Archive for the tag 'Oxfordshire'

Reputedly England’s smallest town, nestling in the shadows of the Chiltern Hills, Watlington offers a traditional market town welcome.
With origins dating back to the 6th century, the proximity of the Icknield Way, civil war connections, and mention in the Domesday Book, Watlington is certainly steeped in history. The fine 17th Century Town Hall is accompanied [...]

4 Comments CherryPie on Jul 2nd 2023

14 Comments CherryPie on Nov 8th 2018

As clouds are blown away by the wind, the thirst for material pleasures will be driven away by the utterance of the Lord’s name.
Sri Sarada Devi

8 Comments CherryPie on Aug 20th 2017

After a family gathering in Banbury last March we planned to return later in the year to visit Broughton Castle and perhaps sample some pancakes in the Little Amsterdam Cafe. The occasion of Mr C’s birthday was the perfect to occasion to realise our plan.

We arrived in Banbury just in time for lunch and headed [...]

20 Comments CherryPie on Aug 18th 2017

Previously referred to as the ’roundabout’, in 2012 the Roundel was restored and turned into a beautiful water feature.
The late 1890s and early 1900s saw the Roundel at its finest, but the 21st century saw this garden feature in need of restoration and rejuvenation. In early 2012, the 11th Duke of Malborough, with the generous [...]

4 Comments CherryPie on Jun 6th 2015

The secluded secret garden is a nice tranquil place with winding pathways, ponds and streams.

As part of the commemoration of the tercentenery in 2004 of the Battle of Blenheim, the 11th Duke restored the garden, first laid down by his father; keeping much of the original layout while introducing many new features.
As a ‘garden for [...]

17 Comments CherryPie on Jun 5th 2015

Blenheim Palace was built in the early 18th Century to celebrate the victory over the French in the War of the Spanish Succession.
In particular, it was built as a gift to the 1st Duke of Marlborough, John Churchill, the military commander who led the Allied forces in the Battle of Blenheim on 13th August 1704. [...]

16 Comments CherryPie on Jun 2nd 2015