Last Monday D, E and I visited Stoneleigh Abbey near Kenilworth in Warwickshire.
Stoneleigh Abbey is Grade I listed and the grounds are Grade II listed (parks and gardens). Compared to local National Trust properties I couldn't believe how quiet it was.
Stoneleigh Abbey was founded by a community of Cistercian monks in 1154 after Henry II granted them the land. Little remains of the original abbey following the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1536. Apart that is for the C14th Gatehouse which now houses the entrance and a shop.
The Gatehouse was built by the 16th Abbot, Robert de Hokele, in 1346. Most gatehouses in the UK are in ruins and this is one of the few that remains intact. Sadly, all other traces of the abbey have disappeared over the last 500 years. The gatehouse was where alms to the poor and hospitality for travellers was given.
After the Dissolution, the estate was purchased by Sir Thomas Leigh, Lord Mayor of London in 1558. A house was built where there had originally been an abbey. It was the home of the Leigh family from 1561-1990. Architect Francis Smith of Warwick built a new 4 storey 15-bay west wing between 1714 and 1726 in the Baroque style.
In 1960 the house was damaged by fire and needed restoration work which the Leigh family were unable to do and the house was sold to a charitable trust. Their efforts failed but the Abbey was eventually saved by a new independent charitable trust who opened the Abbey to the public in 2003.
The grounds were designed by Humphry Repton who was an important C18th landscape designer. Repton wanted any alterations to the grounds to enhance natural beauty. Work has now begun to restore the grounds as Repton designed them.
The main reason for the visit was because E had an afternoon tea voucher to use (a birthday present from last year).
Tapestries in the tearoom.
A rather delicious afternoon tea :)
Timothy after enjoying the prosecco and a macaron!
After the tea we had a look around a small museum and the chapel.
Medieval tiles from local religious establishments mainly Wormleighton church.
The Chapel
The Leighs were Jane Austen's maternal relatives and in 1806, with the Reverend Thomas Leigh their mother's cousin, Jane and her sister Cassandra visited Stoneleigh Abbey.
It is believed Jane Austen was inspired by the lake and grounds and family intrigues and included details of these and the home in her novels. In her book "Mansfield Park" the chapel she describes is very like the one at the Abbey. She even mentions the red cushions peering over the edge of the family gallery - see photo below.
A sketch of the Cistercian Abbey
I was in my element when I spotted all the heraldry on the walls :)
While E and I were having afternoon tea D took himself off to explore the grounds around the lakes and woodlands. (I did offer to buy him tea and cake so he could sit with us but he is on a diet and was happy to go for a walk with the sandwich he had brought with him).
Some photos of his walk.
We met up with D and went for a walk around the lake.
Egyptian Geese and Goslings. We also saw Canada Geese goslings and Greylags sitting on eggs.
The pump house which will be restored.
The Orangery
Other well known people who have visited the abbey were Charles I who stayed at the abbey for 3 days during the English Civil War and in 1858 Queen Victoria spent 2 nights there.
While we were there D and I saw several new species for our plant challenge.
Garlic Mustard and Hawthorn are not new species for the list but I now have photos of them in flower.
Ivy Leafed Toadflax
Red Campion
Germander Speedwell
Bracken
Red Chestnut - a hybrid of Horse Chestnut and Red Buckeye
With species of wild plant we have seen in the garden and elsewhere we have now seen 40 species since we started the challenge.
We all had a lovely time at the Abbey. I really don't know why we haven't visited before. We shall certainly go again and they also do house tours on certain days which would be interesting to attend.
All photos taken by me with the Panasonic Lumix FZ330 bridge camera and those marked *D were 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).
Reference:
Stoneleigh Abbey Website
Stoneleigh Abbey Guidebook
8 comments:
Lovely photos from both you and D of Stoneleigh Abbey and grounds. It looks a fascinating place with lots of history. I'm glad Timothy went along too and enjoyed afternoon tea. Good to add more species to your wild plant challenge:)
Thanks so much Rosie - we were so lucky with the weather :) It is a very interesting place and we shall certainly visit again. Compared to Packwood and Baddesley Clinton it was very quiet.
Timothy is looking a bit "more prosecco and less scone" What a lovely way to spend your afternoon. I am sure we had YFC events at Stoneleigh, although I never went. Looks a most intriguing building and gardens.
Thanks so much Debbie - lol re Timothy! It was really lovely there - even better than I thought it would be. It isn't that far - about 10 minutes further than Kenilworth Castle.
What a lovely day out. Some great photos too. I have two big clumps of Red Campion in my orchard, and a lawn full of WIld Violets this year. Pleased about that.
The High Tea looked lovely.
Bovey Belle - Thanks so much. We have red campion in our wild flower meadow and also violets self seed all over the patio :)
Lambikins! Bluebells! Goslings! English spring at its best. The gatehouse is a magnificent building, and a lot more attractive than the rather dull main house, although it looks nice from the back from the lake.
And that afternoon tea!! I was very envious when I saw that, especially the scones and clotted cream. No wonder you had a wonderful time. :-)
I also never knew the origins of pink flowered horse chestnuts so thanks for that.
Thanks so much Mandy. I liked the gatehouse too and wasn't keen on architecture of main house either. Baroque is not my thing!
Afternoon tea was lovely.
A friend on Twitter identified the tree for me.
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