Enjoying retirement
In The Red Rose County
We hadn't yet been to Levens Hall in the Lakes as part of our Historic Houses membership. So we thought we would combine that with a day in the Lakes. We entered by the unassuming back entrance for which we had an apology as there was work being carried out on the front. No great shakes. Thefamily crest was well done. And the rustic seat was, well, rustic. The workmen were just finishing off presumably the re-painting of the pele tower. For this is an Elizabethan House, built around the 13th century Pele Tower. No pics inside allowed, so from their website ......the Drawing Room ....the Great Hall .....and the Dining Room The owners since 1170 were the de Redman family who sold the property to the Bellingham family in the 16th century; they enlarged and remodelled the house, only to have it gambled away in a game of cards before it was acquired by Colonel James Grahme in 1688. It subsequently passed through the female side of the Howard family during the 18th century and then to the Bagot family in the late 19th century. The information boards in the house were nearly all about the families who lived here and very little about the house itself which was a great pity. It was a very 'liveable' house and indeed is still a family home. After our self tour (we will return some time for a guided tour) we then wandered around the famous and very old topiary gardens which are indeed amazing. Having really enjoyed the gardens on such a pleasant day we passed what was obviously an old tithe barn on the way out, now accommodation and offices. Next destination, twenty minutes away The Punch Bowl Inn, for lunch. Lovely setting in the Lyth Valley, beautiful lunch. Not that many people come to this corner of the Lakes which is however famed for its damsons. I had a damson sorbet as part of my pudding - delicious. We then parked up at Newby Bridge for our cruise on Windermere. Here is our boat - The Swan - just coming in. We disembarked at Bowness for an hour or so - just enough time to wander around and have a drink. Not much in Bowness apart from hotels, tourist shops, walking shops and restaurants. But a wonderful setting of course. Our return trip was on the Teal which is called a steamer but actually runs on diesel now.
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August 2023
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