Tuesday 7 May 2013

A Date At Lotherton Hall

Lotherton Hall is only five or ten minutes away from where we live by car, and we've visited many, many times, but have never actually been inside the house. Each month, Mick and I are going on a date as one of my yearly challenges, so I thought our date for May could be at Lotherton Hall, and we visited on Saturday.


I wrote a bit about the history of the house in my post Lotherton Hall and Doggy Ghosts back in 2011, though the pricing structure for entry to the house and grounds has changed since then.

The first thing we did was look around the bird garden. Dogs aren't allowed in this part of the estate, so Mick's never been in, but as Archie wasn't playing gooseberry on our date, it allowed us the chance to have a good look round. I'll tell you more about it in my next post.


Our next stop was the little chapel. It was built in the twelth century and restored between 1913 and 1917. Soldiers who came to stay at Lotherton, when it was used as a Voluntary Aid Detachment Hospital, were able to worship in there.


Some Norman windows remain in the chapel, which are thought to date between 1170 and 1180 when the chapel was built. I think this little stained glass window showing the Virgin and Child is lovely.


It's a memorial to Mrs Gascoigne's sister, Evelyne Cunliffe, who died in 1928.


The font is a plaster copy probably taken from a medieval example which the Gascoignes saw on their foreign travels.


A Sunday service is still held once a month in the chapel.


After a good look round the chapel, we went in to the house. Unfortunately, photography isn't allowed, so I can't show you any photos, but I can highly recommend it. Restored servants' rooms have recently been opened to the public, and an exhibition, Dressed For Battle, is also running, which shows how the war influenced fashion. Two of the bedrooms are displayed as they would have looked when the house was being used as a military hospital.

We had a wander around the grounds, which are full of colour at the moment with these polyanthus spread around lots of the flower beds.


They're even brightening up this stone trough.


The wild garlic, or ramsons, is just starting to come in to flower. The woodland floor is covered with them at Lotherton.


We made our way to the Stables Cafe where we indulged in tea and cake, though Mick had a cold drink, he doesn't like tea. It was a lovely day, even though it was a little windy, so we decided to make the most of it and sit outside. I had a piece of chocolate and orange marble cake, whilst Mick had a square of caramel shortbread. He was rather disappointed with it as he said it wasn't a patch on the caramel shortbread which I make, praise indeed.


It was another lovely date, and it just goes to show that you don't have to travel far for a wonderful day out. My next post will be all about the bird garden.

22 comments:

  1. Ooooh, your chocolate and orange marble cake does look good. You have Mick well trained to say the millionaire's shortbread wasn't as good as yours. Well done, Mick! :oD

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    1. I'm afraid that the chocolate and orange marble cake didn't live up to expectations either, it was rather dry. Brownie points for Mick, he knows how to compliment a girl.

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  2. It looks like the sort of place that I'd enjoy going to. I look forward to your bird garden post! Flighty xx

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    1. Lotherton has something for everyone, such a lovely place. We keep returning time and time again. It's so handy that it's on our doorstep, we often pop down and take Archie for a run there before breakfast on a weekend.

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  3. Another good date! I too like the stained glass - they're very tricky to photograph. What best than a cup of tea and a slice of cake! Have a great week.
    June

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    1. They are tricky to photograph, these two were the best of the bunch. I don't often drink tea, but this was really welcome after all the walking and looking round we'd done.

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  4. HI Jo, I have been to the gardens at Lotherton several times but never in the house. The little chapel looks lovely and so nice they still hold services in there.
    Your cake looks yummy, we usually have hot drinks and cake when we go, time for another visit soon I reckon!

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    1. Check out the new admission prices before you go, they're putting lots of people off, though a house visit is now included in the price. We've got a season ticket and it's working out very reasonable for us as we walk Archie there very often. It might be a good place to go when you're looking after little O as the playground is great for kids.

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  5. The Hall sounds like a very interesting place to visit, I like the sound of the servants quarters and the fashion exhibition too.
    Caramel shortbread is one of my favourites, but it must be drunk with tea!
    Lisa x

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    1. There were loads of fascinating things to look at in the hall, I'm definitely going to go back and take Eleanor with me this time, I think she'd enjoy it. I love caramel shortbread too, I don't make it often as it's laden with calories.

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  6. Beautiful Jo. I've got Lotherton Hall on list for our next visit to UK, whenever that might be. It's nice to indulge in morning tea out with something scrumptious. Mick may like my caramel slice,which I've been making since 1977. I used to make it for the young lads on their birthdays when I was working in the bank. They put in an order for it a few days in advance. Looking forward to your birdgarden.

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    1. I think you'll need to stay in the UK for quite some time to visit all the places on your list, it's great to have some ideas at the ready though. I think the tried and tested recipes are always the best, that's why I like my Be-Ro book so much.

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  7. As I've probably said before a season ticket sounds like a good move when you know that you will visit a house and gardens often. It's good that Lotherton is so near for you. The chapel looks interesting and good that it's used. You got some good shots as these places usually are poor on lighting, although atmospheric because of the dim light.

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    1. The chapel was very dim, but as you say, it adds to the atmosphere. I think Eleanor would enjoy visiting the house so I'm going to return with her. There's so many interesting things to see.

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  8. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm the cake...xxxxx

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    1. It wasn't quite as delicious as it looked, a little on the dry side.

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  9. Hi Jo, looks like you had a nice day out. The little window is lovely, I like stained glass. We visited Fountains abbey this weekend and the garlic was everywhere as well.

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    1. It was a lovely day out. We're usually walking Archie when we visit Lotherton, so it was nice to look around other parts of the estate where we don't usually go. It's years since I've been to Fountains Abbey, we must have a visit there soon.

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  10. It looks beautiful. We haven't been there since Angus was a baby and we must return. We are lucky to have such stunning places nearby. x

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    1. I love having Lotherton on the doorstep, I never tire of it, such lovely grounds. Bella and Angus would love the playground there.

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  11. It sounds as if you had a great day. I think your pictures of the chapel really capture it's tranquility. Jx

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    1. It was a lovely day. There were lots of people there, but just Mick and I were in the chapel, it was really peaceful.

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