A romp through the centuries - 9 August 2008

The weather forecast suggested that the southwest was going to be driest longest, so that was the direction we headed to introduce John and Linda to the delights that the National Trust has to offer.

The day was roughly chronological, more by accident of geography than any other reason, and we started at Ighton Mote, a moated manor house begun in 1320. From there we advanced a few hundred years to the largest collection of Jacobean furniture anywhere and this is found at Knole, a Tudor Palace. A few hundred years on was the Battle of Quebec where General Wolfe found short-lived (he died on the battlefield) but long lasting fame and his home has been preserved due to the generosity of a Canadian benefactor.

Just around the corner is Chartwell, Churchill's home, which brought us up to the 20th century. We just made it with 4 minutes to spare for the last admission of the day.

In the middle of the day, at Ighton Mote, we set out our picnic lunch only to have the promised drizzle arrive a little early. There being a shortage of other picnickers, we commandeered more than our fair share of umbrellas and soldiered on with true Churchillian grit.