Saturday, June 4, 2016

Croft Castle

Next up, on a beautiful Saturday afternoon, was Croft Castle and Parkland, a 1660s vanity castle built by the Bishop of Hereford, who had apparently tired of his urban digs. The lands had already been in the Croft family for some ages. The decor is mixed--in a style future generations may come to call National Trustic--reflecting the many centuries of Croft habitation.
Approaching the castle and chapel
















The castle; this was well into the Age of Artillery, and no one
would have regarded a castle as of much defensive use

















The Bishop




















He had Ties, since one of his ancestors had been
one of Her close officials from early on





















Moving right along, Vicki checks out the library circulation
system
















Others check out an 18th century pinball machine
















Thus; sort of




















While I check out the 20th century Victrola




















Paul Robeson sings "Plantation Songs"; probably of greater
historical import than anything else in the room...

















Another room; and...
















Elizabeth Cowper, a cousin of the poet, married Sir Archer
Croft, 3rd Baronet, becoming Lady Elizabeth Croft; the
portrait by Gainsborough


















Another drawing room
















The dining hall set up for a 1930 Ludlow Hunt Club Ball;
notably, the 1925 Mouton Rothschild would have been way to
young to open...


















The adjacent family chapel
















Resting place of earlier Crofts
















Part of the grounds not taken
















Gardener's hut, astride the walled garden wall
















We'll take it, assuming it includes the wisteria
















We're seeing more and more bug hotels in
National Trust gardens





















Of particular note is that the Croft walled garden contains the
only working vineyard in the National Trust's 500 different
sites; a promising, fruity white, reminiscent of some Marlborough
sauvignon blancs I have tried


















A flink on the grounds
















A proper and effective Ha Ha
















In the children's area...the Trust's sites are always family-friendly

















1 comment:

Rebecca said...

National Trustic!! That actually made me laugh out loud. A bon mot indeed. Well done, sir.