Summer House, Homme House

“We each have a sixth sense that is attuned to the oneness dimension in life, providing a means for us to guide our lives in accord with our ideas.”
Henry Reed
My chauffeur, BobsBlips, was ready and waiting – probably wondering where I was – when I arrived having taken the detour through the Forest of Dean; the main A40 was closed at Monmouth after a landslide. We headed straight into Ross for a full breakfast to kick off our day’s snapping.
First stop Homme House at Much Marcle, where my father was a butler in the summer of 1939, just before war was declared. The owner, busily decorating and preparing for the wedding season, had kindly offered to let us have a look around before visitors arrived. We’d planned on visiting St Bartholomew’s and I’d suddenly remembered the proximity of the house to the church, and sent a rather last minute email request to visit. It was a real treat to follow in Dad’s footsteps, he’d even taken photos on a return visit in 1940 so I was able to step back in time for the morning. The estate has a long and chequered history, from the C14th through civil war and two world wars which has seen off many other landed estates. Despite decades of under-investment and lack of maintenance, the love that has been poured into the house and grounds over the last twenty plus years is reaping rewards and life has once again returned to this fabulous wedding venue and family home. Spoiled for choice for photos, so as Bob has blipped the house, I’ll go for the enchanting rather Harry Potter-esque C18th Summer House in the walled garden.
After this I must confess the remaining plans for the day dwindled away, to be saved for another day. We did visit St Bartholomew’s Church, with its majestic ancient Yew (with a seat inside the trunk) and headed to the nearby Walwyn Arms for coffee (ahem…) before I headed off for further exploration beyond Ledbury, floods permitting.
Thanks for another inspirational day out Bob, see you again soon hopefully.