Part Two: Berrington Hall

Not having had enough history for one day, we drove 20 minutes back the way we had come, and into Herefordshire, to visit the National Trust property of Berrington Hall.  Even before we made it to the house, Nathan and I both picked the influence of good old Capability Brown in the landscaped ‘wilderness’, in fact it was the last one he designed – think we need to get out more!

Berrington Hall is a neoclassical country house built in 1778-81 for Thomas Harley.  The Honourable Thomas Harley was a British politician, the younger son of Edward Harley, 3rd Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer. He became an alderman of London, Sheriff of London in 1764 and Lord Mayor of London in 1767. He served as Member of Parliament for London from 1761 to 1774 and then for his native Herefordshire for most of the rest of his life.  The exterior of the house dominated the landscape being bold if somewhat austere.  The interiors were much more to my liking, and I was even more pleased to be able to take photos.  Today, Abbey decided to follow suit (I will add a blog of her own holiday photos at a later date!)

 The rooms on display were quite stunning and included Biaggio Rebecca ceilings (ok, I have no idea either!) and fine period furniture.  I have included a selection of photos for your viewing pleasure!

 Abbey finds something to her liking!

 I was quite partial to the staircase

Proving she is a very refined young lady!

Taking tea in the nursery

 Our favourite nursery toy

 Soaking up some history

 Getting a bit more hands on

 After so much history, it was time for a spot of afternoon tea.  When ordering the skies seemed clear so we decided to take our refreshments out doors.  As it happened it was just as well the tables each had their own umbrellas as, as we had no sooner made ourselves comfortable, when the heavens opened.  Now refreshed, and with the rain dying away for the time being, we took a turn around the garden before making our way back to the cars for the next stage of our adventure, locating our cottage.

 As we hit the road the skies once again darkened and it was absolutely hoofing it down as we drove north into Shropshire.  We stopped at a Co-op for supplies then, by some miracle, we all made it in one piece, and not getting lost, at Woodhouse Barn, our home for the next week.

Woodhouse Barn is a converted barn on the property of Woodhouse Farm, which also boasted another barn conversion and a B&B.  It was accessed down a ½ mile rocky, muddy farm track but was well worth the journey.  It was probably the best-equipped cottage we have stayed in to date with a fantastic country style kitchen and the owner even leaving out a freshly baked cake and some free-range eggs.  We kindly let G&G bags the master bedroom with ensuite though we would all be fighting over their shower with the other bathroom being very English in style with only a bath on offer.

No sooner had we arrived than we headed out once more to the nearby village of Pontesbury (only about a mile away) in search of dinner.  This proved easier said then done with the local ‘inn’ not opening its doors at all until 1830), it was currently 1820 and we were tired and hungry, and the local Chinese restaurant fully booked for the evening.  We ended up dining at the Balti Spice Bangladesh Restaurant, which turned out to be fantastic.  Zac had his first taste of butter chicken and I don’t think will ever look back whilst Abbey went well out on a limb with her scampi and chips!

This evening we decided to divide and conquer two very tired children with Nathan and Abbey taking the other double room and Zac and I bunking down in twin beds.  We had to hang towels over the curtains in vain attempt to block out some light as, at nearly 2100 the sun finally decided to shine – hopefully a good omen for tomorrow!