Well we knew that the rain was bound to hit, but we certainly can't complain since we've gone all these days without a drop.
We did see Mr. Copeland at breakfast, and he was eager to chat, as I had expected. We asked how he was faring, and he commented that he wasn't doing all that great. He was heading to Manchester (four hours away), via personal driver (thank goodness) because he needed to get his personal things in order, including what he planned for the B&B for the future, as he wasn't getting any younger. He is 96. So, I guess now is a good time as any.
We were sad to hear that he was leaving for several days, as we really did enjoy conversing with him.
He was a jazz musician among many other things, and it sounds like he's had quite an interesting life. And this B&B was one of his ventures, having been purchased 30 years ago. I read that he used to entertain the guests with Jazz performances in the evening. Sounds like it was an awesome experience in years gone by.
Here are just a few photos of the interior in the breakfast room:
View out the back window:
and interesting artwork on every wall.
So, there's no jazz concert but the place is actually quite a haven of relaxation. I'm so glad that I stumbled upon this.
After a delicious breakfast, we headed to Wincanton for Mass at 11:00. It was about 30 minutes away, but near our intended destinations for the day, so the timing was perfect.
It was raining when we entered the church, but the sun was shining through the windows by the end of Mass.
We headed out on the road to King Alfred's Tower.
Driving along the narrow road, forested on either side, we spotted some cars parked on the side, so Marty pulled in next to them, and we could see the tower around the corner. I was fairly certain that there was a designated National Trust Parking lot, but since we had zero bars on the phone, I could not check. So, we just parked and walked over to the tower.
We were greeted by an awesome guide who was very excited to see that we were Royal Oak members. I had told Marty that I was not planning on walking up the 210 to the top, and that I'd be happy to wait at the bottom while he trekked up. But the guide somehow convinced me to give it a go, so there I was, making my way up while Marty felt the need to call each step out by number.
I somehow made it to the top and was able to climb out the small door onto the platform at the top.
The views were fairly good considering that there was still a mist in the air.
It was time to make our way back down which became a tad more challenging, as we found ourselves encountering other people coming up.
But we finally were at the bottom, and I was actually glad that I had opted to make the extra effort to climb the turret.
In case you are wondering, the tower was built in 1722 and is actually a folly connected with the Stourhead estate. It is 160 feet high with a circular stairway in the center of the triangular structure. It is built on the site where it is believed that King Alfred the Great rallied his troops, thereby giving it the name in his honor.
From here, we headed down the road to the entrance to the estate. On the way, we passed the NT parking lot for King Alfred's Tower. Too late for that!
The entrance for Stourhead wasn't far, and that parking lot was not only easy to spot, but was quite large, and, as has been the case, was pretty full, but we found a place to park and made our way to the entrance. At this point, it began to rain, but we were prepared with rain gear, and made our way through the gardens on the way to the house.
You can see that it quite a grand structure.
Upon entering, we were told that the house tour only covered the downstairs rooms, and, to be quite frank, that was enough for us to take in as the house was bursting with so many items one couldn't take it all in.
Entering the library, the first thing that caught my eye was the glass painting in the far ceiling.
and walls and walls of books.
A book lover's dream!
In several of the hallways there were these unusual items. It turns out they are Chippendale jardiniére which were used to display plants and flowers throughout the year. They had originally been the traditional wood, but one of the ladies of the estate had them painted white, and so they remain that way.
The family who owned the estate loved to travel, and there are numerous paintings of Italy, in particular.
The sitting room was set for afternoon tea
and, once again, I loved the detailed napkins that told the story for the young women who would have been sharing this tea in the Victorian time period.
The dining area and parlor shared one large room
with a brilliant chandelier in the middle.
Every mantle had a stunning painting hanging above.
and there were numerous religious paintings and artifacts throughout.
This cabinet was created in 1585 and is made from precious medals as well as gemstones. There are hundreds of cubbies imbedded inside. Pope Sixtus V had owned it at one time. Henry Hoare purchased it in Rome in 1740 and brought it to Stourhead to be displayed. The photo does not do it justice.
By now we'd perused all of the lower floor rooms and we headed out along the path to the entrance.
The rain only lasted briefly, so we decided to take a walk around the lake and enjoy the beauty of the estate.
In reading through the literature on the house, I was surprised to learn that it was this Temple to Apollo that was the background in a scene of the 2005 Pride and Prejudice starring Kiera Knightley. It's the spot where the couple run out of the rain, and Mr. Darcy makes a botched attempt at asking for the hand of Elizabeth Bennet.
We decided that it would be fun to make the hike to the top to view it closer.
The views along th way were stunning. Some of the trees were just beginning to turn, adding some color to the background.
Finally, at the top, we could get a close up look.
A very entertaining woman was happy to take our photo in exchange for the family photo that Marty had taken of her. I think she did a great job!
By now, it was nearly 4:00, so we decided that it was time to make our way back to the B&B as we had dinner reservations nearby. We were able to walk to dinner, taking in some of the beauty of this ancient town of Somerton.
A memorial to the Coronation of King Edward VII in August of 1902
beautiful flowers along the way
the restaurant where we enjoyed dinner and where it seems we were the only patrons at 5:30 PM.
A World War I memorial.
And benches commemorating both world wars.
As you can see, the rain had lifted, and the town was actually pretty empty. We then headed back to the B&B, which is hidden off the main road.
Here are some photos of the gardens
I'd say that Mr. Copeland has done an excellent job in maintaining a serene environment for a relaxing stay. I'm certainly glad that I stumbled upon it in my search for accommodations.
Before I sign off for the night, I just want to say how grateful I am for those who take the time to read my blog. It means a lot to me that you have taken an interest, and I enjoy sharing my travel adventures with you. Thanks for your continued support!
Until tomorrow....
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