- Shepherdess Sculpture? -
One of Warwickshire's grandest stately homes awaits our consideration as we take the M42 and A429, pulling onto Charlecote's overflow car park because the main area is already full. Beyond the reception hut, we cross a lane lined with spindle plank fences to reach the long elegant approach avenue. This in turn leads to the separate gatehouse with twin turrets either side of a central carriage arch. One of the lodge rooms hosts a ‘Setting the Scene' display detailing the history of the Lucy genealogical line - the family have lived here for over 800 years and still retain their own private rooms. There's a front lawn area with trailing creepers and decorative gatepost urns, happily the sun is coming out to show off the stonework.
- Jacob Sheep -
We'll save the stately pile for later and try to make the most of the improving brightness in that case. A parkland stroll passes a duckpond with a solitary swan before Place Meadow presents a flock of grazing Jacob sheep - they mostly have white fleeces but with distinctive splodgey brown patterning, not to mention short horns. The pasture also offers lovely views of Hampton Lucy church, more on which shortly. Apparently the legendary Lancelot 'Capability' Brown was involved in the landscaping of Charlecote Park during the 1760s and all these years later the gardens and house still form a magnificent combination beside the River Avon. The ha-ha wall and River Dene cascade are examples of Brown's design contributions.
- Caramel Apple Crumble Cake -
The Orangery tearoom beckons for apple crumble cake and caramel shortbread, providing the tiny swarming midges leave us be. Emily must have cake on her birthday, it’s imperative! After that tasty treat, we explore the main house. Sections of it genuinely date to Tudor times but the majority of what we can see today is a Victorian endeavour, fashionably designed in the Elizabethan Revival style. The entrance hall boasts family portraits then the dining room has an elaborate table setting of cut crystal glass and candlesticks. Emily absolutely adores the library, a cupboard here is still used for storing vintage games and toys. The billiards table is covered top to bottom with a cute collection of knitted pumpkins before there's a tight spiral staircase to the upstairs rooms...
- Charlecote House -
Two principal bed chambers convey a sense of wealth while other spaces along the first floor hallway take on a ‘Library of Memories’ purpose, capturing stories from living and working on the Charlecote estate over the centuries. A sewing bud voting system is in place for deciding the focus of their next exhibition - should this be special artefacts, global influences or daily experiences? Among the well-preserved outbuildings, a laundry and brewhouse present a giant barrel cooperage and strung out smalls; the brewhouse is said to be an especially rare survival given that most of its 18th century fittings are in situ.
- Pumpkin Parade -
Elsewhere, the Servants’ Kitchen has another tabletop yarn pumpkin mound - there must be sixty or more crafted items heaped up here for that comforting sense of autumn. Across the cobbled stable courtyard, the Lucy family’s Carriage Collection comprises successive bays for carts, coaches and carriages with their associated tack store - the conveyance designs get increasingly more elaborate as we go from room to room while the equipment stash covers saddles, reins and stirrups. Another outhouse has been repurposed as a second hand bookshop where Emily has a good rummage around, hoping for a birthday bargain.
- Bookworm on the Bridge -
West Park awaits on the other side of the stone bridge that straddles the River Dene (an Avon tributary which wiggles off through Wellesbourne). A Deer Park was established at Charlecote in 1477 although the current incumbents are wisely keeping their distance, meaning we need good eyesight to spot any fallow specimens roaming around on the horizon. We perambulate along the avenue of trees towards West Lodge, an outer gate that resonates from bus rides with Nick. More sheep and goats prove easier to spot than the deer, and though we loop back towards the car park, there are around 200 acres to explore in total. Dogs are welcome in the Front Park and there are designated walking routes where you can take your four-legged friends without disturbing the other animals.
- St Peter ad Vincula -
The next village along from Charlecote also has important Lucy family connections, hence the name Hampton Lucy; historically many of the local residents would have found employment on the estate. We wander around the church as dedicated to St Peter ad Vincula, the current building being an 1820s reconstruction in the Gothic Revival style. The stained glass windows are utterly glorious and partially incurred wartime damage when an American airplane crashed nearby. The grandeur of the architecture would be more befitting of a much larger settlement but this in itself is evidence of Charlecote’s wealth in funding the rebuild. Either way, this is a real charmer of a musty church with a padlocked offerings slot and portraits of the former rectors, some of whom have dramatic sounding names.
- Timothy Taylor's in the Boars Head -
Passing a red telephone box repurposed as a pop-up library, we note the presence of beautiful cottages with immaculate thatched roofs. The village pub isn’t quite as chocolate box-worthy as those but the Boars Head still looks the part and is operated by the Jackimo Group, The entrance door has an orange harvest wreath while the front bar feels relatively contemporary for a boozer that's been here a long time. Timothy Taylor's Landlord in its own branded glass makes for nice quaffing as we perch on high stools by a stencilled boar oval, the pre-match preparations underway for Croatia v England on the big screens. Suitably refreshed, we can return to the Bookworm residence to continue the birthday celebrations with friends. Cheers!
