An adventure to Anglesey Abbey. Along the busy A14 with all it's huge trucks from Felixstowe Docks. Past Bury St Edmunds, Newmarket and the A11 junction and off at junction 35, through the village of Stow-cum-Quy and into a very busy car park. The world and his wife were visiting the beautiful winter gardens and parkland belonging to The National Trust.
Lord Fairhaven left Anglesey Abbey to the National Trust in 1966 and since then the gardens have been developed. The winter garden - which is that wiggly path through borders on the right of the map above - is a more recent addition so that there is something for people to see all year round.
Many of the snowdrops were labelled.
The House itself wasn't open, but looked beautiful in the winter sun ( I waited to see if the people standing by the house would move away - but they didn't )
Then I walked along by the river which was straightened to power the mill. There has probably been a mill on this site for several 100 years, originally a corn mill it was converted to grind cement in 1865 and the mill and it's adjoining cement factory were added to the estate in 1934.
It was later converted back to grind corn
And of course I had to include a look in the second-hand bookshop, where I found a copy of an old guide book for the Abbey - dating from 1986 - to read when I got home.
Looks like spring is on its way and it was sunny Sue. These beautiful old houses survive because of the visitors but it seems a lot were there the other day.
ReplyDeleteLovely blue sky but a chilly wind in some places although the path through the winter gardens was well sheltered
DeleteWhat lovely photos, you did a great job of making it look like you were the only one there! Well, other than the couple posing in front of the house, and a lot of people on the tow path.
ReplyDeleteCro on his blog today has mentioned the Green Children of Woolpit, do you know anything about them? If anyone does, it'll be you!
I left my tuppence worth about the Woolpit Green Children on Cros blog - a legend we grew up with!
DeleteAA is on my NT list, it's one site I've yet to visit. Thanks for these lovely pictures. I really do want to go now!
ReplyDeleteI think they are probably busier on winter weekdays than in Summer because of the lovely winter gardens
DeleteDear Anglesea Abbey. The first time I went, Mum and Dad took me and we had a delightful day out.
ReplyDeleteBlow the distance, I'm going to have to visit soon. I can avoid the M11 quite easily but going up and round Bury, the way I came that time we met up. Actually, maybe I could combine it with a few more days in Bury . . . Hmmmm
< wanders off to find diary >
Well done for braving the A14.
xx
Hope you get there again, quite a distance from you
DeleteIt is but I have booked a few days in Bury St Edmunds. It's not so far from there.
Deletexx
What a lovely day you had,so many spring flowers,nature is wonderful.c
ReplyDeleteI specially liked all the winter flowering shrubs - some lovely scents
DeleteWell done for Being Brave - I think you feel about the A14 the way I have always felt about the M25. A lovely outing and such beautiful gardens to explore. The Mill looked like something from a Constable painting. What a shame they were only selling the single Snowdrops. Hope you can get some doubles from somewhere else. That house is absolutely stunning.
ReplyDeleteIt felt like quite an adventure! If I ever get brave enough to go south to visit the Surrey family then I have to brave the M25 - not sure I'm ready for that yet!
DeleteI sympathise with the driving. I didn't learn to drive until I was in my 50s. I was getting quite bold - even drove most of the way to Geneva, Switzerland - but lost confidence when someone drove in the back of me (not my fault). Must try to get the confidence back again!
DeleteThank you for taking us with you. AA is somewhere I would love to visit but it’s a long way from Cornwall and weather can be bad at this time of year!
ReplyDeleteEverywhere is a long way from Cornwall but you have the most beautiful county to live in
DeleteLooks wonderful, but a bit too close to where my ex-husband now lives, so I doubt whether I'll ever visit!
ReplyDeleteOh thats a shame
DeleteWhat a beautiful place!!! I haven't seen espalier for an awfully long time. I'd like to see that example when it is green and growing.
ReplyDeletenot even sure what it was - didn't look close - maybe a laburnum.
DeleteLovely photos Sue, and isn't that a handsome looking house. That couple look like they are posing for you, perhaps they wanted to be thought of as Lord and Lady of the Manor.
ReplyDeleteThey just stood there - stock still - and didn't move
DeleteSue - please may I have permission to continue following your blog, A Smaller Life? I'm a long time follower and am so sad that I'm no longer able to continue.
DeleteSue in Suffolk - sorry to use your comments section but can't find any other way to contact the other Sue. x
Me, too, Smaller Life Sue. I like reading about your challenges, and I'm blocked out, as well. :( ~skye
DeleteVery interesting, thank you. Beautiful house and garden!
ReplyDeleteThe garden and trees are glorious even in Winter
DeleteReally lovely photos. Great to find the guidebook in the second-hand bookshop, too!
ReplyDeleteThe guidebook is out of date for the gardens but interesting reading about the house which is open in summer to see inside
DeleteYour photos show AA is very beautiful and having the Winter garden is brilliant. Scented Winter blooming shrubs interest me greatly and I'll look to add some to my garden. The snow drops and daffodils are also cheerful especially as Winter ends and we all want Spring. AA seems to have an interesting Herbaceous garden as well. If I lived near, I'd share driving with you to visit AA each season.
ReplyDeleteLots of the gardens were empty awaiting being replanted for spring and summer but there will be something of interest all year round
DeleteI love the photograoh with the poplar trees - you rarely see them these days.
ReplyDeleteThat looks like an amazing day and beautiful gardens. It looks like a lot of thought has gone in to the gardens. I loved the snowdrops, but I admit a sneaking preference for the silver birch. I love the way they shine at this time of year
ReplyDeleteLord Fairhaven used to insist that dinner be served at 8.03 and insisted that his maid ironed his shoelaces! Arilx
ReplyDeleteI think spring has definitely arrived where you are. The light hitting the house is striking.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
A beautiful place - last time I went a long time ago they were just starting the winter garden. I went with my Aunt and Uncle who lived at Barton Mills, sadly my Uncle has since died and my Aunt has Alzheimer's and has had to go into a home but I will always remember our visits there and your photos have brought back memories of happier days so thank you.
ReplyDeleteSo many people out, hungry for spring.
ReplyDeleteWe have a large collection of National Trust books from trips to the UK from the 1970s - of course the photography has improved over the years but the houses and the information haven't. We belong to the NZ equivalent and get in for free - which we really appreciate. Maori only built with wood and flax, and only had stone tools, so there is very little more than 150 years old here. And much of the early NZ colonists/european buildings were wooden, and altered or destroyed by fire/woodworm so, as you can imagine, we love nosing around in your ancient buildings. Thanks for taking us with you.
ReplyDelete