Jephson Gardens

Jephson Gardens (formerly Newbold Gardens)

Royal Leamington Spa

It has been a week 'lacking in blue sky' so I have

opted to share these photos taken in August, 2014 on a sunny day :).

Interested in learning a bit more about a town with 'Royal' in the name

and visited by Queen Victoria?  Have a look HERE.

Participating in Skywatch Friday

If I Find This Interesting...

...maybe you will too.

Three days in a row of sunshine!!  Drop everything, jump into the car, because in 5 minutes we will be at Coombe having a nice walk with the promise of a hot chocolate too!  It is still cold out!

The area beyond the arches was once a garden which supplied all the vegetables and fruit for Coombe Abbey. The 'kitchen garden' as it was known was created in the mid 1860's and exotic fruits (said to be renowned locally) were grown in hot houses.  Sadly, all that remains today is the outer wall and that area is closed to the public.

This part of Coombe Abbey has since been sold and that area is owned by the farmer next door.  I wonder if I might get permission to have a closer look.  (It's on the list!)  I can see the logic of having a garden's perimeter denoted by a wall but, goodness me, that is some wall.  In the meantime, have look from afar.

Well, that is my world today, participating in Our World Tuesday.   Have a good day, folks!

Skywatch Friday - Landscape Architecture

View from Coombe Abbey Hotel on a frosty day last week.  The gardens were redesigned by Lancelot 'Capability' Brown in 1771 to incorporate Coombe Pool lake.  The blue sky sets the scene.

For more photographs from around the world, please click on the Skywatch Friday link.

Have a super weekend.  I am bracing myself for a bit more snow followed by heavy rain and wind.  Good grief!

Thatched Roof Thursday #14 - Chipping Campden

Recently, I used the cottage above in my Thatched Roof Thursday series.  I am just popping back to show you more of that hedge.  It is amazing and sets off that great home in Chipping Camden a treat and goes all the way around the corner.

Across the street is another.  In fact the whole street is loaded with thatched homes.  (I am not going to show you them all. Come over and see for yourself!)  These photos were taken on January 1st.

As I am sitting here typing away, I am hearing the weather report which includes the dreaded word,  'blizzards'.  Now I love a little snow but there are limitations.  Snow report tomorrow :).

A Modest Abode, Hill Wootton, Warwickshire

Blackdown Mill

Hill Wootton can be found just off the main road between Royal Leamington Spa and Kenilworth.  Every time I drive by I am tempted to explore.  Well, now I have.  This enormous Grade II Listed Building has history linking the mill with Coombe Abbey. A historian I am not so I will spare you the injustice of trying to summarise the titbits of information scattered on the web, except to say that this is an 18th Century mill house sitting nicely along side the River Avon and it is now a home.

Too dark to photo thru port cullis to see mill driving cog wheels, etc.

PS.  I may have learned something totally unrelated to
this house but to do with the word 'titbits'.  Now I always thought
that word was 'tidbits'.  Could it  be that 'tid' is a US variation of
the word.  Apparently so....but after living in the UK for nearly 40 years...well, I am surprised.

Ford's Hospital Garden - Past And Present

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Through the gate (which I must find out more about) you can see a little of the re-built half-timbered almshouse founded by merchant William Ford in 1509 to provide accommodation for six elderly people.

I find it quite amazing that in Coventry City Centre you can see a 16th century building with a modern day clothes line through a 1965 gate.  Past and present - it works.

Life in Coventry Today

This area between the City Centre and the train station warrants another photograph.  It really is great walking along this path. There is a bit of history that relates to the trough.  Maybe I can home in on that tomorrow.  Have a good day.

Another 'Welcome To Coventry'

Under the Ring Road (which circles around the City Centre)

What a delight went I got to this spot walking from the Train Station to the City Centre.  Walking under the Ring Road has never been pretty or interesting.  It has always been a dark, messy and wasted space that you are glad to leave behind you.  Because of the Olympic 2012, I imagine, we have a nice welcome sign and ever-changing lights that brighten up a gloomy space.  Well Done, Coventry.

Coventry In Bloom

Walkway between Coventry Train Station and the City Centre....

These beautiful flowers make up for the lack of sunshine and serve as a lovely greeting to all arriving in Coventry.

Honestly, This Is Coventry, England!

Beautiful, isn't it.

Greyfriars Green, Coventry (just off the Ring Road)

This area has been closed for ages.  What a treat is was to walk through here today between the train station and City Centre. I can't resist those peach blossoms and here I can photograph a few tulips too. Well done, City Council gardeners.  Nice job.

Half An Hour of Sunshine Today

But in truth this was taken on Monday.

Old Rope Walk, Lady Herbert's Garden, City Centre, Coventry

The sun was out, blossoms abound and here is yet another view of the Old Rope Walk to share with you.  It is my hope that when I walk by here again, remaining parts of this railing surrounding the garden will not be missing.  'Do not touch', I say!!!!!

Just 161 Miles Outside Coventry - Whitstable

We had a little drive to the seaside and found 2 particularly interesting spots.  Three rows of beach huts make up the Tankerton Bay Beach Huts' site.  The huts overlooking shingle beach and the North Sea.  Whitstable Castle is perched on the hill between the seaside town of Whitstable and the district of Tankerton.

Tankerton Bay Beach Huts (outside Whitstable, Kent, England)

Whitstable Castle grounds