stalls offering Christmas decorations, sweet treats, mulled wine & hot drinks, with many offering a taste of their products and I could not resist the drunken monk Cheddar from the cheese stall.

I must say that the value for money, quality & variety is actually better in the main palace's gift shop when it comes to Christmas gifting / shopping.

The Christmas illuminated trail is very popular and must be booked in advance for an average 45 minutes walk. Stepping into the trail where every beautiful light display is matched by its own music taking you into a different experience & mood as you make your way through the path is something truly magical.

I especially enjoyed a beautiful display of doves first lighted in blue then white from the ground to the top of trees very reminiscent of the dear ones we have lost in our lives, then a magnificent tree illuminated as if covered with diamonds, a cheerful walk with snowmen and then quite literally through gingerbread men, a magical arch tunnel filled with fairy lights very popular with selfies lovers and then the main attraction with the magical water feature playing in tune with the music for a spectacular display of water and colour, a beautiful cascade with changing colours and as we walked back to the castle a real life gingerbread house and at the end of the trail Santa Claus himself greeting the visitors at his cute little North Pole cottage.

With the freezing weather many visitors stopped by the stalls selling Churros, Crepes, Pizzas and even Paella in a very festive atmosphere.

What I really loved about this experience is that it allows you to step in the Christmas magic while walking for miles in nature under a starry sky and take in the fresh air for a truly unforgettable experience.

I did not visit the main palace Christmas interior display on the Peter Pan's Neverland theme as it came with a rather steep £39 supplement which I found excessive while already on site and in possession of an illuminated trail ticket but no doubt that it must be truly gorgeous.

A highly recommended experience to put anyone in a festive mood.

Wishing you a lovely day !
Karim

Re: Postcards from England Chapter 3
 

On a crisp early December morning I set off to London in busy train to Paddington then the Tube to the Temple station with a couple of minutes walk to Somerset House and its winter wonderland ice skating rink.

Located on the Strand and overlooking the River Thames, Somerset House is a large classical building complex built by Sir William Chambers from 1776 onwards.

Over the centuries, it hosted the Salt, Stamp, Tax, Navy Offices to name but a few and to this days public records from births to deaths as well as marriage certificates.

Over Christmas its grand courtyard turns into a Winter Wonderland with and enchanting ice skating rink with festive food & beverage chalets and its own DJ playing the music and of course a majestic 40 feet tall Christmas tree dressed with giant red baubles.

I first visited Somerset House in the early afternoon before heading towards Covent Garden and again in the evening to try & capture the magic of its atmosphere by day & night.

It truly has the Wow factor in its beautiful setting with a festive vibe that will delight children and adults alike as depicted in the last picture :DKarim

Re: Postcards from England Chapter 3
 

Located just a few minutes walk away from Somerset House via the Kings College and world famous theatres of the West End and of course the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden is one of the liveliest areas of London boasting with restaurants, bars, pubs and shops.

Its name dates back to the 12th century when it was then part of Westminster Abbey and named as the "Garden of the Abbey & Convent" or "Covent Garden" by the Abbot.

After the dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII, young King Edward VI commissioned some fine houses to attract wealthy tenants as an Italian style arcade square.

But the area soon fell in disrepute when taverns, theatres, coffee houses and brothels opened up so much so so that by the 18th century it was known as the red light district of London.

And in 1830 an act from the Parliament to control the area and create a market with a neo classical building by Charles Fowler hosting the Floral Market, the Charter Market and in 1904 the Jubilee Market.

It remained London's main market until 1974 until the market itself was moved 3 miles away to Nine Elms because the traffic congestion at the time and Covent Garden became the tourist attraction that we know today with the famous Apple Market with its Arts & Crafts and the colourful Jubilee Market with its many food stalls and Artisan stands.

The area is served by its own Covent Garden Tube station since 1907.

The spectacular Christmas tree located in the West Piazza measures up to 60 feet tall or 18 meters high and is traditionally sourced at Woods Farm in the West Midlands.

I will never forget the giant golden bells with red bows hanging from the ceiling :)Karim

Re: Postcards from England Chapter 3
 

In the ever changing world of French Patisserie few brands have remained as iconic and long lasting as Laduree with their world famous Macarons immediately associated with Paris and loved by the Japanese to the point of cult following.

I remember decades ago walking down a street in Paris and passing one of their boutiques thinking "Laduree, so chic" with the immediately recognisable pistachio green colour of their posh tearooms and packaging, but never got around to taste one their famous Macarons until my outing to Covent Garden yesterday.

Often associated with the tragic Queen of France Marie Antoinette as featured in Sofia Coppola's decadent movie, the original Macaron was actually imported much earlier than her time by the Queen of France Catherine de Medcis when she brought one of her Florentine Chef to Paris and was more like a cookie made of almond paste.

Louis Ernest Laduree first opened a boulangerie that burned down in the La Madeleine district of Paris and later became a patisserie after its refurbishment.

Under the influence of the Baron Haussman the town's architecture quickly evolved into majestic avenues and buildings welcoming the era of "La Belle Epoque" and with the 1900 Paris Universal Exhibition Women became more socially & intellectually involved in the Parisian life. And this is when Jeanne, Wife of Ernest Laduree invented the concept of the "salon de the" or tearoom mixing "cafe" and "patisserie" as we know it today.

Surprinsingly enough it is only in 1930 that the great great cousin of Ernest Laduree, pastry chef Pierre Desfontaines came with the idea of assembling two Macarons together with a ganache in the middle and therefore created the macaron that we know today.

Laduree is located in the main building of Covent Garden with a small patisserie shop on the ground floor and the tea room at the top of the stairs under the roof and is as cute as expected with a lovely little terrace overlooking the west piazza.

Their afternoon tea was lovely with their special "Marie Antoinette" blend of Chinese & Indian black teas with hints of rose petal, citrus fruit & honey and the famous Macarons were tasty but I will remain faithful to my beloved Carrot Cake of my little Hillier garden centre :)Karim

Re: Postcards from England Chapter 3
 

Many years ago - I'm not going to say how many! - I took my Australian Mum around Britain in my VW Beetle. I stayed in Youth Hostels each night, and she at B & B's. I had a large-scale map, and that's all. We generally avoided large cities. It was a wonderful journey - simply wonderful - and I recommend it for anybody game to "play it by ear". Years later, I drove my wife and new-born baby around Britain in a Kombi van, staying each night at camping grounds. Again with a large-scale map, and again with no set itinerary. I can't think of a better way to see what Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) has to offer. Until the day she died, Mum remembered every day's offerings, pretty much. At the age of 70, she sold up in Australia and spent the rest of her life bussing around Britain by herself. She was especially taken with the south-west of England, where her ancestors had emigrated from, but loved every part of the Island - yes, and Marlow too!. So I strongly support the OP's recommendations to see everything there is to see - by either car or bus. Good luck to all who do.

Re: Postcards from England Chapter 3
 

Thank you so much for sharing these wonderful memories dear Gordon :)

Your dear Mum was so right in her philosophy when it comes to enjoying Life.

And her spirit of adventure very obviously lives on through you and your children and I just can imagine the fun it is to tell all these adventures of WV Beetle & Combi van around the UK to the new generation :thumb:

One thing that I have learned from my own dear Mum is that Life is made for Living !

Karim

Re: Postcards from England Chapter 3
 

Karim. It might amuse you to know that my son was born in "The Shrubbery" birthing hospital in High Wycombe, and spent the first few months of his life in a house we had rented in Cadmore End. Can't get much closer to Marlow than that, eh? To this day, wherever he is in the world he supports the Wycombe Wanderers Football Club. And a few years ago he took time off from his personal wanderings to spend a whole season working for the Club as "Man in Charge of the Kit"! They still give him a "shout out" during every radio broadcast of the team's progress through the Footie season.

Re: Postcards from England Chapter 3
 

Funny indeed as I do work in Hospitality and we have welcomed the High Wycombe Wanderers FC many times over the years as well as other teams :thumb:

Karim

Re: Postcards from England Chapter 3
 

Far away from London's bright lights & sophistication, travelling to the Worcester Victorian Christmas Fayre was the highlight of my holiday, first because I love everything Victorian and secondly because it reminds me very much of how our grand parents used to shop at Christmas long before the shopping malls & Amazon dot com, dressing up for the occasion and wandering through the festive stalls to find that meaningful lovingly made Artisan gift and come back home their hearts filled with Joy.

We started our journey from the South in a bitterly cold morning with a freezing fog and ice over the roofs and ground. The fog finally lifted when we reached Warwick and then a beautiful bright sunny day took over but still with freezing cold temperatures.

Located by the river Severn in the West Midlands, Worcester is a historic town with a beautiful medieval district with gorgeous Tudor style timber black & white buildings and a majestic cathedral.

Worcester's association with trade & merchants dates back to 1189 when it received its first royal charter.

The city's main trade in medieval times was the cloth, then gloves and later on woodworking, metalworking and to this day the famous Royal Worcester Porcelain and Lea & Perrins makers of the traditional Worcester sauce.

The Worcester Victorian Fayre is quite unique in England as it hosts over 4 days a Christmas market with no less than 200 stalls selling everything Artisan made from wool to jewellery, glass, pottery, mosaic, stained glass, embroidery, printed artwork, beauty products,leather goods, crochet, perfume and of course all kind of beautiful Christmas ornaments as well as one of the best offer of locally produced food & drink I have ever seen with mulled wine & cider, delicious German style sausages, burgers, crepes, pulled pork, hot apple crumble and stalls of cheeses, sweets, Artisan beers & spirits, pastries, chocolates, some granted the Great Taste Award 2024. And of course not to forget the beautiful Craft Fair hosted at the decorated Guildhall.

This one of a kind Christmas fayre is located in the most picturesque medieval streets of the town : Friar St, Cornmarket, High St, New St, Pump St and the Shambles.

Live attractions range from Stilt Walkers, live Street Musicians, concerts on Cathedral Square including school choirs, musicians bringing joy to the crowd with Christmas music & carols. I loved the Swan & Dyer's Winter Warmer duet and the Midland Sinfonia ) not to forget the utterly adorable school choirs singling their tunes.

Special appearances of Sherlock Holmes & Dr Watson on stilt, the ever grumpy Scrooge, the very judgemental Temperance Lady and in the infamous Gin Lane all the unsavoury & cheeky Victorian characters of the night will bring you back to Dickensian times.

There is of course a fair with traditional merry go rounds and other attractions very popular with families & kids.

I found the fayre perfectly organised with a presence of stewards with their yellow vest to assist the crowd and it is the very first time that I saw a Police motorbikes escorting the many coaches out of the town due the intense traffic.

Rules are very strict when it comes to the theme and any stall holder caught no dressed up as a Victorian will be heavily fine and banned from exhibiting again at the fayre.

Many people came back with bags filled of Christmas gifts for their loved ones and the atmosphere & conversations were so joyful just like as if we all stepped back in time https://www.playmofriends.com/forum/...assic/love.gif

Wishing you a lovely day :)Karim

Re: Postcards from England Chapter 3
 

Karim

Re: Postcards from England Chapter 3
 

Located on the river Stour and just 8 miles away from the sea, the beautiful city of Canterbury in the county of Kent is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a very popular tourist attraction with one million visitors each year for its Cathedral alone.

On a beautiful sunny & crisp December morning, the first thing that I noticed when stepping into the streets was the presence of a very invigorating & refreshing sea breeze and how pretty the city is with its gorgeous medieval half timber Tudor style buildings with a touch of modernity in colours used to pimp up the shops, bars and restaurant that make it quite irresistible not to photograph.

The second thing one notices how young the population is in town due its very popular university and the highest ratio of students to general residents in the country. The city also host the oldest school in the world dating back to 597 AD, The King's School located in the precincts of the Cathedral.

Canterbury is an ancient walled city dating back to Roman times with 8 gates including the medieval Westgate which is 60 feet tall and the largest surviving city gate in England.

The city is famous for its medieval Weaver's houses built by the Huguenots in the mid 16th century when they introduced the silk weaving trade. By the 17th century, 40% of the population were French speaking Huguenots.

One of the most beautiful pubs is actually the Weaver's Arms located on the river.

The city was already thriving in medieval times with a population of 10 000 that quickly dropped after the Black Death and the dark medieval times saw wrongdoers including talkative ladies who gossiped too much being caged at the town's pillory at the Bullstake, now known as the Buttermarket.

The magnificent Canterbury cathedral truly dominates the scenery by its sheer size and it once again has a connection with France in which that the might William the Conqueror brought with him Caen stone from Normandy, a fine grain limestone of a creamy colour that is easy to lay and use for sculptural work. Both Canterbury Cathedral, Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London were built with Caen limestone.

The Christmas festivities of the town were located in three main areas : Whitefriars Shopping Centre, St George's St ( aka High St ) and the Cathedral's Precincts.

The sight of the Christmas stalls and its merry go round at the feet of the majestic cathedral is simply breathtaking.

I was really impressed by the sheer number of restaurants, bars, pubs and boutiques and the types of cuisines offered to visitors.

I enjoyed a lovely afternoon tea at the quaint & cosy Falstaff hotel as a lovely break from the busy streets and later on a delicious mulled wine at the beautiful Cosy Club and its gorgeous decor of framed artworks and vintage lights.

Canterbury will from on be one of my favourite city in England and a must visit place for those who haven't experienced it yet.

Wishing you a lovely day :)Karim

Re: Postcards from England Chapter 3
 

Karim:)

Re: Postcards from England Chapter 3
 

Karim:)

Re: Postcards from England Chapter 3
 

After such an enchanting day in pretty Canterbury, Winchester that I visited on the following day had a lot to live up to in terms of expectations but it did in its own beautiful way.

Steeped in history, the beautiful city of Winchester on the river Itchen in the county of Hampshire was once the capital of England following the unification of the country at the time of Alfred the Great and remained as such until London took over during during the Norman Conquest in 1066.

The city walls built by the Romans cover an area of 56ha.

After the Roman conquest of Britain Winchester then known as Venta Belgarum was already the capital of the Belgae. It's current name comes from Wintanceaster ( Fort Venta ) in Old English.

Under the reign of King Alfred the Great, the city grid's changed to provide a better defence against the Vikings.

During the Middle Ages the city was an important centre of the wool trade.

Winchester Cathedral that dominates the scenery is one of the largest in Europe with the longest nave and greatest overall length.

The Winchester City Mill located on the river Itchen is the oldest of its kind dating back to 1086 and is still in service.

Jane Austen spent her final weeks in Winchester and is buried in the cathedral.

What strikes the visitor the most when arriving in the city is the truly magnificent & impressive Guildhall that hosts the city council in a gorgeous neo gothic style with its main tower topped by a copper roof.

Then onto the busy Broadway or High Street with its classic market stalls, many shops, restaurants, bars & pubs and beautiful black & white half timber buildings of the Tudor era.

Winchester is very much a town with many hidden historic treasures to discover as you make your way through the cobbled streets like the Buttercross dating from the 15th century and then through the quaint Little Minster St with its medieval buildings to the beautiful City Museum and finally the magnificent Cathedral dominating the scenery by its sheer size.

From a Christmas vibe point of view, nothing can prepare you to the sight of the most extravagant & spectacular Royalty inspired gilded mulled wine station in the world located at the entrance of the Cathedral with its giant copper vats and the last picture I took before leaving the town was a tall man standing over it brewing the fragrant wine with a giant stick and dressed with a top hat in the sunset.

A little lane by the side of the Cathedral leads to the main Christmas market with its 120 beautiful chalet style stands offering a lovely selection of food and drink as well as Artisan made Art & Crafts including the only glass baubles I saw this season and once again absolutely gorgeous chestnut roasting stall, mulled wine stall and caramelised nuts stall straight out of the Victorian era.

The live street musicians, the joyous atmosphere of the Cathedral Christmas market with the yummy smell of freshly made food and fragrant mulled wine, and its many architectural treasures Winchester and authentic Medieval atmosphere has lot to offer to the visitor for an unforgettable day out.

I enjoyed a lovely afternoon tea at the Royal Hotel located in the quiet St Peter's St with its beautiful festive door wreath & main entrance's Christmas tree overlooking a little garden in winter as a lovely and comforting break from the festivities with a Black Forrest flavoured tea.

This holiday has been truly enchanting and I very much hope that you felt the magic & festive spirit of these places through my pictures and little stories :thumb:

Wishing you a lovely day :)Karim

Re: Postcards from England Chapter 3
 

Karim

Re: Postcards from England Chapter 3
 

Karim:)

Re: Postcards from England Chapter 3
 

Thank you so much Karim, these pics and written details are absolutely delightful.

Re: Postcards from England Chapter 3
 

Thank you so much for your comment :thumb:

I am really happy that you enjoyed my pictures & little stories about these places :)

Karim

Re: Postcards from England Chapter 3
 

After a long, cold, wet and rather dark winter, the idea of getting on my first day trip of the year felt like heaven to me.

The temperatures here in the South of England had been unusually cold for the season not exceeding 5o celcius for a month and a half but things started to change on that very morning with an expected 13o celcius with rain on the forecast.

I always do my research ahead of my trips but did not know what to expect in terms of visiting a garden hosting a collection of Snowdrops.

I am a huge fan of Daffodils and until now the first sign of Spring were Crocuses as I have overlooked the arrival of Snowdrops for most of my life but things were about to change.

We started our journey with a light rain that intensified when approaching Banbury and we stepped out into the town with our umbrellas with the rain pouring down the streets and discovered this pretty market town in a very British way.

I love British period dramas and always associated Banbury with its Banbury Cake that I first discovered in the excellent Lark Rise to Candleford TV Series where Zillah the old lady cooking at Dorcas Lane's Psot Office would always make Banbury Cakes for special occasions.

Banbury is a vibrant market town located on the River Cherwell in Oxfordshire.

The town was granted a Royal Charter in 1554 by Queen Mary Tudor which gave the right to host a weekly market in the town every Thursday since then so 471 years so far.

Banbury's medieval prosperity was based on wool and was located on two ancient roads one being Salt Way primary used for the transport of salt. The opening of the Oxford canal in 1778 gave the town a cheap and reliable supply of Warwickshire coal and the canal's main boatyard can still be visited today in Tooley's boatyard.

During the Civil War, due to its proximity to Oxford, the King's Capital, Banbury's inhabitants were know to be strongly Puritan. The Reindeer Inn was reputedly used as a base by Oliver Cromwell in the preparation of the Battle of Edge Hill in 1642 in the famous Globe Room of this Pub dating back to 1570.

I was lucky enough to step into this wonderful ancient Pub located on Parsons St as it was opening at 11am and take a few pictures including Oliver Cromwell's Globe Room. The Pub serves a nice selection of ales from the Hook Norton Brewery located in the nearby Cotswolds.

My quest to find the famous Banbury Cake ended in the most unusual of places, the Banbury Museum which has a fresh delivery of Banbury Cakes every Wednesday from the Brown's Bakery based in Chipping Norton.

The Banbury Cake's origin dates back to the 13th century when Crusaders from the East came to Banbury bringing fruits and spices and one of the first recorded recipe for these delicious flat oval pastry cakes was published in the "English Hus-wife" in 1615.

Banbury has few lovely lanes or narrow medieval streets including Butchers Lane and I absolutely fell in love with the historic Wysteria located in White Lion Walk which becomes one of the town's main attraction each year when in bloom from the end of April to early May and is known to have been planted in 1816.

So it is under an umbrella that I happily took my pictures of Banbury on a rainy morning on that very first Spring outing of the year.

Wishing you a lovely day :)
Karim

Re: Postcards from England Chapter 3
 

After a very wet morning discovering Banbury with an umbrella under a steady rain, the weather started to clear a little as we started our 3 miles journey between Banbury & Thenford Gardens.

I was hoping that the weather would stay dry for our afternoon visit of the gardens and it did for most of the time.

Located in the beautiful Oxfordshire countryside, we accessed Thenford Gardens through the pretty village of Middleton Cheney.

Thenford Gardens & Arboretum spread over 70 acres of extensive gardens featuring a collection of 3000 different trees & shrubs, herbaceous borders, water gardens, an alpine through garden, a sculpture garden, a rose garden, a rill and of course the National Collection of Snowdrops with 1000 different species.

Lord Heseltine only opens the gates to his beautiful gardens & arboretum 19 days during the year and only one single day during the Snowdrops blooming season so we were in for a rare treat.

Lord Rupert Heseltine himself greeted us upon arrival and invited us to the visitors hall where he provided us with a map of the gardens and graciously gave us a short introduction to the history of Thenford Gardens.

The origins of Thenford House go back to Medieval times and the current Georgian Country House was built between in 1765.

By the early 1970's, the gardens had seen little attention since the Victorian times and the previous owner was using the 40 acres of woodland for hunting.

Lord Michael Heseltine & his Wife Anne, both keen gardeners had been looking for a property with extensive grounds for a while and visited two estates including Thenford House and feel in love with it and purchased it in 1976.

Since it was a blank canvas in terms of landscaping the grounds, they invited 4 prominent garden experts of the time including Lord Hillier who had lunch at the house and who came back the following week with 100 plants in 10 varieties and the collection started.

The first major landscape work was to restore the lake in front of the house and over the past 40 years Lord & Lady Heseltine have dedicated their time, energy & love to Thenford Gardens & Arboretum.

Over the years many private collectors & individuals gifted plants & trees to Thenford Gardens including a Dr who once gifted in his will 150 different varieties of Snowdrops.

The gardens now feature over 1000 different species of Snowdrops, most of them found at the feet of trees and kept well apart in order to avoid cross pollination.

Their Head Gardener Emma joined the team 10 years ago and is an expert in Snowdrops or galanthophile from "galanthus" the ancient Greek name for the Snowdrops known as the first flower to announce Spring. I had a brief chat with her assistant who is a keen collector of rare daffodils and both of them waved us goodbye as we left the property.

The visit of the gardens felt so special on that unique early Spring opening day and the beautifully landscaped woodland gardens with their water features, majestic 18th century mature yews avenue and the vistas from the lake to the house were simply enchanting.

After two hours of walking the extensive grounds we returned to the visitors hall where Lady Heseltine graciously helped at the serving of freshly brewed coffee & tea with a selection of cakes including a delicious carrott cake.

Despite the muddy paths following the torrential rain of the morning, I found the facilities to be kept immaculate during my visit.

I was really impressed with how approachable, welcoming and hands on Lord Heseltine was assisted by his young son and to see Lady Anne Heseltine helping out with the serving of tea & cake at 90 years old.

I would highly recommend visiting Thenford Gardens & Arboretum and the next visiting day of the Snowdrops Collection will be 14th February 2026 for one day only :thumb:Karim

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Visions of scenic drives amongst endless open fields, picturesque winding roads under the canopy of trees, peaceful grazing sheep and at the corner of the road some of the prettiest villages in England nestled in the countryside, welcome to the Cotswolds :)

We set off on our journey on the first of 3 glorious sunny days on a frosty morning with a bitterly cold wind in the air that lasted all day but Spring vibes everywhere with clusters of daffodils on the side of the road and the first blossoming trees of the season.

The sign mentioning Banbury reminded me of Thenford Gardens and that we were about to reach the beautiful Costwolds soon.

Moreton in Marsh is a pretty market town located in the North Gloucestershire Cotswolds i the Evenlode Valley with houses built of the distinctive honey coloured stone quarried in the area.

The broad High St dates back to Roman times when the Fosse Way was linking the south coast to Lincoln in the north.

Moreton in Marsh was also well placed for the old coaching route from London to Worcester and the town became a popular stopping place for stage coaches, hence several coaching inn that still exist today such as the Manor House Hotel and the White Hart Royal Hotel & Pub.

This thriving market town was given its Saxon Charter over 1000 years ago and also granted its market charter in 1227 and the weekly street market still takes place each and every Tuesday.

Like many of the towns and villages in the Cotswolds wool & cloth making was the source of income during the medieval years.

The vibrant & popular street market offers a variety of goods from locally sourced fruits, vegetables & cheeses to butcher, fishmonger, wool clothing, fresh plants & flowers, wooden ornaments and so on.

The main High St is lined with elegant Cotswolds stone buildings which houses antique shops, tea rooms and delis.

The Four Shine Stone located two miles out of the town that marked the old meeting point of four counties, Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire & Oxoforshire is said to have inspired J R Tolkien for his Three Farthing Stone and the Bell Inn Pub where he used to be a regular customer, The Prancing Pony at Bree, both mentioned in The Lord of the Rings.

After a tour of the market, I came across the cute little Martha's Kitchen Cafe very obviously popular with the locals which is always a good sign with a cosy sitting room with open fire place and a lovely little courtyard at the back with a few outside tables. I was very lucky to be able to sit inside as a table became available as I walked in and what a treat to enjoy a delicious breakfast of fried eggs & bacon served with buttered artisan farm bread toasts and a cappuccino topped with cinnamon served in a beautiful artisan style glazed tableware.

I later on stopped at the beautiful Manor House Hotel while visiting the market of Moreton in Marsh and what an oasis of calm & charm it is with its beautiful landscaped gardens.This beautiful Tudor building dates back to 1539 when Henry VII granted the Manor to the Dean & Chapter of Westminster. It was also once the home of the Creswycke Family, principal landowners of the area as well as a popular coaching inn. It has a private walled gardens and a 300 years old Mulberry tree. The legend says that the ghost of Lady Creswycke still haunts the place at times, in particular the appropriately named "Dame Creswycke Suite"...

The White Hart Royal Hotel & Pub reminded me of my first visit years ago when I enjoyed a hearty Shepherd's Pie with a pint of Guinness and I found this popular place located on High St as welcoming and warm as I remembered it on this visit. Dating back the 1400's The White Hart has been a central village institution for over 400 years and is a former coaching inn. Its most famous guest was King Charles I who took refuge there during the Civil War in 1644 and the legend says that he left without settling his bill. I could not resist taking a picture of the fanciest coat hanger I have seen to date, certainly fit for a King !

The Pub is located near the Clock Tower or "Curfew Tower", a 17th century clock at the top of a 16th century building that once played a crucial role in the town's life as a lock up for minor offenders and drunks.

Wishing you a lovely day !

Karim

Re: Postcards from England Chapter 3
 

Visions of scenic drives amongst endless open fields, picturesque winding roads under the canopy of trees, peaceful grazing sheep and at the corner of the road some of the prettiest villages in England nestled in the countryside, welcome to the Cotswolds !

After a wonderful morning revisiting the beautiful market town of Moreton in Marsh, we hit the road in the direction of arguably one of England's most picturesque towns, Burford.

I had visited Moreton in Marsh, Bourton on the Water & Broadway years ago but Burford was new to me and let's just say that it most certainly did not disappoint my expectations as from the moment you step onto its picturesque High St lined with beautiful Tudor & Georgian buildings, you know that you in for a special treat in this picture perfect Cotswolds town.

With its High Street sweeping downhill towards the River Windrush, its three arched medieval bridge, impressive church, both sides of the street flanked with an unbroken line of ancient houses, Burford hasn't changed much over the centuries and is popular with visitors both for its beauty and history, its shopping especially antiques, restaurants, pubs and teashops.

Here you can stay where King Charles I stayed, dined where Nelson dined and visit the England's oldest pharmacy, a chemist since 1734.

The name "Burford" is of Old English origin, meaning "ford near the castle".

Burford's wealth was based on sheep, the famed Cotswold "Lion" with their long heavy fleece which gave some of the best wool in Europe.

The town was also an important staging post on the main Oxford to Gloucester route with over 40 coaches a day passing through, hence the numerous coaching inns and alehouses peppering the town. It is not surprising that brewing also became an important local industry !

There is a spectacular view of the Windrush valley from the top of the hill, down the High St toward the medieval bridge that spans the River Windrush at the bottom of the hill.

Burford was the first Cottswold town to be granted a market charter in 1088.

The legend says that the vengeful ghosts of the Tanfields, the terrible Lord & Lady Tanfield who were despised by their tenants and the local population in general haunt Burford by hurtling round the town in a blazing coach and a priest was hired to exorcise the town of these unwelcome visitors. He captured their spirits in a bottle and hurled it into the nearby River Windrush.
As I was planning my trip to the Cotswolds, one my Friends recommended a visit to the pretty little church located at the bottom of the village and the first thing I did when arriving in Burford was to explore St John the Baptist church and was he right about it as I was simply blown by the beauty of the place as soon as I stepped inside.

The church is located at the bottom of the village near the Windrush river and is accessible by a narrow little street adjacent to High St.

Its construction began in 1175 and was completed in the 15th century as a "wool church" a testament to the town's historical importance in the wool trade.

On 17 May 1649, three soldiers were executed on Oliver Cromwell's orders in Burford Churchyard, whilst the other 300 mens were led onto the roof to watch. The three soldiers belonged to movement popularly known as the Levellers, who believed in civil rights and religious tolerance. There is a plaque commemorating them on the wall of the church and the Levellers Day is still celebrated each year in Burford.

Located on High St, I discovered this cute little hidden gem of a cafe "Nutmeg & Thyme" offering a lovely selection of freshly baked plant based, gluten free food for Vegan lovers.Made with locally sourced products, their selection of freshly baked Focaccia Bread, Pizza & Cakes was really appetising and served with a smile in a very friendly & relaxed atmosphere which I am pretty sure is also a hit with the locals. I enjoyed a delicious slice of freshly baked Pear, Almond & Chai upside down cake with a Almond milk cappuccino topped with cinnamon.

After a wonderful afternoon exploring the pretty Cotswolds town of Burford, I stepped back in time in the historic Mermaid Inn Pub with dating back to the 15th century when the building was originally serving as a Butcher's shop & an Inn. Cosy & warm atmosphere with an open fireplace, wooden beams and comfortable leather armchairs.

Wishing you a lovely day :)

Karim

Re: Postcards from England Chapter 3
 

Karim

Re: Postcards from England Chapter 3
 

I used to read The Woolpack by Cynthia Harnett obsessively as a child. Burford figured prominently. Lovely place.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/british...0b6d605c21.jpg

Re: Postcards from England Chapter 3
 

Thank you so much for your comment and reading suggestion as it is an author I did not know until now :)

Wishing you a lovely day !

Karim

Re: Postcards from England Chapter 3
 

Good morning dear Friends :)

We started our journey on the third of a 3 days sunny spell and what a contrast with the frosty morning and cold wind of our Cotswolds outing as we left the South with 13o celcius at 9am at the thermometer and 21o celcius mid afternoon in Swindon.

Total contrast too in terms of destinations since after visiting some of the most picturesque villages of the Cotswolds, we were heading towards one of the most iconic examples of the Victorian Industrialisation Era known as the Swindon Works !

Swindon is a town located in South West England and our destination was its STEAM Museum with a fascinating collection of 400 000 objects which include locomotives, rolling stock, photographs and archives, fine arts & textiles in very interactive experience for kids & adults alike.

The Museum is located in a Grade II building dating back to 1846 and part of Brunel's original woks complex known as the "scraggery" where nuts and bolts were renovated for re-use in a process known as "scragging". Although modified in 1929, the building was a machine shop for most of its life.

Stepping into the STEAM Museum is very much like an interactive time travelling experience to the very beginning of the Victorian Industrial Era and the extraordinary achievement of building the railway network and its maintenance thanks to to work of thousands of men and women.

The Museum features iconic locomotives such as "City of Truro", "Caerphilly Castle", "King George V", "North Star", "Hawksworth Pannier Tank", as well as Queen Victoria's Royal Saloon from 1897 in a restored station.

Historic scenes are recreated depicting life in the offices, the workshops, lunch break, engine drivers busy on their locomotive, passengers waiting on the platform, tea and cakes being served by a smiling young lady and the most poignant of all the shadow on the wall of one of the 250 000 courageous men known as "Navvies" who quite literally risked their lives on a daily basis to build tunnels, bridges, viaducts using picks, shovels and sometimes explosives.

In 1833, a group of Bristol merchants decided to set up a company to build a railway from their city to London in the hopes to improve the trade. They called it the Great Western Railway.

They employed Isambard Kingdom Brunel as their Chief Engineer to design & build all aspects of the railway. The railway initial route London to Bristol was fully opened in 1841. Brunel selected a site to the north of the small town of Swindon to build the company's new repair facility. It quickly grow into a large locomotive, carriage & wagon works, known as the Swindon's works.

The "Works" covered a total of 362 acres, employed up to 14 000 employees, could build up to 250 coaches and 104 locomotives a year and repair up to 1000 locomotives, 5000 coaches and 8000 wagons a year.

It housed the departments associated with designing, manufacturing & maintening the company's rolling stock. To support the Works a new town grew up and large number of people settled into the area. The men & women who worked "inside" were a close-knit community and most people in Swindon were related to a GWR employee. The GWR and its workers developed health & social care provisions as well as clubs, societies & entertainment venues.

The Great Western Railway was nationalised in 19477 and the Swindon Works continued under British Rail as a manufacturing centre then a repair depot until 1986 when the land & buildings were sold off. Hidden behind high walls, the inside of the "Works" that operated for 150 years were mostly unknown to the people of Swindon that did not have a relative working there so the Swindonians finally got a chance to discover the industrial heritage that played such an important part in the development of their town.

Over the past decades, the area has welcomed a residential housing area as well as a popular McArthurGlen Designers Outlet offering various fashion labels and food outlets still located in the original restored buildings of the "Works" and opposite the Museum itself. A Costa Coffee is actually located right next to an original locomotive so I could not resist enjoying a cappuccino and a slice of carrot cake.

So let's pull the "Works" hooter that signaled the start of the day and welcome to Swindon's STEAM museum :)

Karim

Re: Postcards from England Chapter 3
 

Karim

Re: Postcards from England Chapter 3
 

Karim

Re: Postcards from England Chapter 3
 

Karim

Re: Postcards from England Chapter 3
 

Karim

Re: Postcards from England Chapter 3
 

Karim:)

Re: Postcards from England Chapter 3
 

Good morning dear Friends :)

I hope that you are all very well.

We left Marlow for the South Coast on yet another glorious morning during an unusual two weeks and a half spell of clear blue sky & bright sunshine over England in April .

Both New Forest, Lyndhurst & Lymington were new to me and let's just say that we were in for a real treat !

Needless to say that Spring was in full swing with cheerful Daffodils on the side of the road, gorgeous Magnolias and Spring blossoms everywhere.

As we were getting close to our destination, it was rather obvious that were heading South as the vegetation changed to Pine Trees and lots of Gorse in bright yellow blooms along the way.

Lyndhurst is located in the heart of the New Forest National Park in the county of Hampshire near Southampton.

New Forest dates back almost a thousand years when William the Conqueror took ownership of the area as his own hunting forest He enforced a forest law, preventing local communities from using the forest to graze their livestock, hunt and forage for food or even build fences, as these activities would interfere with William's hunting pursuits.

After the death of William, and his successor Rufus, the rights of the common people were eventually restored in the 1217 Charter of the Forest. A special Verderers' Court was set up to enforce the laws of the Charter and protect these rights.

Many of these common rights survive today in the New Forest and are still protected by law.

Lyndhurst became the capital of New Forest when William the Conqueror designated the area as his "Nova Foresta" or royal hunting ground and was granted the title of royal manor by the Abbey of Amesbury in Wiltshire.

Later Kings & Queens regularly visited Lyndhurst staying at the royal manor, now know as the Queen's House which is now the headquarters of the Forestry Commission.

The Verderers' Court adajacent to Queen's House is a remnant of Norman times with the name "Verderer" derived from the French word "vert" meaning green, as they were the official keepers of the green.

Lyndhurst popular High St is a beautiful mix of 17th and 18th century buildings alongside Victorian & Edwardian additions the wealthy visitors of the time.

Its prominent gothic church, St Michael & All Angels, sits at the top of the High St was built in the mid-nineteen century.

St Michael & All Angels is the final resting place of Alice Pleasance Liddell who inspired Lewis Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland". The famous author who's real name was Charles Dodgson was a close family friend and entertained young Alice and her sisters with his fantastic made up stories on a boat outing that later became the most popular children's books in England.The author gave Alice the original manuscript of "Alice in Wonderland" and was celebrated as the inspiration to the famous character on both sides of the Atlantic until her passing.

I started my visit of the historic town by stopping at the very interesting New Forest Heritage Information Centre that provides a lovely selection of maps & books of the area as well a Artisan made local products.

I could not but smile the cheerful sign to the Mad Hatter's Tea Room on my way to the church !

I stopped by the elegant The Crown Manor House located opposite the chuch and dating back to the 15th century and later became a popular coaching in known originally as the Kings Arms Inn and later the Crown Hotel at the end of the 17th century.

I enjoyed a refreshing glass of Pinot Grigio in its beautiful landscaped gardens.

I later stopped by the cute Bake House 24 Artisan Bakery specialises in traditional sourdough methods to produce breads, pastries & cakes. I purchased a delicious "breakfast style croissant" with egg & bacon as well as chocolate brownie that I enjoyed with a refreshing pint of Guinness in the beer garden of the The Stag Pub.

The Stag Hotel & Pub located on High St was built in 1907 on the site of an old coaching in and is known for its striking red bricks architecture. Its lovely beer garden features a very original bird cage with exotic birds including a very cute & photogenic couple of blue parrots.

I have really enjoyed my visit to beautiful Lyndhurst in New Forest :)!

Wishing you a lovely day !

Karim

Re: Postcards from England Chapter 3
 

Karim

Re: Postcards from England Chapter 3
 

Karim

Re: Postcards from England Chapter 3
 

Karim

Re: Postcards from England Chapter 3
 

Karim

Re: Postcards from England Chapter 3
 

Karim

Re: Postcards from England Chapter 3
 

Good afternoon dear Friends :)

I wish you all a very happy Easter week-end !

After spending our morning discovering the pretty historic town of Lyndhurst, we hit the road again for a 20 mins journey south to the picture perfect town of Lymington.

Lymington is a port town located on the west bank of the Lymington River on the Solent in the New Forest. The town faces Yarmouth, Ilse of Wight.

Lymington, first recorded as "Lentune" in the Domesday Book, emerged as a village and later a thriving market town.

From the Middle Ages, Lymington was renowned for its salt making industry with salt spans developped by the Normans and later in the 19th century, it became a significant ship building center with Lymington-built vessels participating in the 1851 America's Cup. The wealth generated by these industries is reflected in the Georgian's architecture of Lymington High St.

The town's maritime location also led to a reputation for smuggling with smugglers using the busy port to bring illegal cargoes.

Today, Lymington is a popular coastal town known for its picturesque harbour, yachting and its location on the southern edge of the New Forest.

After a lovely stroll along the pretty High St with its great variety of boutiques, coffee shops, bars & restaurants with the beautiful 600 years old St Thomas the Apostle Church, I walked down the cobbled street of the picture perfect harbour overlooking the Solent and the Isle of Wight with its pretty medieval buildlings where it is easy to imagine the laughter and conversations of the smugglers of the time.

The views over the harbour & marina is enchanting with a refreshing see breeze on this beautiful sunny day in April with the busy seagulls and an unexpected couple of gracious swans enjoying themselves in front of the Ship Inn Pub.

The beautiful Ship Inn Pub is where I enjoyed a cappuccino with a delicious made to order baked apple tart with vanilla ice cream on the deck terrace enjoying the view with a fishing boat coming into the port to deliver its catch of the day :D

One the highlights of our day was driving through the heath & moorland scenic route filled with beautiful ponies & horses grazing happily amongst Gorse in bright yellow blooms - a nutritious food source for ponies. A truly unforgettable sight of the beautiful New Forest National Park.

All the horses, ponies, donkeys, cows & pigs roaming in the New Forest belong to local people called "commoners" who have the right to graze their animals on the open Forest throughout the year. The New Forest is really one big farm and these are "farm animals".

Wishing you a lovely day :)

Karim

Re: Postcards from England Chapter 3