Travelling with Nick: Stately homes

Friday, 23 December 2016

Croome Court at Christmas

The current Croome Court was built in the mid 18th Century, it was essentially a re-modelling of an existing redbrick house. The work was commissioned by the 6th Earl of Coventry and undertaken by Lancelot 'Capability' Brown although he he hadn't earned this sobriquet at that time because this was his first commission.

The Coventry family first came to prominence in the late 16th and early 17th Centuries through Thomas Coventry, Baron Coventry. He was a prominent lawyer, politician and judge. He was 'Lord Keeper of the Great Seal' for fifteen years (1625 -40) under King Charles 1st. An ancestor, John Coventry had been Lord Mayor of the City of London during the reign of King Henry VI.

Thomas amassed great wealth via his Governmental offices and laid the foundation of the Coventry family's future success. It must be assumed that the original user of the name Coventry hailed from the city of that name in the English Midlands. However, the ennobled family had no connection with that City their main centre of activity and influence was in Worcestershire.

So that is a synopsis of the history of the Earls of Coventry who owned Croome Court until 1949 when it was sold to a developer. It had a series of owners since then but non were able to stop the deterioration of the buildings and loss of landscape features,

Around 2007 Croome court was purchased by the National Trust and since then that charity has been slowly but successfully returning Croome to something approaching its former glory.

My wife and I like to visit a 'great house' around this time of year to see how they have been decorated for Christmas. Last year we visited both Doddington and Charlcote.

We loved our visit to Croome, in some ways it was understated, it wasn't 'in your face' which we liked. The staff were both friendly and knowledgeable. It would be a good place to visit in the spring and summer months to enjoy a walk around the parkland.

Here are some photos from our visit -

St. Mary Magdalene 1763

Croome Court - Front Entrance

Side view

Rear view

Christmas Decorations

Fireplaces, Ceilings and Friezes -

Artistic Displays

Sevres and Worcester Porcelain Display Cabinet -

Chinese Bridge -

Nick

Links -

Travelling with Nick Index page

http://travelling-with-nick.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/travelling-with-nick-index-page.html

National Trust

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/

Monday, 27 April 2015

North Yorkshire

We first became acquainted with Yorkshire about thirty years ago when friends moved to Easingwold. It soon became one of my wife's favourite U.K. locations.

We visited Harrogate a few years ago and this time we wanted to discover the North Moors area. We based ourselves in Pickering, staying at The Best Western Forrest and Vale Hotel (lovely staff and great food).
We knew nothing of Pickering before this visit but found out that it has been an important habitation for hundreds of years. It really came into its own when William the Conqueror (Reigned 1066- 1087) chose it has one of his bases for the ill-famed 'Harrowing of the North'.
At first a rough and ready motte and bailey construction was made. Then over subsequent years a substantial stone castle was built. The remains of this castle can still be visited today, it is maintained by English Heritage.
The castle is not the only old building of note in Pickering, there is the Parish Church of
St. Peter's and St. Paul's which can trace its foundation back to Saxon times. Most of what we see now, including the famous wall paintings, dates from the 15th Century.
There is also the North Moors Railway station. It seems that this whole post could be dedicated to Pickering there is so much to see and do in this one town. And we didn't know it!! This was a bonus.

It is my view that within twenty minutes of setting out from any point on the A170 road from Thirsk to Scarborough one would find something of interest. This area is so rich in historical and visual delights.

From now on I am going to let the following photographs tell their own story.