Buckland Abbey

Sisters Birthday so off we went to Buckland Abbey - we had been there many years ago on a very cold day with our parents so decided to explore it in better weather! Once a Cistercian monastery until Henry VIII decided on their dissolution,  it became the house of first  Sir Richard Grenville the Younger and then Sir Francis Drake after he made £25 million from his exploits on the Spanish Main! It is an amazing place, with a self portrait by Rembrandt which was stunning. It was given to the national Trust and only verified in 2014 to have been by his own hand! The start of the selfie!!  There was also  an impressive barn, fabulous hall, and wonderfully trained wisteria! It has taken me this long to process the photos and almost the same amount again to choose! I think I will be returning to try again in the Barn and to see the Wisteria in flower! More hereif interested!
Home to make sister a magic cake - Salted Butter Caramel- mix all the ingredients together in a batter and it cooks into 3 layers! Thanks Veronica for blipping information on the book! You can read about the book and more recipeshere! Oh and MariB thought you might like the mold of Sir francis that was found in a farmers field! His cast statue stands in Tavistock and another in Plymouth!