Thursday, May 29, 2003

 

Day 35. Friday 30 May 2003. Burford Manor

Today Vicky asked if we would like to have a look around Burford Manor, a National Trust property in Oxfordshire. Burford lay to the northeast of Cricklade just over the border into Oxfordshire. Vicky soon whizzed us there in her car and I noticed the fitted temperature gauge told us it was to be a hot day.

When we were in Usk for the wedding my brother John his wife Edith had loaned us their National Trust cards to give us free entry to trust properties, so we decided to put them to good use. Pat was a little nervous using someone else's card, thinking we may have to show identity and maybe thrown in the dungeons for misrepresentation or something worse. So I took charge of both cards and flashed them both to the pay booth attendant and wished her a pleasant "Good morning" and she waved us through. Vicky followed showing her card too.

Vicky had been here before and she led us through the pleasant walled gardens explaining things as we went along. She then led the way slowly to the Manor house up on the high ground and we stopped a couple of times for me to catch my breathe and Pat to cool herself on the beginnings of this hot day.

The present owner gave Burford Manor and its lands to the National Trust some time ago and still continues to reside in one wing of the manor house. He also acts as general manager of the Manor lands for the National Trust and under his stewardship show a healthy bank balance for the Trust.

The Manor frontage was impressive with a set of wide steps leading to the front entrance to this house of formal Italian architecture. After viewing the house Vicky led us slowly down to the lake below through mature trees by way of a number of stepped long rectangular concrete and slab ponds. The stepped ponds down to the lake were an impressive sight from the top but now looking sparse and a little bare. No doubt they used to be lily ponds once.

Coming back up the hill through the greenery of shrubs and small trees was hot work and we sat for a while resting. Going past the manor house we reversed our steps through the gardens and to the entrance where there was a small café. Sitting down we then started to really feel the heat of the day. Pat quickly downed some cold liquid refreshment and we then had afternoon tea.

Leaving Burford we headed back to Cricklade stopping at Lechlade on the way. Here Vicky directed us to a lovely old church under internal restoration. How beautifully cool inside, I'm sure Pat was most thankful of this. Noting Vicky's car temperature gauge in the car, the outside temperature was registering 26C. And humidity with it.

During the day I noticed my leg was giving trouble, had I twisted it again? That evening the pain increased so I took some tablets and went to bed early.

posted by OldEric 9:29 pm