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Eastnor Castle

Apr 11th 2018

By: Kerry

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Eastnor Castle is a couple of kilometres from Ledbury and information indicated it was worth visiting. It is a 200 year old house built as a castle. It’s extensive grounds provided a variety of different opportunities although it was too wet to venture beyond the house. Although the family still live there it is available for open days, weddings, events etc. Whoever is responsible for managing it appears to do so with some imagination and ability. Unlike many such new builds of the era where money from industry bankrolled construction and decoration I was advised that many of the ancestors were military men who made “judicious” marriages. One of the descendants was a Governor of the Australian state of Victoria with a temporary period as Governor General. The website has videos which show the castle and location in a much better light than my photos. https://eastnorcastle.com/

Entrance to castle

Enormous tree near castle

Main living room

A fire was burning in one of the fireplaces and it smelled very smokey. I was glad that I didn’t need to live there.

Dining room

Library

Model boat made from bone with hair for rigging. Made by captive French sailors during a very early 19th Century war between France and Britain.

One of bedrooms available for guests

There were many other rooms and sights including one room devoted to armour and armoury of different periods and locations and a chapel.

China
The Old Vick Farm

Apr 10th 2018

By: Kerry

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The real reason for visiting Ledbury was to try and visit the place where the Vick family had been tenant farmers for about 10 years during the 1830s and 1840s. It was the place my great grandmother spent more time than any other as a child. Attempts to contact the current owners had been inconclusive so we decided to arrive and see if it was possible to at least see the old farm. If unsuccessfully we would at least have seen some beautiful countryside and interesting historical buildings in Ledbury. A solid wooden gate barred access and a voice on an intercom told us someone would call within an hour. (When checking my phone many hours afterwards I discovered a message delivered about 2 hours prior to our arrival advising that there was no time for us.) Immediately afterwards a delivery truck arrived and was granted access. It was impossible to turn the car so we drove in to allow the delivery truck inside. We followed the driveway towards the house and out again taking a few rapid photos. It looks like it would have been a wonderful place to experience childhood. The 1840 tithe assessments showed that Sylvanus Vick had about 40 pieces of land. Most were adjoining but some were isolated by a field or two. The tithe assessment was a tax assessment to determine the extent, ownership and tenancy relationships and amount payable in money. Previously the tax/tithe had been paid in kind, ie by 10 percent of whatever had been produced by the land.

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Lane to farm

Vick family home – minus glass and marquee

Another view

Other buildings

Pond

Driveway out

That was not the end of the day; we had a castle to visit.

Family History, Ledbury and Colwall, UK
Ledbury and Colwall

Apr 9th 2018

By: Kerry

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Ledbury is a picturesque market town from the 11^th century located within a beautiful section of Herefordshire. We visited during part of the Easter weekend and the countryside had a stark beauty prior to the arrival of spring. Many Tudor buildings provided picturesque glimpses of a bygone era. The town appeared vibrant with a strong sense of community. We stayed at the Royal Oak Hotel, a 15^th century inn with friendly and helpful managers. An Indian restaurant across the road provided fine food and service.

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Royal Oak Hotel – white building

Wall showing construction methods

Panelled Room – the only one

Ledbury-Park-15th-Century. Situated opposite the Royal Oak Hotel

House on stilts

New St and Talbot Hotel

New St

High St Ledbury

Feathers Hotel

Feather carved into wood

St Katherine’s Hospital and Alms Houses

Market House

Church Lane

Magistrates House on right

Church in Ledbury

Baptismal Font

Bath for people in almshouses. Found in museum on Church Lane. The grandfather clock was made in Ledbury.

Clogs in museum

The real reason for visiting Ledbury was to try and access the location which the Vick family had farmed for about 10 years during the 1830s and 1840s. Prior to visiting the old farm we visited the church at Colwall which would have been the family’s local church. The Vicks two youngest daughters were baptised there in 1837 and 1841.

Below is scenery seen between Ledbury and Colwall.

Scenery between Ledbury and Colwall

Hill

Scenery

Scenic roadway

Daffodils and farmland beside church car park

Back view of the church

Inside Church of St James the Great at Colwall

Baptismal font St James the Great Colwall

Date on rafter

St James the Great Church from front

Church and Church Ale House

Inside the Church Ale House. The church used to brew and sell its own

This post has created endless technical problems. The photos from the old Vick property will be in the next blog.

Family History, Ledbury and Colwall, UK
Back in the UK

Apr 6th 2018

By: Kerry

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Once again I am back in the UK. The trip was instigated by an upcoming wedding followed by a desire to combine some family history with tourism. Time has got away and I have neglected to write an account of my adventures.

Phantom in sun – our last hours together

Phantom

I had high hopes for the outward trip given it was a direct flight with one stop. However, given the difficult last days prior to departure following our beloved dog’s rapid deterioration and the need for euthanasia, the rush to try and finish necessary jobs and settle in a house minder the departure was a little rushed despite the best efforts of Son Number 2 and his very kind friend to smooth my way. Fortunately I had an aisle seat and could move at will, but spent the not inconsiderable between planes trying to rest without falling asleep and missing the next one. Whatever benefits Singapore Airport had provided for the travelling public were completely lost on me. I did rouse in time to join the tail end of the queue for security and boarding, but am convinced no one would have disturbed my immobile body despite it being placed on the chairs immediately outside the boarding gate. It was a good thing the chairs were uncomfortable.
Arrival in London had me in a very long queue for immigration control. I missed most of the numerous questions I am usually asked about my reason for visiting as my current reason seemed an acceptable one. Son Number One was waiting patiently when I emerged from processing. He was pleased to see me but less impressed with the peak hour traffic which had developed. I got to see some parts of London I’d never have seen but for the getting lost and attempts to dodge traffic.
Then I did next to nothing for a week apart from going on a couple of outings related to the wedding. The weather was wet and miserable and not conducive to making an effort. The photo below shows a view of some of the allotments nearby.

Allotments

People can rent a small area from the local council for the growing of vegetables or flowers. Few people visited it during the wet weather. The other shows my new “best friend” on my bed. He is a most self contained and confident cat. I trust he will forget I accompanied his mistress when she deposited him at the vet for removal of an appendage.

My new “best friend”

I had asked Son number One if he could take me somewhere over the Easter weekend. We and my new “best friend’s” mistress had several great days together and I’ve been on the move since. More photos next time.

UK

animals, Travel
Critters

Dec 27th 2015

By: Kerry

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I forgot to mention that we went to see Spectre, the new James Bond movie the second day after its opening in a suburban movie complex. We attended a 9pm session as that fitted with work commitments, no 5pm finish and 20 minute commutes, unfortunately. The movie was poorly attended, hardly anyone was there. I was glad to have seen it but not taken with it. Afraid it was lacking the humour of some previous versions and the plot, not that I remember it now, was too close to reality in this uncertain world.

To finish off we have some critters, primarily cats.

Old cat who visited from next door

Same cat. He liked to visit but didn’t like it when joined in the garden. He’d disappear slowly on arthritic joints.

This one had invited himself inside the front door for the first time the day before I took these photos. I arrived, opened front door, turned away for a few moments to then follow a previously unseen cat into the body of the house.

Need to investigate this.

How can you reject this face? “I’m just about to watch the birds in your yard.”

Rocky is the house tortoise living on a rock in a tropical fish tank. He and the fish have already outgrown one tank and unless he eats a few more baby fish they will soon need a bigger tank. He’s not slow to explore when out.

Rocky also likes to stretch his legs which he also does on his rock under his lamp.

“This is my 2 seater chair and I do not tolerate any interference including photographs.”

Irish cat near Bunbeg at the B&B, Teach Campbell. He was very happy and confident especially for a cat supposedly a stray, albeit one who was fed.

Trip over

Animals
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