A simple walk in Telford Town Park became a bit of a saga. We had intended to park in Dark Lane car park to avoid the crowds near to Telford Town Centre. We found that you could only pay by app which refused to allow Mr C access to pay. This left us with the choice of relocating or accepting the risk of getting a parking fine.
We chose to relocate which allowed us to enjoy the walk without worrying about receiving a fine.
8 Comments CherryPie on Apr 23rd 2023
After lunch on Easter Monday we visited Hodnet Hall gardens which is always a lovely place to visit. We also had high hopes for the illusive piece of cake that we missed out on during our previous days travels. On arrival it was suggested that we didn’t park in the visitor car park due to a downpour of rain in the morning that had caused the ground to be muddy and soggy. We accepted the advice and parked on one of the suggested areas at the back of the hall.
Rather than head straight to the tea room we elected to take the nearest path into the garden, a route I had not walked before. The path was down a slight incline with surface mud and water. All of a sudden I found myself sliding downhill on one foot, placing my other foot on the ground only increased the speed of my slide. I chose to sit down rather than gain even more moment with the potential of falling over and breaking some bones. Mr C turned round in alarm but found me laughing at my predicament. My only worry was would I be able to get up again?
Firmly on two feet we walked the upper part of the gardens before stopping for a well earned piece of cake which we chose to eat outside, this lead to us having an interesting conversation with Sir Algenon before we resumed our walk around the gardens.
6 Comments CherryPie on Apr 23rd 2023
Witley Court, Great Witley, Worcestershire, England is a ruined Italianate mansion. Built for the Foleys in the seventeenth century on the site of a former manor house, it was enormously expanded in the early nineteenth century by the architect John Nash for Thomas Foley, 3rd Baron Foley. The estate was later sold to the Earls of Dudley, who undertook a second massive reconstruction in the mid-19th century, employing the architect Samuel Daukes to create one of the great palaces of Victorian and Edwardian England.
The declining fortune of the Dudleys saw the sale of the court after the First World War to a Kidderminster carpet manufacturer. In 1937 a major fire caused great damage to the court, the estate was broken up and sold and the house was subsequently stripped of its fittings and furnishings. Forty years of decay followed before the house and grounds were taken into the care of The Department of the Environment in 1972. Since that point, significant restoration and stabilisation have secured the house as a spectacular ruin.
Witley Court, and the attached Church of St Michael and All Angels, are both Grade I listed buildings
The two immense fountains survived the fire and subsequent despoliation of the house. They were designed by Nesfield and executed by James Forsyth[14] and William Forsyth,[15] who were carrying out sculpture in the house and the church. The largest, the Perseus and Andromeda Fountain, has been restored to working order by English Heritage.[16] For working times, see the Witley Court English Heritage website (link below). The remnants of Nesfield’s parterres can also be seen. James Forsyth also made the large triumphal arch style drinking fountain in Dudley market place, adorned with sea horses and dolphins, presented in 1867 to the town by the Earl of Dudley.[17]
In more recent times, the original plans and designs for the formal gardens have been discovered, and they are in the process of being restored. The main area of the gardens, the South Parterre, between the house and the Perseus and Andromeda fountain, has already been completed. Meanwhile, work on the East Parterre region is ongoing.
4 Comments CherryPie on Apr 20th 2023
The church was consecrated in 1735 and is the only one of its kind in the country; its late baroque style is more usually found in southern Germany and Italy. It is believed to be to a design by James Gibbs. The exterior was originally plain brick but was later clad with limestone ashlar and Italianate balaustrades and finials were added. It has a clock tower surmounted by a cupola with a gilded dome, topped off with an orb and a golden cross. There are two bells, to chime out the time and to ring for weddings and funerals. It has a crypt with vaults, still occupied by lead coffins, and has a coffin chute accessed from the inner porch.
4 Comments CherryPie on Apr 19th 2023
I took my mum to Gobowen Orhopedic Hospital for a routine appointment that took 50 minutes. A good opportunity for me to explore the hospital grounds and get some miles in towards my walking goals.
8 Comments CherryPie on Apr 18th 2023
