Strawberry Hill House (Twickenham)....

While still in London we visited Strawberry Hill House, the former gothic mansion of politician, writer and collector Horace Walpole (1717 to 1797).  He and two friends, amateur architect John Chute and draughtsman and designer Richard Bentley formed what they called "The Committee of Taste".  Though I snorted at this description when the tour guide told us, I have to say wandering around they at least had some *good* taste! Which is more than can be said for some of our more contemporary "Taste Police" ;-)

The house is the "earliest and finest examples of the Gothic revival" and has recently been restored. It's quite a fun house to go around and it's interesting how "modern" it felt in some aspects. Though it was totally over the top in others!! But the "Committee" used techniques we would recognise today, like using wood and paint it to look like marble.  Now how many "makeover" TV shows use MDF and paint it for effect?!!

My favourite little touch were the antelopes on the stairway. Now encased in a light frame to protect their fragility.

The wallpaper in the background is Trompe-L'oeil as is much of the wall covering in the house.

Look - she's smiling!

And this light in the hallway is positively Art Deco!











I love the design of this fireplace. Again it has a trompe-l'oeil effect as it is painted wood.

I
While this is a corner of the beautiful Robert Adam Fireplace

Some of the windows have exquisite Dutch stained glass in them - but not in the panes that would spoil the view of the landscape outside!

This Library is one of my favourite rooms - deeply bonkers, wonderful and truly gothic!

With another trompe-l'oeil ceiling.....

But the most extravagant room is the gallery - complete with gold leaf and crimson damask! What I loved about this house was that, as it was newly renovated, all the colours were really bright- just as they would have been when created. It gives a real feel for a place, unlike so many "old houses" that are a faded shadow of their former selves.

Outside is wonderfully gothic too as you can see from the photo at the top of this post and here....

And gorgeous stone dogs holding the crest between their paws..... (I want the antelope though!).

If you want to read more about Strawberry Hill House they have a website.

In my next post I'll take you on a ride on a Steam railway in Somerset....... all aboard!!

Holiday adventures.....

St Paul's Cathedral and the Millennium Bridge

The forecast storm winds weren't quite as bad as expected, and the rain not quite as heavy, but I may be speaking too soon as the wind is getting up again now!  Anyway on an autumnal day like today, with a cake baking in the oven, and a mug of tea in one hand, I thought I'd tell you a bit about my recent holiday adventures.

The plan was to go via London to Somerset (in the West of England). However, A's cat was unwell a few days before I was due to arrive in London and we agreed that we would wait till the poor puss cat recovered before heading off on our adventures. Fortunately the puss cat in question fully recovered and with only a couple of days delay we were able to head to Somerset.

As it turned out the delay was just as well as I arrived in London in the Friday afternoon and my luggage arrived the following evening!!  British Airways left my luggage in Edinburgh for the FOURTH time in recent years!!  Grrr AND it had a "transfer" label on it..... anyway it was finally delivered via a circuitous route by a courier and all was well.

While we were waiting to head West we spend a bit of time around London, visiting the newly opened Shard.  The Shard was by far my favourite experience in London in recent years and I thoroughly recommend it to anyone visiting the city!  You get a time of entry but can stay up on the viewing platforms (enclosed and partially open but very safe) as long as you want. We went up early evening and watched dusk fall and the lights of London come on. It was fabulous!  Here are just a selection of photos - sadly with reflection from the windows which is unavoidable mostly.

For those who know London you can see right over South London past the Crystal Palace antennae, out to the QEII bridge, the London flood defence, over to Wembley arena, all of the Olympic Park and everything in between.  It's brilliant!!

Of course there is the iconic Tower Bridge, wearing a crown in celebration of Queen Elizabeth II's Coronation jubilee (or whatever the correct technical term is!).

Tower Bridge with HMS Belfast nearby

The dusk photos are less dramatic, and it had been a bit of a grey day. But I loved seeing the London I knew so well spread out before me and seeing the bends in the River Thames.

Tower bridge (again) 

A close up - we just missed the bridge going up!

Houses of Parliament

Southwark Cathedral

The Old Billingsgate Market

The Old Custom House

St Paul's Cathedral

Tower of London

The iconic BT Tower

Lights of cars snaking through the city

London Eye

Crystal Palace Transmitters

There are two viewing platforms. The top one has no roof but is well enclosed to stop anyone jumping off or throwing anyone off!  

While along the floor leading through the lifts are reminders of the history of the city, and how London grew up very much around a river which was central to it's existence. 

 Many of the old buildings are now surrounded by modern commercial buildings but a view from the top reveals the layers of history held within the city.

A visit "south"

I've just returned from a visit "south". To London to be precise, as it was a friend's 50th birthday and for her "birthday weekend" (this girl knows how to party) we went up in a helicopter over London, followed by dinner in a lovely Portuguese restaurant. The next day we travelled down to Goodwood in Sussex to stay overnight in a beautiful luxury hotel with spa. We visited Goodwood House (a "stately home" (English country house of the landed gentry) still in private ownership) - photos weren't allowed so you will have to content yourself with this link. The guides who showed us around the various rooms were really knowledgeable and engaging. We had afternoon tea in the ballroom - pretending we were 18th Century ladies taking tea while looking out at the beautiful grounds! Finally we had a tour of the stables (which are still used for Goodwood races) and viewed an exhibition by Tim Flach of stunning photos of horses. I had to buy the book "Equus" !  It was a brilliant weekend and the sun shone brightly upon us.

Later in the week I spent time catching up with some friends and family.  I also met the latest edition to our family, baby Ruby, who at six months old is a real sweetie! But I forbade anyone to call me "Great Auntie"!



Here are some photos of the helicopter trip. The helicopter was a very smart "executive style" model, with leather seats and plush carpet. One or two of our party were a little worried about throwing up on the carpet! But fortunately we were too engaged in the view to think about that once we took off. I just loved the flight, the all round view, the way we banked left and right, the vertical take off and landing.....  Ooooh I want to go up again!

I got to sit next to the pilot and had a set of controls in front of me (obviously not allowed to play with them, though the red buttons were calling to be pressed!).

It was great being above the city as you could really see how the river Thames winds it's way.

Albert Bridge (named after Queen Victoria's consort) is the second bridge from the bottom.

From left to right - Westminster Abbey, Houses of Parliament/Palace of Westminster (seat of the UK government), Westminster Bridge, and the "London Eye" (the big wheel).

Above - from left to right - the green and white building that looks like a rocket is known locally as "The Gherkin" (it's an office block), and right of centre is a building nicknamed "The Shard" - it's still under construction but will be an office block too. Below another view of the Shard plus Tower Bridge

Below the circular building is the Olympic Stadium, getting ready for next year's Olympics in London. (But don't get me started on *that* topic!)

Above is Greenwich Park (I think), which is just South of London. A very famous park. And below the rolling hills of Surrey

I hope you enjoyed your "tour of London"!