The Boathouse

We've had a great day out today, the Historical Society summer outing, to Woodchester Mansion.

It is an unfinished masterpiece. Building started about 1857, but stopped in the mid-1860s so floors and ceilings are missing, walls not plastered and windows unglazed. All the secrets of the construction of the Mansion are visible - something visitors will never see in another country house.

It was fascinating. A few extras to give a taste, including the wood framing that was used to support arch construction, original tree trunk scaffolding and a mason's set square.

I looked everywhere for another 1876 by the way, but only found an 1866, carved into part of a wall (last extra).

After the tour we had a walk down to the lakes in Woodchester Park, which are owned and managed by the National Trust. As it's Wide Wednesday with the theme of water I've used a shot of the boathouse as my main blip. If you go large, on the left you might be able to make out an artist sitting on an old boat, sketching the boathouse.

Afterwards we drove on into Stroud for a pootle.

In other news, the ongoing saga of our lavender. I phoned the supplier to ask for 3 more replacement plants as some that we planted from the first delivery are in a bad way. I was expecting a battle after reading their terms and conditions but they called me and suggested they should replace all 14 plants that we had kept and planted. That was a result. I think my next problem will be to get the gardener to take out the ones he planted and replace them with the new ones.

One year ago:
Harlequin