On the Thursday D and I visited the Hop Pocket Shopping Village in Bishop's Frome. We have visited a few times before - there is a garden centre there, various independent shops, a food hall, a large gift shop and tearoom. It is only 30 minutes from Hatfield so not too far to travel.
We visited the Emporium first which sells craft items and antiques.
Dennis the Dragon was rather cute. I really do want a stone dragon for the garden - I did once find one I really loved at Bringsty Vintage Centre but when we finally got round to buying it we found it had already been sold!
We had a good look round the large gift shop - mainly looking for Christmas presents and then visited the Food Hall. There is a Hop Museum there which I was hoping to see but sadly it is closed at the moment.
I was very tempted by this display of books - many by Logaston Press.
We had parkin and a cup of tea in the tearoom.
Before leaving we had a look round the garden centre and D bought a reduced Hot Lemon Chilli plant full of yellow chillis which we will freeze and try and overwinter the plant for next year.
We had a brief look round the village - this house was once the National School in the village and was built in 1843.
It was too late for lunch but this looks a lovely pub. B once went here to meet friends for an evening meal. It is actually Grade II listed and was built in the C17th but has been much altered. There is timber framing behind the cement rendering!
My main reason for stopping off was to visit the church of St Mary the Virgin! I'll write about that in the next post.
Photos taken by me with the Panasonic Lumix FZ330 bridge camera and the one marked *D was taken by my son with the Canon SX50HS bridge camera. (I don't particularly rate my photos but if anyone wishes to use one of mine or my son's I would be grateful for an email first - thanks).
6 comments:
The centre looks well worth a visit. Shame the hop museum was closed though. Sorry you missed your dragon, but you know what they say . . . snooze and you lose. I'm sure you'll find another one soon.
That's some wedge of Parkin! I've always thought of it as cut in squares especially on Bonfire Night, although I'm sure Timothy didn't complain.
Thanks so much Debbie. I was disappointed about the Hop Museum - not even sure if they will be re-opening it. The right dragon is waiting somewhere :)
I cut my parkin in squares when I make it but Timothy was not complaining as it was tasty :)
What a super place to visit. It looks ideal for finding unusual presents. The books look interesting and the coffee and parkin look tasty, glad Timothy went with you. Shame the museum was closed, I wonder if the closure is temporary or permanent. I'm sure an ideal dragon will turn up for you and that it will look wonderful in the garden. Have a good weekend:)
Thanks so much Rosie - the Hop Pocket is a great place to look for gifts. I could spend a fortune on those Logaston Press books on Herefordshire!! I did ask someone about the museum and they said it was closed and not sure when it would re-open which didn't sound promising :( Not sure why it is closed though. Fingers crossed re a dragon :)
Looks like a great place to visit, especially as you say for gifts, including for yourself! Loved the Liquidambar tree in the first photo. I miss my old one. And the British are so good at having tearooms with cake at so many places!
Thanks Mandy. I could have bought a lot of items for me there!!! Thanks for the name of the tree! There are plenty of tearooms and cake over here :)
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