Kristine Hughes – Page 237 – Number One London

In The Garden at Eyford House

On Sunday, May 22nd, Eyford House in Upper Slaughter, Glouscestershire will play host to a giant plant sale featuring 25,000 plants on sale, local produce, a country-shopping village, sculpture garden, Light Cavalry Military Band and three garden experts – Val Bourne, Mary Keane and Roddy Llewellyn – will be on hand to answer gardening questions and offer advice. The event will benefit the ABF The Soldiers’ Charity and the Countryside Alliance at Eyford.

The property, a classical Cotswolds home in idyllic grounds is where legend has it, poet John Milton was inspired to write Paradise Lost and takes the crown as England’s Favourite House, according to Country Life magazine.

Charlotte Heber Percy, whose family lives at Eyford House, commented: “We are so lucky to live in this heavenly setting and love to share it with the public. The plant sale is something we are all passionate about: everyone on the committee supports country sports and the rural way of life, and we also support our brave armed forces, so this plant sale is the ideal way for us to boost both causes while providing a fun day out.”

Novelist Jilly Cooper will officially open the plant sale with a ribbon cutting and eight local hunts ( the Cotswold, North Cotswold, Heythrop, Old Berks, Beaufort, Warwickshire, Berkeley and VWH hunts) have joined together to tend 25,000 plants to sell on the day. The event will make the most of what Country Life magazine has called the “pastoral idyll” of Eyford’s parklands. The plant sale will include a shopping village with a range of gardeners’ accessories as well as outdoor clothing and gifts for the countryside enthusiast and there will be live chickens and ducks.

Jilly Cooper, who lives locally, will be signing the paperback edition of her latest blockbuster, Jump! Another local author, Duff Hart-Davis, the distinguished biographer, naturalist and journalist, will be signing copies of his latest two books, Among the Deer: In the Woods and On the Hill: A Stalker Looks Back and The War That Never Was: The True Story of the Men who Fought Britain’s Most Secret Battle.

Mrs Prest (Mrs. Heber Percy’s daughter), who lives at Eyford with husband Rupert and three children, said: “I am absolutely thrilled. “I always adored the house and I loved to come and stay here with my grandmother when I was a child. Each day, I pinch myself at how lucky I am to live in such a beautiful, peaceful house.”

THE PLANT SALE WILL BE HELD BETWEEN 10AM AND 4PM. TICKETS £5, YOUNG CHILDREN WILL BE ADMITTED FREE OF CHARGE.

Notes from Lisbon

Victoria here, writing from Lisbon, where it is sunny and delightfully breezy. Above, the statue of Marquis de Pombal, at the foot of Parque Eduardo VII, named for the British King who visited here in 1903 to confirm the continuing alliance of Portugal and the United Kindom. Below, the view from the top of the park, looking down toward the statue, the broad tree-lined boulevard beyond it, to the River Tagus.

The Marquis de Pombal (1699-1782) was a distinguished statesman who provided strong leadership after the terrible earthquake and tsunami that devastated Lisbon November 1, 1755. He also abolished slavery in Portugal and her colonies, reorganized the army and navy, and improved the administration of colonial Brazil, among other accomplishments. His statue overlooks the Avenida da Liberdade, a broad boulevard with gardens and restaurants and lined by banks, hotels and smart shops.

The sidewalks are paved with small stones, often in patterns, as along the boulevard.

We stopped for luncheon at one and sat outside under the shade of huge plane trees and beside a large palm. One of the cafe’s specialities was a smoothie called Splash. Delicious.

As one strolls the Avenida, there are wonderful views up the cross streets, which lead into the hilly old town areas, most of which predate the earthquake and survived the floods.

Since we are to leave on our cruise tomorrow, we went down to the River Tagus to see the port. Across the street was the Military Museum honoring the centuries of Portuguese domination of large areas of the world Brazil, Mozambique, Goa, and Macao, to name a few. It is often pointed out here that Portuguese is the third most widely spoken European language in the world.

The museum has a huge collection of artillery, from gigantic cannons down to pistols and daggers. In the courtyard, many cannons can be see arranged in front of the story of the Portuguese in beautiful blue-and-white ceramic tiles.

Inside the museum were displays of events from the discovery of sea routes to India by Vasco DaGama through the Napoleonic invasions to World Wars I and II. Below the uniform of Portuguese troops fighting with Lord Wellington early in the Peninsular Wars.

Finally a few pictures which fail adequately to show the beauty of the blue/purple blooming trees found all over town. I think they are Jacaranda trees, a beautiful shade that reminds me of periwinkle blue. Stunning!!

Pirates of the Caribbean – On Stranger Tides

Prepare yerselves – On Stranger Tides premiers in just two days, when all things piratical will be let loose upon a waiting populace. (Holy Captain Morgan! I just looked it up – piratical is a word) As if a drunken, debauched, slurring, kohl wearing Johnny Depp weren’t enough to make a matey sit up and take notice, OST guest stars Ian McShane as Blackbeard. Yesssss!

Okay, NOT from the film, but who could resist?

Speaking of his role, McShane recenly said, “It was a pleasure to shoot [On Stranger Tides]. I was only glad it finished so I could get rid of the beard! It was the heaviest thing — it was like having a dead cat around my face! It was made in three or four pieces and held on by magnets and God knows what else. It took an hour and a half to put on every day. It was sort of spectacular. He was a real biker pirate — it’s all black leather.” Aaaarrrggghhhh.

Blackbeard’s (Edward Teach’s) exploits were notorious around Nassau, in the Bahamas, which was founded around 1650 by the British as Charles Town. The town was renamed in 1695 after Fort Nassau. Due to the Bahamas’ strategic location near trade routes and its multitude of islands, Nassau soon became a popular pirates’ den, and British rule was soon challenged by the self-proclaimed “Privateers Republic” under the leadership of the infamous Blackbeard. However, the alarmed British soon tightened their grip, and by 1720 the pirates had been killed or driven out. Bah! I don’t believe it. In fact, I’m going to Nassau in three weeks time in the hopes of finding a spare pirate or two and, with luck, buried treasure.

I’ll be diving the Ruins of Atlantis and exploring the Lost City alongside sharks, spotted rays and brilliantly colored tropical fish. My daughter, Brooke, and I will also take a turn swimming with the dolphins.

When not involved in aquatic activities, I hope to revisit a favorite antiques store in Nassau, run by an Englishman. Don’t laugh – last time I was there I found the edition of The London Illustrated News covering Wellington’s funeral. See? There are treasures yet to be found in Nassau.

Not to mention rum.

And let us not forget that OST also stars Geoffrey Rush, who reprises his role as pirate lord Barbossa who, along with Captain Jack Sparrow, searches for the Fountain of Youth. You can watch a clip of him in action here.

Another reason to see On Stranger Tides? With some bits filmed on location in London, this installment of POTC actually has scenes set in the City and features a carriage chase through London streets.

For a refresher course on past
POC flicks, visit the Wikipedia page here

100 bottles of rum in the hold, 100 bottles of rum,

You take one out and pass it about, 99 bottles of rum in the hold!

99 bottles of rum in the hold, 99 bottles of rum . . . .

Aristocratic Trade

Their 19th century counterparts would no doubt be mortified to learn that today’s aristocrats have taken to trade – and are raking in the dosh. Many of England’s Stately Homes have been running farm shops for some decades and stock produce and meat sourced locally, but which are not produced by themselves. There are a few exceptions to this, most notably products produced by the Duchy of Cornwall. Recently, Prince Charles launched a five-piece organic treatment line called Highgrove, after his estate in Gloucestershire. It’s inspired by plants that grow in the garden of his country house and is already sold out at Organic Pharmacy stores and Prince Charles’s Highgrove shops.

As their copy reads, the “luxurious gift set comprising of Rosemary and Ginger Warming Bath Oil, Arnica and Wintergreen Muscle Balm and Honey and Chamomile Hand Cream. These luxurious products have been specially formulated with organic ingredients including essential oils and naturally occurring, beneficial plant extracts. For use after gardening, exercise or for a relaxing bath.”

Personally, I’d much rather have this souvenier wedding cushion, also being sold in the Highgrove Shops at just £95.00. See a less expensive version in our left sidebar, under “Things We Love.”

Meanwhile, over at Belvoir Castle, the Duchess has begun selling Duchess of Rutland Botanicals – lightly flavoured, all natural sodas available in two flavours – elderflower and rose or raspberry and lavender. The packaging features peacock feathers from the Manners family crest and Regency stripes. Unfortunately, they are not yet available in the U.S.

At Pulbrook and Gould Flowers, London, Lady Pulbrook didn’t let the lack of a stately home to attach her business to stop her from forming a partnership with Rosamund Gould way back in 1956. After the death of her husband, she needed something to occupy her and went into partnership with her friend, trained florist Rosamund Gould. H R H Princess Alexandra and the Duchess of Kent both chose Pulbrook & Gould to arrange memorable flowers at their weddings. As well as members of the Royal Family, they number among their illustrious list of customers aristocrats, stars from throughout the world of entertaining, designers, artists, and the great hostesses of the day, some of Britain’s major institutions and businesses and a great many discerning private people whose day is enriched by an arrangement from Pulbrook & Gould. In 1976 Rosamund Gould retired, leaving Lady Pulbrook to grow the business with her sister-in-law, Sonja Waites.

Perhaps the most successful, and the most luscious, aristocratic shop is the Chatsworth Farm Shop at Chatsworth House, which won the prestigious Farm Retailer of the Year award for the second time in 2011. Their newest range are ready meals freshly prepared by Chatsworth chefs using estate produce and local ingredients from the farm shop. You’ll find the range in the chilled section of the shop and prices start from £1.75. Meals include beef lasagne, pork & leek sausage in onion gravy, cottage pie topped with Cheddar cheese, fish pie, pork & mushroom casserole in Sheppy cider, chicken breast in tomato, mushroom & tarragon sauce, and braised steak with Gardener’s Tap ale. There is also a vegetarian choice of mixed vegetable lasagne.

Chatsworth House itself has four further shops, including The Orangery Shop, which sells beautiful Chatsworth inspired gifts, including favourites chosen by the Duke, Duchess and Lady Burlington. Beautifully themed accessories are inspired by Chatsworth figures from the past and present and a wonderful range of gifts and homeware reflect the House, landscape and collection. I have done some serious damage in this particular shop, with my silver and bone tea spoons being well loved favorites. I don’t even mind polishing them. However, only recently I threw out the tin of Chatsworth furniture polish I’d bought there years ago believing that I would be inspired to polish my furniture with museum-like diligence. Never happened – I suppose I’m more Upstairs than Down.

The Story of Whitley Hall

Whitley Hall

From the Letter Bag of Lady Elizabeth Stanhope

“Another Yorkshire neighbour whom the Stanhopes visited at this date was Mr Beaumont (1) of Whitley Beaumont, and although on this occasion the entry regarding their visit is scanty, a fuller description of their eccentric host, written by Marianne the following autumn, may be here inserted : —

Nov. 1808.

Last Monday we met the Mills’ at Grange, she, delightful as usual. We returned the next day, and in our road called on Mr Beaumont of Whitley. The master of Whitley is a strange creature, half mad. He leads the life of a hermit, and has not had a brush, painter or carpenter in his house since he came into possession many, many years ago.

It is more like a haunted house in a romance than anything I ever saw. He is now an old man, and has never bought a morsel of furniture; half the house never was finished; one of the staircases has got no banisters. The stables were burnt down some time ago and have never yet been rebuilt. The rooms he lives in have not been put to rights for many years—a description of the things they contain would not be easy,—hats, wigs, coats, piles of newspapers, magazines and letters, draughts, bottles, wash-hand basins, pictures without frames, apples, tallow candles and broken tea-cups.

The whole house looks like a place for lumber. There are some fine rooms, but so damp and mouldy it is quite shocking. There is a chapel completely filled with old rubbish and a plaid bed which was put up for the Pretender.

In the room Mr Beaumont sleeps in I saw his coffin made of cedar wood. He scarcely ever sees a living creature and quite dislikes the sight of a woman. He does everything in the room, which no housemaid ever enters, nor indeed any part of the house.”

(1) John Beaumont, Esquire of Whitley Beaumont, Yorkshire, born 1752, died 1831; married Sarah, daughter of Humphrey Butler, Esquire of Hereford.

The house referred to above, Whitely Beaumont Hall, was owned by the Beaumont family for some 400 years. The Hall was built by Sir Richard Beaumont and was last owned and occupied by the Sutcliffe family, the last owner being Charles Sutcliffe. His great nephew wrote in the Yorkshire Post and recalled visiting the “secret garden” and sitting on an old World War One field gun kept in the front garden.

Charles Sutcliffe was a member of the Rockwood Hunt and hunt balls were held in Whitley’s great hall. During the Second World War, Charles Sutcliffe loaned the grounds for army training manoeuvres and camps. The Sutcliffe family were the largest individual maltsters in Great Britain with kilns in many parts of northern England, many of which were in Wakefield. Charlie Sutcliffe died in 1948.

Scouts first camped at Whitley Beaumont in 1928, Charles Sutcliffe allowed Scouts to camp in the hall’s kitchen garden. There is some question over the exact date, some locals suggest 1928, whilst Huddersfield Scout archives suggest that the first use was in 1929. By October 1935 it was recorded in the local area records that “the estate manager had allowed Scouts to camp at Whitley Hall and 102 weekend camps had been arranged.”

Peter Hinchliffe in the Examiner, June 26th 1998, referred to earlier times when his mother as a 16 year old witnessed the auction of the “fittings of the mansion” Wednesday May 16th 1917. These included an Elizabethan and a Georgian mantel piece in marble, and oil paintings by Italian masters. He notes that the Hall fell into disrepair and that Charlie Sutcliffe described it as his “shooting box.” He entertained friends by candlelight, as there was no electricity.

Peter recalls sneaking up to peer in at the windows while a military ball was in progress, during the war, and then the auction at the Three Nuns in 1950 when the Hall was bought by a Halifax demolition firm for £2500 and the woodlands and parklands sold off for some £20,000. The hall was demolished in the early 1950’s and the area surrounding the site was extensively open-cast mined. Parts of the property remain a scout camp.