Our Big Adventure - Part 3

Not the best photo, sorry!

DH and I do like a castle – I may have mentioned it before. We hadn’t fully decided which one to visit over the weekend. I have to admit I love Warwick Castle but recently it has been super expensive and a bit theme park like. So we decided to try Kenilworth as neither of us had visited this one before.

I’m so glad we made this decision – it was an awesome place. Firstly, the buildings are made of very red coloured stone which looked so fabulous rising up against the brilliant blue skies. It was busy but not overwhelming and it wasn’t too expensive at £9 each (although we did get swayed by the superior selling techniques of the English Heritage gentleman and ended up buying a membership!)

The Elizabethan gardens were lovely - they had recreated one of the fountains from records.

Kenilworth dates from the 1120’s and bore witness to one of the very few full scale mediaeval sieges in this country. Supporters of the defeated (and dead) Simon de Montfort holed up here to defend the castle against King Henry III after the battle of Evesham in 1265. They managed to withstand heavy assaults on the castle but finally had to surrender in 1266 due to disease and lack of supplies.

Further into Kenilworth’s history saw the estate given to Robert Dudley, earl of Leicester and favourite of Elizabeth I. Now this is one of my personal favourite periods in history and so to actually stand in the grounds where they would have stood was pretty exciting! English Heritage are currently installing viewing platforms in the building that he built especially for her 1575 visit (she had visited 3 times before this). Once these platforms are complete you will be able to look through window spaces that no one has looked through for 300 years – how mind blowing is that?

In a further building are the remaining fittings that Dudley had installed, albeit elsewhere in the building, so you can look at a marble fireplace and carved wooden panel that both he and Elizabeth would actually have seen and touched. It’s these links to the past that really make history so moving.

I like castles :)

All around the site there is carved graffiti too. I took a few photographs and we marvelled at how old some of it was. But then as we were tutting at the “Gaz woz ‘ere 2012” and “Gemma luvs Mark” we wondered if past 1800’s visitors did the same over “Mr Cooke’s” efforts or “Joe Hart – 1840” and when does carved graffiti move from vandalism to historic interest? Possibly when the quality went downhill which I assume was probably when ‘stonecarver’ became a somewhat undervalued profession. Gaz clearly spent nowhere near as much time and care over his offering as Mr Cooke although in fairness he was probably trying to carve into 800 year old stone with a crappy nail file nicked off his girlfriend :)

I only photographed the old stuff, sorry Gaz

This isn't one of mine, honest!

If you are ever in the area I would highly recommend a visit to Kenilworth Castle – I would also highly recommend a visit to the gift shop where they are known to do tastings of the fine alcoholic beverages that they sell – but that’s a whole ‘nother story!

Detail from the windows Robert Dudley had installed - apparently they were groundbreaking in size.

Our Big Adventure - Part One

We are quite amused

This weekend, DH and I had a rare weekend away which we spent in Royal Leamington Spa. We enjoyed glorious weather and had a most excellent time J

Highlights of the trip included a proper afternoon tea at a vintage tea room called ’Vinteas’. Each table had mismatched cups and saucers and side plates with lovely cutlery (and flatware!!). We ordered the works, and they arrived piled high on a beautiful cake stand. Assorted finger sandwiches, scones with jam and cream (cream first or jam?), mini pork pies and scotch eggs and a selection of cake to choose from. Along with this we had real loose leaf tea in a vintage teapot. I felt I really should have dressed more appropriately for the occasion! We left there clutching bags filled with the goodies we just couldn't eat, a packet of loose leaf tea and the inspiration to recreate afternoon tea at home.

Some of the delicious goodies for afternoon tea.

Jephson Gardens were another true delight. The Spring weather was certainly having an effect and everything was blooming and blossoming –even the squirrels! These gardens are named for Dr Henry Jephson who was a leading light in promoting health benefits in Leamington in the 1800’s. They have been recently restored and include some wonderful wood carvings, a hothouse of tropical plants and lovely opportunities to walk and enjoy some peace and tranquillity.

A detail of one of the plants in the hothouse - no idea what it is and I forgot to write it down!

We stayed at a Best Western hotel – I often wonder why they don’t make more of an effort to go with the whole ‘Western’ theme, such a missed opportunity! Instead, this one went for ‘delusions of grandeur’ which I think they captured most beautifully. I have never seen so many chandeliers and overly ornate furniture. Our bedroom had a specially nice view of a blank wall but if you really stretched you could just glimpse a rat bait box! But it was comfortable, clean and the staff were polite.

The shops in Leamington were everything that I had been promised – a huge variety of independent shops alongside the big town regulars. There were plenty of charity shops and some stunning vintage treats too. I managed to score some real bargains – but more of those in Part 2.

Architecture and sunshine :)

On Sunday morning we took another walk around the Gardens and further into the old town to look at the impressive architecture. You can see where the old railway bridge used to be and above the slightly shabby shops you can still see the impressive carvings and details from when the spa town was in its heyday. We visited All Saints Church which dates from 1843. A Sunday service was taking place so we did not venture inside but outside was breath-taking enough! We didn't linger too long, the bells were very loud!!

All Saints Church - the bells are getting louder...

We left Leamington and headed off to visit Kenilworth Castle – covered in Part 3 – before gently heading towards home and back to reality. It was just the break I needed and I am going to do my best to take this nice relaxed feeling right into the frantic pace of being back at work….. I’ll let you know how that works out!