{a minibreak in the country}

{interior courtyard near the stables at Houghton Hall}

Last weekend we (my cousins & I) went on a minibreak to Norfolk. Aug 9 is an unofficial Clark holiday, so we had to keep up the tradition! The tradition started last year, when we decided to take the day off and see Highclere castle (the home of Downton Abbey). This year, another cousin joined us, and we headed to Norfolk to visit the amazing collection of paintings at Houghton Hall. The paintings were originally purchased by Sir Robert Walpole, GB's first prime minister, but were sold off to Catherine the Great, and have been in the Hermitage ever since...until now! They are on loan from the Hermitage and thanks to original drawings, we know exactly where they were placed, and so they have found their 'home' again, for a few months at least. There's a very good documentary by the bbc on it, if you're interested to hear more.

{lovely Palladian Houghton Hall}

{3 cousins!}

{fantastic gardens at Houghton}

We stayed over night at a lovely little B&B, where we enjoyed a delicious roast beef & yorkshire pudding, with all the trimmings...and what made it especially special, was the fact that all the veg came from their garden!
Sunday we visited Oxborough Hall, which is fantastic. The edifice dates back to the fifteenth century and has some gorgeous interiors (which date from later)...

{stunning Oxborough Hall}

{I fell in L.O.V.E. with this library--this is seriously my *dream* library. Large, but not imposing. Cosy & warm, but still elegant!}

{amazing interiors}

{we went on a walk in the grounds which provided these stunning views}

xo,
L