Post 60 Travelogue

Walking, Wildlife, the Wales Coastal Path and others, all with photographs.

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  • This is my Travelogue
  • Walks
    • Castle Howard
    • Newby Hall and Gardens
    • Lockdown Walks
    • Scampston Hall, the Park and Gardens
    • RHS Harlow Carr
    • Kenfig Pool Walk
    • Llanrhidian to Llanmadoc Walk
    • Burry Port to Pembrey Country Park
    • Peterston Wentloog to Dyffryn Newport
    • Loughor Estuary part 4 – Pwll to Burry Port
    • Loughor Estuary part 3: Machynys to Pwll – Llanelli by the Sea
    • Parc Slip Nature Reserve
    • Lougher Estuary Part 2: Llanelli Wetlands to Machynys and Bwlch y Gwynt
    • Penclawdd to Llanrhidian
    • Oxwich to Port Eynon
    • Lougher Estuary Part 1: Lougher to Llanelli Wetlands
    • A Walk Around Llangynwyd Village
    • Loughor Castle to Penclawdd
    • Pengam to Peterstone Wentlooge
    • East Moors to Pengam
    • Port Eynon to Rhossili
    • Cowbridge Oasis
    • Castle-upon-Alun and Coed-y-Bwl Nature Reserve.
    • Three Cliffs to Oxwich
    • Caswell Bay to Three Cliffs Bay
    • The Mumbles to Caswell Bay
    • Swansea Marina to The Mumbles
    • Somerset Views
    • Jersey Marine to Port Tennant
    • A Stroll around Cosmeston Lakes
    • Further trips to Cwm Colhuw and Nature Reserve
    • Aberavon to Baglan/Briton Ferry
    • Visit to Dinefwr
    • Kenfig Pool to Margam
    • Cardiff Bay to Penarth Cliff Top
    • Rest Bay, Porthcawl to Kenfig Pool
    • Newton Point to Rest Bay, Porthcawl
    • Ogmore to Newton Point
    • St. Andrew’s Major Circuit Photos
    • Penarth to Sully Walk
    • Porthkerry to Fontygary Walk
    • Fontygary to Gileston,Limpert Bay Walk
    • Limpert Bay, to Summerhouse Bay Walk.
    • Summerhouse Bay to Cwm Colhuw Walk
    • Cwm George and the Salmon Leaps Walk
    • Cwm Colhuw to Nash Point Walk
    • An Interlude at Cefn Onn
    • Nash Point to Dunraven Bay Walk
    • Aberthaw Nature Reserve
    • Dunraven Bay to Ogmore Castle Walk
    • Barry Island to Porthkerry Walk
    • Return to Cwm Colhuw Nature Reserve
    • An Evening Return Visit to Aberthaw
  • Photo Galleries
    • Castle Howard Photos
    • Newby Hall and Gardens Photos
    • Scampston Hall and Gardens Photos
    • RHS Harlow Carr Photos
    • Kenfig Pool Photos
    • Llanrhidian to Llanmadoc Photos
    • Burry Port to Pembrey Country Park Photos
    • Peterston Wentloog to Dyffryn Newport Photos
    • Loughor Estuary part 4 – Pwll to Burry Port Photos
    • Loughor Estuary part 3: Machynys to Pwll Llanelli by the Sea Photos
    • Parc Slip Nature Reserve Photos
    • Penclawdd to Llanrhidian Photos
    • Lougher Estuary Photos Part 2: Llanelli Wetlands to Machynys and Bwlch y Gwynt
    • Lougher Estuary Photos Part 1: Lougher to Llanelli Wetlands
    • A Walk Around Llangynwyd Village Photos
    • Loughor Castle to Penclawdd Photos
    • Pengam to Peterstone Wentlooge Photos
      • East Moors to Pengam Photos
    • Port Eynon to Rhossili Photos
    • Cowbridge Oasis Photos
    • Oxwich to Port Eynon Photos
    • Castle-upon-Alun and Coed-y-Bwl Nature Reserve Photos
    • Three Cliffs to Oxwich Photos
    • Caswell Bay to Three Cliffs Bay Photos
    • The Mumbles to Caswell Bay Photos
    • Swansea Marina to The Mumbles Photos
    • Somerset Views Photos
    • Jersey Marine to Port Tennant Photos
    • A Stroll around Cosmeston Lakes Photos
    • Further trips to Cwm Colhuw and Nature Reserve Photos
    • Aberavon to Baglan/Briton Ferry Photos
    • Visit to Dinefwr Photos
    • Kenfig Pool to Margam Photos
    • Rest Bay, Porthcawl to Kenfig Pool Photos
    • Newton Point to Rest Bay, Porthcawl Photos
    • Ogmore to Newton Point Photos
    • St. Andrew’s Major Circuit
      • Cardiff Bay To Penarth Cliff Top Photos
    • Penarth to Sully Photos
    • Porthkerry to Fontagary Photos
    • Font-y-gary to Gileston Photos
    • Limpert Bay to Summerhouse Bay Photos
    • Summerhouse Bay to Cwm Colhuw Photos
    • Cwm Colhuw to Nash Point Photos
    • Cefn Onn Photos
    • Nash Point to Dunraven Bay Photos
    • Aberthaw Nature Reserve Photos
    • Dunraven Bay to Ogmore Castle Photos
    • Return to Cwm Colhuw Nature Reserve Photos
      • Cwm George and the Salmon Leaps Photos
    • Barry Island to Porthkerry Photos

Newby Hall and Gardens

Front of house

Newby Hall

The Hall was built in the 1690’s by Sir Edward Blackett and is located not far from Ripon. The Weddell family bought it in 1748 and William Weddell commissioned Robert Adam to decorate the house. In 1792 Weddell’s cousin, Lord Grantham (later Earl de Grey) inherited the property. On Grantham’s death, inheritance passed to his daughter Mary, married to Henry Vyner of Gautby. After several generations, the Vyners married into the Compton family and Newby is still owned by them. The ancestors, Lords, Earls, Marquesses, Members of Parliament, Bankers to royalty were well connected with many European royalty and aristocracy. The Hall has been in the same family since 1748. The North-wing of the house is still occupied by the Comptons. The rest of the house is open to small groups of the public. No photographs could be taken and a guide directed us through the many facets of the house, regaling us with the many trials and tribulations of the family and house features we encountered.

The neo-classical design of Robert Adam is evident throughout, together with the stuccoist Joseph Rose’s plasterwork. The Comptons have restored the house but retained the friendly welcoming atmosphere of a lived-in family home. There was marble and mahogany, as well as Axminster carpets throughout. Chippendale furniture, Japanese lacquered cabinets, Wedgewood and Minton china complemented the rooms where many portraits of their ancestors hung, painted by prominent painters of the day. The rooms were all beautifully decorated and overflowed with “souvenirs” from their Grand Tours of the 18th and 19th centuries. These items would not fit in my luggage. Sculptures and paintings were imported at great expense. The Statue Gallery houses the finest collection of Roman statuary in Britain. The Tapestry room had a magnificent golden aspect where, as its name suggests, the Gobelin Tapestries from Louis XIV France were displayed. They were absolutely massive, covering the walls from corner to corner. Amazing! Another room, The Chamber Pot Room, well what do you think was in this one? Correct. Chamber pot collector Robert de Grey Vyner brought them back from Europe and the Far east.  There were beautifully decorated eastern 18/19 century china ware and very amusing captioned pots. One read “hand it over to me my dear for a kiss I’ll hand you this” a grinning face was on the bottom. One pot had an eye in the bottom. In one bedroom the walls, ceiling and furniture were inscribed with mottos, probably aids to teaching Lady Mary’s children in 1857.

Side of house

Side of Queen Anne style House

On a lighter note, several films were recorded at Newby Hall. Notably: the ABC murders, The Little Stranger, Mansfield Park, Victoria, Death comes to Pemberley and Peaky Blinders.

Enough enthusing about the Hall: it’s time to discover the gardens. But first to slake our thirst and silence the rumbling in our stomachs in the Garden Restaurant. The White Garden near the restaurant was closed because a sculpture exhibition was being set up. However, there were other exhibitions in this area, such as The Dolls’ Houses of Newby Hall; there were over 70 houses of all ages from Queen Anne and Georgian town houses to modern bachelor pads.

Dolls House 1

Doll’s House

Also, Giles Brandreth’s Teddy Bear collection was also located nearby. The teddy bears were arranged in tableaux, for example, a church wedding and the Royal family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.

Church Wedding
Church Wedding
Royal Party
Royal Party

We walked across a bridge fording a canal, where weeping willows silently caressed the water beneath and other trees threw their reflections upon the algae edged channel.

Bridge over Canal

We passed the adventure garden with its novel paddling pool and fountains towards the miniature railway station. At the paddling pool children were thoroughly enjoying themselves by running and jumping between the waterspouts. Oh! to be young again. I would love to be joining them; it would cool me down in this warm weather.

Paddling Pool

At the train station we caught the train for a tour around part of the Gardens. My husband found it difficult to sit on the carriages and  had a whole two-seater to himself. Several of our group caught the train, laughing and giggling all the way around.

Others in the group took a tour on the river and waved to us as we passed in our stately carriages.

Minature Train 1
Minature Train 2
LMHS on the train
LMHS on Boat

After alighting the train, we walked along the River Walk East, meandering around the estate and taking pleasure in the Gardens which were arranged into small compartments differing in planting and interest. The gardens hold the National Collection of Flowering Dogwoods (Cornus species) which were planted throughout the estate.

River Walk 2

River Walk

 

The Tropical Garden

A tiled walkway, lined with flowering cherry trees (Prunus “Amanogawa”), ran through the area. It was planted with exotic looking plants: Yuccas, Phormiums, Kniphofias, Rodgersias, some Magnolias, the golden grass (Hakonechloa), purple Heucheras and the Monkey plant. It was a cool quiet place dripping with atmosphere.

Tropical Garden

Tropical Garden

The Orchard Garden

Orchard 1
Orchard 2

A garden of fruit trees within three brick walls with lawns allowed to set seed. The grasses whispered in the wind behind a hedge of Mock Orange blossom, making the fourth wall to the “room”. There was very little colour here at present except a few Hardy pink Geraniums around an urn at the centre, Roses such as Rosa “Mermaid”, which had yet to produce many flowers, and a Rosa banksia “Lutea” which should brighten the area with double yellow flowers soon. Much of the planting was a variation on green hues and looked to be geared up for a profusion of colour later in the year.

The Pine Garden and Adjacent Water Garden

Pine Garden

Here the lofty pines swayed in the wind high above our heads. They seemed to be continuingly talking to one another. An azure-blue sky peeped through the canopy while fluffy white clouds scudded across it. A mixture of pines was underplanted with Potentellas, Magnolias, Rhododendrons and Alchemilla mollis. The Water Garden with its Pond and meandering stream was surrounded by water-loving plants: Gunnera and Rheum. Colourful Primulas, Irises and Water lilies break-up the quiet greenery and when the sun shone through the trees, they exude an ethereal glow.

Herbaceous Borders

Herbaceous border towards the house

The Herbaceous Borders leading up to the Hall

Herbaceous border towards the river

The Herbaceous Borders leading away from the Hall and towards the river

Now we are talking plants. Wow! What an array of gorgeous flowers either side of a wide perfectly manicured lawn. The borders had low ground hugging plants at the front, pincushions of plants in the middle, sculptural plants at intervals throughout and taller plants against the beautifully clipped Yew hedges that contain this exquisite spectacle. Here I can only name some of them. Front of house are: Hardy Geraniums, Cat Mint, Scabious and Persicaria polymorpha. In the middle section were: Salvias (Meadow and Lilac), Irises, Long leaved Whorlflowers, yellow Achillea “Gold Plate”, pink Coronaria, Spurges and Peonies. Large clumps of Goat’s Beard and isolated Sea Hollies provide height and pizzazz.

Rhododendron Walk

Rhododendron Walk 1

We walked a smooth path through a mix of colourful plants with stately Conifers swaying overhead. There were obviously Rhododendrons here, some in flower, but also several shrubs and ferns. The shrubs displayed a profusion of colour: yellow, purple, green with variegated white or yellow leaves.

The Beacon Garden

Beacon 1
Beacon 2

The central feature in this garden, of course being the Beacon: a sturdy Pole to hold the latticed fire bucket surrounded by a serpentine swag. The Magnolias, which surrounded the garden, were not in flower but there were some pink Peonies, Foxgloves and a Variegated Flowering Cornus. Again, towering conifers provided a backdrop with purple Smoke trees and Silver Willows dotted around the Beacon.

The Lily pond

Lily pond

From the elegant façade of the Queen Anne house run steps down to the Lily Pond with its centrepiece “Wood Nymph” . The house was reflected between the Lilies in the water. The Lilies of pink and white and their large dinner plate leaves hid the flashes of gold, silver, orange and yellow of the Koi Carp in the pond: an irresistible lure for my husband, who stood watching them for some time. As we left the Lily Pond, we spied our esteemed leader and party tripping the light fantastic down the path through the herbaceous borders.

Tripping the light fantastic

The Wars of the Roses

War of Roses walk

This path of flag stones with borders on either side was entered through a gap in the Yew hedging. White standard Roses represented the House of York while red standards symbolised the House of Lancaster, and a versicolour rose “Rosa mundi” was planted to separate them. These stood between mass plantings of Achillea, Johnson’s Blue and Rosanne Geraniums and Blue and Yellow Flag Irises. This was quite a tranquil walk which led to Sylvia’s Garden.

Sylvia’s Garden

Entrance to Sylvia's Memorial Garden

Entrance to Sylvia’s Garden

We entered through a gate which was flanked by cascading Cotoneaster. This is a memorial garden and visitors were asked to respect this. The “Sylvia in question is Robert Compton’s mother (1899 – 1950).

Sylvia's Memorial Garden

Sylvia’s Memorial Garden

Seats were provided for you to rest and contemplate in the peaceful surroundings of the soft and subtle shades of the planting. At the centre was a Byzantine corn grinder surrounded by four beds at the quarters. Borders then ran along the outside and were enclosed by the Yew Hedges. The paths between the beds were of red brick. We needed to watch our steps as the bricks were uneven in places. It just meant we took longer in admiring the design and planting. Pink standard roses were centred in each quarter with Artemisia “Ladbrook Silver”, “Silver Queen”, Alliums, Scabious and Hardy Geraniums around them. In the borders were Peonies of varying colours, but one “Bowl of Beauty” really caught my eye; I was determined to purchase a plant before I left. Entwined around the Peonies were Osteospermums, more hardy Geraniums and Baby’s Breath.

Rose Garden

Entrance to Rose Garden

We entered the garden between two Grecian Urns. The whole garden was surrounded by a Copper Beech hedge, which set off the pastel coloured planting beautifully. In a rose garden you would expect roses, and here they were aplenty. Old-Fashioned roses predominated; gallicas, damasks, bourbons, centifolias and noisettes. Our eyes and ears were drawn to the centre of the garden where an urn fountain gently splashed into a circular pool. The musical tinkling of the water infused the atmosphere and gave the garden an ethereal quality.

Rose Pergola

Rose Pergola

At the end of the Rose Garden was a pergola, a metal hooped structure suspended from stone pillars. A paved path lead us under the hoops which were festooned with Victorian climbing roses. We were enclosed in the heady scent of them, which made us feel like we were floating on air. Other roses were planted along the path, together with Hostas and Liriopes.

Unfortunately, too soon, we had to return to our coach in the carpark. There was so much more to see, but our time here had run out. No time for the plant sale centre, so I had to postpone my purchase of the Peony “Bowl of Beauty”.

However, my hubby made time to have his photograph taken with “The Yorkshire Man on a Bench”. He sat next to him and smiled enigmatically. The bronze resin and teak sculpture was made by Jill Atley and cost £11,600. Out of our budget!

Yorkshire man and hubby

So, it was back on the road to visit more wonderful stately homes and gardens in North Yorkshire.

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