Queens Gallery Exhib

We decided to go to the Queens Gallery at Buckingham Palace 

The exhibition was the great India Tour of the 1890's

The first Object is usually the best.

And it this case it was too.

This finely crafted Ink Well is made of gold and is in 19 pieces.

This one of the queens finest art pieces

A lot of the fine pieces were just functional trays

Some were just for storing feathers 

This one was a simple tray.

But the detail was exceptional

one had a lid that was finely done.

This Box had expansive detail

on the sides and

Corners

There were stuff boxes

Pendants and pins

Eggs that were to hold rings

Daggers

But some of the details would be work away over time

Grange Barn

Not far Paycock house is a very large Tithing barn

In the 1960's it was ready to be pulled or fall down 

which is what the owner wanted, but the town fought back

Now they have an immense Barn for functions

The roof was restored and weighs about 250ton.

At one time many carriages a day would go through the barn

Today they are ready to be restored as well.

Old ones are being donated regularly.

Some still have the original artwork on them.

Also, toInterestingInteresting they have a display on the stone mansion interesting short visit.

Paycocks House

Paycocks house is in a hertitage town called Coggeshall

This town has a lot of historic places, 

This one is of a Wool merchants home, the wealthest man in town.

The Small Cottage we parked in front of was from the 1570's

Paycocks was different, it was 1600's

Fine carving work throughout the whole house.

Including the ceilings.

And the Hall was made up to impress

But it was the small well tended gardened that made the visit wonderful.

Ickworth

We arrived at Ickworth early in the morning.
Summer here has struck with heat and turning everything brown.
So we decide to walk around while it was not so hot

First the chapel in the grounds.

This was built in the 1300's
And looked like it hadn't been touched much since then.

Plenty of Gravestone inside the church, show it had been used for centuries

In the Church Gardens were some beautiful Impatations

As we walked to the House the gardens were perched from the summer heat. 

The house is round so it has a unique framing.

The general country looked like Spain, not an English countryside view.

The house is a round Centre and Major side wings
Once in the house, we were in for a treat.

First was downstairs to the fully restored Servants quarters
Where the turst put on a show. Staff were dressed up and played parts as if the house was still in the 1890's

The Kitchen staff baked and cleaned.

with Beautiful ovens and real copper pots.

 The staff gossiped in the staff hall.
It added a sense of realism to the place, great show.

We walked up the servant's entrance to the grand hall.
Which of course was very grand.

Once upstairs the rooms showed style of the Italian theme

The Library was with round walls.

A reare self potrait of Louise Elizabeth Vigee Le Brun
She was a great female artist that knew how to capture mouths and eyes.

The great hall had many a great painting, and all under uv glass.

The fine marble was exquisite

So life like.

And great Chandeliers
Over all a great place to visit

 

Cliveden House and Gardens

Cliveden House and Gardens is not far from us.

We went on a bright summers day with Liz and Adrian.

Jennifer was feeling well so we decide not to push to hard.

As we arrived, The Clock tolled and rung across the hotel courtyard

It is beautiful Clock tower with gold trimmings

The gardens were beautiful although most were spring plants 

The house is a Hotel not so going in is not possible.

The house was a splendorous place in it's heyday.

So were the gardens, due to the heat we decided to walk around the gardens under the trees.

 Where wonderful Poppies of Deep purples were present.

We walked to the Turtle Fountain, not a turtle in sight but a great place to sit and enjoy the view

The running water was cool but the fountain was once white

Now it has character

Then to explore the Rose Garden

This was mostly theme is the oranges as that what Lady Astor 

was into. 

There were of course  were statues

and fine fountains

But it was the beautiful day that produced rainbows that made special.