A Blink & A Wave & George

SONG - Here Comes the Sun by The Beatles

Day 9 - Wed. May 8

Breakfast at hotel & Mr. B had fried kippers. My full disclosure -  Ewwwww!

The garden I wanted to visit today didn’t open until 2 pm so we headed over to Chipping Campden first to see the Craft & Design Museum & St. James Church.

“In the spring of 1902 C.R. Ashbee, architect, designer and a leading figure in the Arts & Crafts movement, moved with his Guild of Handicraft to Chipping Campden from the East End of London. In total 50 Guildsmen and their families arrived that summer, along with their workshop equipment.

For Ashbee the movement was not just about creating beautiful things. It was about giving people satisfying work in a healthier environment.

This was the beginning of the story of craft and design in Chipping Campden”

-quote from the Court Barn Org.

St. James Church is next door to the Court Barn Museum and was well worth walking through its doors as it is a 13th century wool church. 

When we got into our car, I noticed a funny rectangular stone trough in front of us and I mentioned to Mr. B that it looked like a car wash. He suggested that it was a place to back up your cart into for ease of loading or unloading which made more sense. Well it was for backing your cart into and for washing it out. 

The Cart Wash

Snowshill Manor & Gardens was next on our list. It was owned by an eccentric guy, Charles Wade who displayed his hoards of collections. We had seen his collections in 2017 so really just wanted to enjoy the gardens. However, after lots of walking both uphill and downhill to get there, there wasn’t much in the way of formal gardens but there was a nice dovecote, orchard, kitchen garden and lots of sheep to enjoy. 

We then drove to Kiftsgate Gardens where we sat down to have a late lunch. All they had left was a cheese & chutney sandwich which Mr. B decided should be a fine match to his morning kippers! He is such an adventurous soul. 

And I had a piece of Victoria sponge cake (hello Paul Hollywood & Mary Berry)! 

Yummm…

We FaceTimed our grandsons from the garden. It was so great to see their faces before they had to head off to school. And to hear them yelling “YaYa Papa”!!!

Kiftsgate had Peonies the size of dinner plates. Amazing. It was a small but interesting garden and perfect for the end of our day. 

We still had to pop back into Chipping Campden for a few items including ice, which they use in such limited supply here in the UK. Every time Mr. B goes to get our room’s ice bucket filled up, the staff only give him about 12 ice cubes.

As we pulled into Charingworth Manor we noticed a helicopter parked in the grass. Are we having special guests tonight??? Could it be George Clooney? I’ll have to let you know tomorrow!

“I blinked AND waved “

- Jim to Jeanette when she reminded him to blink his headlights at a car that had pulled over for him on a single track.