The Blue Men of the Minch

Barrington Court, used for filming Wolf Hall

Barrington Court, Somerset, the National Trust 

property that was chosen to be one of the filming locations for Wolf Hall.

Although the estate had been occupied since the 11th century the

Tudor manor house was not built until the 1500’s. One of the early

 owners, a Giles Daubney, was courtier, diplomat and 

military commander under Edward IV and Henry VII.

Later Henry Daubney inherited the estate and was created Earl of Bridgewater 

for his services to Henry VIII. 

He eventually went bankrupt and was involved in the disgrace of Catherine 

Howard, Henry VIII’s fifth wife so the state was forfeit to the crown.

It had various owners since then including Henry Grey, 1st Duke of Suffolk who 

then sold it to the Cliftons

John Clifton was thought to be responsible for most of the 

building work at Barrington .

 By the early 19th century the property was almost derelict and Barrington Court 

was acquired by the National Trust in 1907 and was leased to 

Col. Abram Arthur Lyle of Tate & Lyle in the 1920's who 

refurbished the court house and renovated Strode House (built in 1674) which 

was originally a stable and coach block. It was at this time that the Lyles contracted 

Gertrude Jekyll to design the three formal gardens on the property that are 

now maintained by the head gardener.

The original stables were used as a location with Mark Rylance leaving his horse 

in this amazing building. ( minus the wicker cow!)

 The interiors are fitted with Colonel Lyle’s collection of 

salvaged antique woodwork.

The house was one of the first large properties acquired by the National Trust, at that time

 they did not  realise just how extensive the repairs and maintenance would be, but do not 

let this put you off visiting this property, its well worth a visit if you are in the area.

Cornish Knockers

The Swifts are here... a sure sign of summer!

Witch bottle

New Forest Fairy Festival 2018

Well, it wasn't the weather we would have liked but it didn't dampen anybody's enthusiasm at the Fairy Festival!

Here are a few quick snaps of our Gazebo:

The Shelf Faeries seem to have taken over this year, but I do sell cards of my artwork and my books such as The Faeries and Folklore of the British Isles, Faerie Flora and The Psychic Sisters series.

Sharing the Gazebo this year was 'The Ivory Dolls of Glastonbury' with an array of beautiful clothes and accessories.

Snowdrop

 One of the first flowers of spring, and

  commonly known as the flower of hope. 

   Although its beauty symbolises purity,

 it is widely regarded as a omen of death and as such

is considered to be unlucky to take into 

the house of anybody who is sick, except

in Shropshire where bunches of the flowers are 

taken into the house to purify it.

After Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden of Eden, Eve stood

 weeping and surveying the  snowy wilderness to which they had been sent 

when an angel appeared. 

The glowing figure caught a falling snowflake, breathed on it and then

 handed it to Eve:

‘This is an earnest wish, Eve to thee

That sun and summer soon shall be’

The angel vanished and where she had stood the snow had turned 

into a carpet of snowdrops.

From 'Faerie Flora'