Lodge Park, near Sherborne, Glos.

Helena selected a National Trust property we hadn't yet visited and we headed off there at lunchtime.  Lodge Park, is an unique grandstand built in the 17th century for the owner of Sherborne House a couple of miles to the north.  It was designed as the viewing point for the races on the special one mile track along which a deer was chased by two dogs and the house guests would be brought there to gamble on the winner.

It is certainly an unusual building which the National Trust has restored elegantly, though it has few furnishings.  The viewing gallery was on the second floor on the outside of a huge room where feasting and other entertainment would have occurred prior to and between the races.  A huge fireplace has been rebuilt facing this doorway out onto the viewing gallery.  I chose this blip as I was liked to view through door and across the wide landscape.

Visitors now can also go out onto the roof on the floor above which would have been a place to see the races, but probably for the lesser guests.  The grounds seemed nothing special, but I did enjoy seeing the visitors using the lawns in front of the Lodge where children played games and picnics were consumed.

We decided to go to the village of Sherborne, which I had also never seen.  We drove along the side of the valley formed by a stream, probably the Sher Bourne, through the quite pretty stone houses and farm buildings belonging to the big house.  We went a couple of miles until the stream joined the river Windrush and found a riverside pub for a drink where we sat in the sunshine beside an ornamental pond filled with tadpoles.  Then it was time to head home for Helena to do some academic work, which I don't think she was looking forward to.  I watched a bit of snooker and fell asleep on the sofa.  I could happily do that again.