Coming soon...

Okay, so that's us up to date. I hope you have enjoyed looking so far.

Next up is Rosslyn Castle in February 2006... watch this space!

Sarah
x

Shelwick Court - last instalment

As with all Landmark Trust properties, the house comes with an information book on local amenities etc and history about the house. One of our favourite past times is looking at the history of the property and trying to decipher what it would have been like, who would have lived here/used it and how it has been altered.

The only problem with Shelwick Court is that no-one appears to know what it is, why it is located in the village of Shelwick or what is was used for... perhaps you could make up your own mind by looking at these pictures...

Oh, by the way, the living room is on the first floor (the accommodation is effectively upside-down)

Shelwick Court - a few more pics

What more could you want for a holiday?

Good company...

Good food...


Fine wine...


...oh, and someone to babysit your daughter so you can go shopping (the nursery nurse training came in handy and the little one enjoyed herself too!)

Shelwick Court - July 2006

• This one was a bit different - we decided to go for a week rather than the usual weekend, and to go during the summer rather than early or late in the year. What we didn't know is that it was going to be one of the hottest weeks of the year, but this meant that we could finally use the deckchairs and enjoy al fresco dining and eating late into the evening OUTSIDE!!
  
  Facts and figures:
  Near Hereford
  Stone front from around 1700
  Medieval great chamber
  Roof dates from about 1400
  Unsure of it's origins...?

Sleeps up to 8 (plus dog and children in cots)
Solid fuel stove (not that any heating was required when we were there!)
Dogs allowed
Lovely gardens front and back for sitting out in the sun

Woodspring Priory - indoor pictures

The kitchen
(no microwave, very slow electric oven but there is a dishwasher!)We find that slow cookers and invaluable for Landmark Trust holidays

The living room

Beware, the chairs are very easy to fall asleep on!

But equally good for settling down for the night with a good book and a whisky...

Bedroom

The double bedroom (rumoured to have a ghost in the fireplace - we didn't see it though, and we were there over Hallowe'en!)

Woodspring Priory - pictures of the building

Some pictures of the outside of the building...

ABOVE:The main entrance with the kitchen to the right and a bedroom upstairs to the left.

RIGHT: The main entrance (to the left) and the main church building containing the living room and all but one of the bedrooms

ABOVE: The tower and nave of the church building. The living room is in the nave, next to the museum

BELOW: The church and tower

Woodspring Priory - October 2005

Another autumn landmark property and an addition to the holidaymakers!

This one was Woodspring Priory, located near Weston-super-Mare in Somerset - quite a journey for us northerners, but nowhere can be as far as the West Blockhouse!

Facts and figures:

• Founded in 1210 by William de Courtenay, grandson of Reginald FitzUrse who was amongst one of men that murdered Thomas Becket
• The priory flourished in the 15th Century when the tower, nave, infirmary and great barn were built
• The priory was turned into a house in 1536
• The LT found the priory in 1969 as it had been since the Dissolution - the church still inhabited as a farmhouse
• There is a museum which is open to the public during daylight hours, with occupants of the priory having a key to access at their leisure

This place can accommodate 8 people (one double and three twin rooms) Children can stay addition to numbers in travel cots (one is provided)
Dogs are allowed
Open fires in the kitchen and living room
Spiral staircase (not for the infirm!)

Oh, and if you speak to the museum curator really nicely, he might escort you on a trip up the tower and give you a potted history to the place - we asked and spent the last morning of the holiday up the church tower!