{quotable thursdays}

On the weekend, my Dad sent me this poem that he wrote about the famed Globe Inn on the canal, near Leighton Buzzard. It's been a historic coaching inn for bargees for centuries. I often take guests there and we were lucky enough to have a Sunday roast there right off the barge, when we rented one from the Wyvern Shipping Co. in March.
So today's quote is the poem:

The Globe

Oh to be at the Globe,

That ancient canal-side inn,

To watch the barges gliding past,

The ducks and dabchicks swim.

Oh to be at the Globe

With bitters firm in hand

A gentle breeze across the fields

When Spring is on the land.

Oh to be at the Globe, 

When the sun is surely set

To dine on beef and yorkies

Washed down with choicest 'wet'.

Oh to leave the Globe at last

And wend the long way home

By bridal path and working lock

No more this day to roam.

{my parents at the lock, en route to the Globe}

{early morning rise on the barge, headed to  the Globe}

{one of my first trips to the Globe after moving to LB}

{in the sunshine!}

{with book club!}

xo, L

{chastleton house}

{gorgeous Chastleton House}

Chastleton House is a Jacobean manor preserved in time. Eery cobwebs and dust appear on furniture frozen in time. Unlike other manors or great estates where subsequent generations had money to make a mark and often transform the fabric and makeup of a house,  the aspirations of the merchant who built it never were realised. Built between 1607 and 1612 by a prosperous wool merchant who had hoped to gain a title, the family became more and more impoverished, and thus no renovations were undertaken or no new furniture bought. For us, it means an authentic Jacobean house and a visit that brings to life the way people lived in the 17th century.


In early August, my cousins and I try to take a few days off and go on a 'clark holiday'. Our first was to Highclere Castle (the home of Downton Abbey) and highlights from past trips have been to places like the Peak District, walking in the footsteps of Eliza Bennett and her beloved Mr Darcy. This year we visited the Cotswolds, with stunning little villages on the water and lovely National Trust properties like Chastleton!

{the fabulous entrance leads into an amazing hall}

{the interior hall--it was a chilly August day so we were happy for the fire}

{furniture frozen in time}

{the plasterwork is seriously stunning and amazingly original!}

{old jacobean bed with the bedspread that was painstakingly done by hand 100s of years ago!}

 At the top of the house is what feels like a grand hall, with the largest original plaster ceiling in existence in England. This was not a formal entertaining space--rather it was used for exercise when the English weather was rainy--shuttlecocks were found under the floorboards indicating the family used to play badminton up here!

 Downstairs unsurprisingly were the servants' quarters with a wonderful old kitchen:

From there we drove to some beautiful Cotswolds villages including Bourton on the Water:

A truly wonderful Clark Holiday--already looking forward to next year!

xo

L

{Ickworth}

Last weekend my aunt from Canada was visiting and we went to Ickworth. Have you been? Fantastic place with beautiful gardens.
Some pictures to show you just how lovely it is!

{bells, just like Downton!}

{lovely neo-classical interior}

{they have two stumperies no less!}

{this storm luckily missed us!}

A walk down to the walled garden, is certainly worth it...

{the wild flowers were stunning}

xo,
L