By the Dawn's Early Light

Coombe Abbey Hotel

Coombe Country Park

 Good morning all.  

This photo brings to mind a line from

my homeland anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner.

Many Clouds

Coombe Abbey Hotel

as seen from Coombe Country Park

Have a Great Weekend!

Historic Hotel

Coombe Abbey Hotel

Here is a look at the courtyard just

outside the front entrance.

If you click on the label below,

you'll see  many other photographs taken outside.

For more information about this historic building

that was once a 12th Century Abbey,

follow the link HERE.

Graham Thomas Rose

Today at Coombe Country Park

Lovely rose to warm up a dull English autumn day.

Coombe Abbey Hotel

As seen from Coombe Country Park this afternoon.

Greetings!  I am busy organizing photographs 

(if that is possible) and that is basically why I have

been absent from blog posting.  It takes time.  But....

today we went for a walk at Coombe Country Park

and I really like this view of Coombe Abbey Hotel.

So here it is :).

A Surprise

Coombe Country Park

Coombe Abbey Hotel is in the background.

(Look at the tree stump.)

A daffodil bulb has found an unusual home.

What a surprise :).

Have a good weekend !

And, Happy Birthday to Aunt Blanche !!

The Footbridge

Coombe Country Park

The photograph above was taken on a very
dull day in February, 2017.

The photograph below was taken yesterday
following a wedding at Coombe Abbey Hotel, I'm guessing.
The wedding photographs will undoubtedly include
a nice aerial video of the hotel and park grounds.

Merry Christmas 2016

...and, 

warmest best wishes to you for a Happy New Year.

Summer House

Coombe Country Park

Coombe Abbey Hotel is just out of view on the right.

The stone pavilion structure (in the middle of the top photo),

and known as a summer house, has recently been restored.  

 On some occasions, it will serve as a new wedding venue

 at Coombe Abbey Hotel.

I expect I will have to wait until a much

warmer day to actually see a wedding taking place here.

It was very frosty last Sunday :).

English Rose

Coombe Country Park

It was so lovely here yesterday afternoon.  We

decided to go for a walk at Coombe.

I couldn't help admire these beautiful

pink English roses -

Strawberry Hill.

The first image is looking over the lake at Coombe.

Behind me is the view below -

Coombe Abbey Hotel.   I have shown it many times before.

Participating in Skywatch Friday

Coombe - Benchmark

Entrance to Coombe Abbey Hotel

as well as Coombe Country Park

Brinklow Road

When you drive down the Brinklow Road,

just outside Coventry, you can't help but notice

these two pillars and the magnificent Coombe Abbey Hotel beyond.

My interest today is the curious mark on the

left pillar noted by an arrow in the photo below.

Have a closer look below.

The white arrow is pointing at a

benchmark at the base of the pillar.

The benchmark is that 'line' with (what looks

like) an arrow pointing up to it.

The benchmark serves as an elevation reference point.

This one no longer appears on Ordnance Survey maps.

When the reference point was chiseled in the stone,

 these pillars were located just down the road, 

presumably at a different elevation.  

* * * * * 

In preparing for today's post, I was interested to read that

at some point in the 1960s these pillars were originally sited about 60 yards

to the east.  The pillars supported wrought iron gates

 known as the Griffin Gate. I have read further that these gates were

removed for safekeeping when the pillars were moved to their present

location.   I wonder where the gates are now.

In the photo below I am looking towards what was the 

carriage entrance (next to red car behind the trees).
The main entrance is behind me.

(Below) The Griffin Gate was originally here

at the carriage entrance to Coombe Abbey.

This road runs parallel to the main entrance driveway.  

Participating in Skywatch Friday

Perfect Day For A Wedding

Coombe Abbey Hotel

Today in the Sunshine

A wedding on Tuesday?  Yes, especially when the weather is

like it was today.  That's the happy couple above (taken

with a very long lens).  Below is the view across the lake.

(Note the people sitting on the bench - far left.)

(Below) There they are!  My husband was busy chatting 

with this nice trio when I was snapping away.  

Think he was hinting for some wedding cake :).

Yes, a perfect day for a wedding!

Participating in Our World Tuesday

To the celebrating trio: If you want a print without my ©,

email me.  Otherwise, you have my permission to copy any of these

photographs.  Nice chatting with you!

Last of The Daffodils

Brinklow Road

Photo taken last Wednesday.

Main road outside

Coombe Abbey Hotel & Coombe Country Park.

I have some catching up to do.  Excited to

see what has been going on with my mates

at City Daily Photo :).

The Swan On Patrol

Coombe Country Park

He looks innocent enough but in the photo below -
the name of the game was keeping those geese out of the lake.

We watched for a fair amount of time as he patrolled up and down.
 It was clear (for at least a while) who was in charge.

At some point, I got the photos below
using my new zoom lens.

Well, that's me done for the week.

Hope you have a great weekend.

Cheers!

Seven

That's how many little cygnets were in the

pool outside Coombe Abbey Hotel yesterday.

I never get tired of watching the swans in 

Coombe Country Park.  Found 7 more

cygnets at the Park's Top Pool (below).

One above and the other six below :).

Mom looks in needs of a little bath after poking around under water.

Play time!

Looks Like Spring

Coombe Abbey Hotel

Taken from Coombe Country Park

on a cloudy day last week.

F Is For 'First'

Have a closer look in the pool.

A dog decided to join the swans for a little afternoon swim.

Back and forth the 3 went up and down the waterway.  Four lengths, I think.

This is the 'first' time I've seen this happen.  My suggestion:

Keep dogs on their leads.  The water is cold and

those swans can fly :).

The adventurous pooch finally responded to calls from the owners and 

was rescued from the lake.

All ended well.  Thank goodness.

Participating in ABC Wednesday

Through The Hedge

Coombe Abbey Hotel

A chance to try manual focusing :).

These photos were taken from 

Coombe Country Park

a week ago - it was cold out.

The pool is frozen and so was I.

In fact, both Mr. LOL and I are stuck in

with colds.  If I can't get out to take

photos, let's see what I can find on all those

SD cards I seem to have :).

Back tomorrow!

Lifting Fog

Coombe Abbey Hotel

This photo was taken from one of the main walkways

at Coombe Country Park looking towards the hotel

yesterday morning.  The fog was just lifting.

In The Rain

Coombe Abbey Hotel

The plan?  To go for a walk around Coombe Country Park today.

Did is rain?  Plenty!  

PS.  If you like to look at expensive cars...have a look at the entrance to Coombe Abbey Hotel.

A selection of Ferrari cars.

I like these more classic models :).

The top red Ferrari is a 1955 classic.  Not sure about the next two.