Easter Weekend - Day 4 - Part 1

So we headed to Winchester, King Arthur (actually King Alfred) and the round table, This is beautiful small city, we planned to visit the Winchester Mill and be out of there by 10:30, Yah right, best laid plans and all.

 It was beautiful spring day and the Irises were out in abundance

The flowers were out and looked good, it was the last day of travel and we plan to make the most of it. Winchester  is a town based on a river going through it. As the was next to many streets.

 The architect was obviously old as we made our way the main street. The Watermill was the target here but we had arrived early.

The Main street of course went to the great hall and barracks 

 And what did we find in the great hall. Arthur Round table, but it belonged to to King Alfred actually

 Something in stories we had grown up with was on display, Jennifer was in her element.

 The great hall itself is very old but not old as the table.

 The old castle had long since been torn down to make way for updated buildings, All that left the foundations, and the replacement barracks. These were old and great buildings on there own.

The court yard with the barracks  was just something to remember. 

We cut through old street to get back to the mill

Passed the Cathedral 

The old Council and Guild Hall

 Passed the monument to King Alfred

 Passed the Park and waterways

And onto the Winchester Watermill

The mill and buildings have been restored by The National Trust

 The buildings cover the whole stream but flood strengthening has been given

 It was still an impressive building with all part still working, but I was not going to pay £5 for a kilo bag of wholemeal flour.

We ended up leaving at 12:00 before cutting across the South Downs National Park, stopping only at farm stores for lunch supplies on our way to Petworth House, we got to Petworth at 1:00 in the afternoon. 

 
The drive had been great with a view and small village single lanes that brushed both sides of the car.  Petworth House is worth checkout. The servant’s quarters have been fully restored along with the main house.  All set for when it was at its height in the 1890's.

But the Main house was the trophy.  With it large paintings, it was crowded and the light poor as expected

 Pride and joy was the stair case.

 This place was impressive and we quietly took some photo’s, 

 The view from the stair case was over the Servants Quarters

 The main room was based on King Henry

 But it was the artwork was was impressive

 

It even had it's own Chapel inside the house.

 The park was expensive and we took the 30 Minute cart ride around them.

 The house was huge,
It had a basement with tunnels between the servants quarters and the town,
And the ground were immense as well.
This was a play ground  for the super rich.

And the views of the surrounding landscape were impressive.
We were then off to Lambeth house, home of Wedgewood and place Charles Darwin visited. Both Wedgewood and Darwin exhibits were closed, so we were in and out quick

 With only a couple of pictures of the view from the house, disappointing
.