Herefordshire 2023 (10) - Part 2: Westonbury Mill Water Gardens

 

As mentioned in the last post on Thursday afternoon we visited Westonbury Water Mill Gardens, near Pembridge.  We first discovered these gardens when we stayed for a long weekend in Herefordshire some years ago and I've been wanting to re-visit since we bought the static caravan.

The gardens are set around the Curl brook and cover about 5 acres.  They have been developed over the last 20 or so years by the owners and include several unusual follies.

The Stone Tower was the first folly to be constructed and was built when the owner Richard Pim found a small iron water wheel.  Water gushes from the mouths of gargoyles and the Tower is the home to white doves.

The Glass Dome was built from 5000 wine bottles and when it is sunny it creates a stained glass effect.

The giant cuckoo clock is powered by water.

The Spiral Mound

The rill and pagoda are recent additions and the rill has a solar powered water pump.  The idea is that you ascend the spiral mound and look down the length of the water toward the end and look through the rose pergola to the hills in the distance.

Oontitoomps!!!

After wandering round the gardens we sat outside the tearoom and had tea and cake - mine was carrot cake :)

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Me playing "King of the Castle"

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Photos taken by me with the Panasonic Lumix FZ330 bridge camera and those marked *D taken by my son with the Canon SX50HS. (I don't particularly rate my photos but if anyone wishes to use one or one of my son's I would be grateful for an email first - thanks).

Herefordshire/Shropshire - Part 2: Ludlow and Westonbury Mill Water Gardens

Friday, 25th September


When we visited the Medieval Fair in Ludlow last December we all said we'd like to return to the town when it was quieter. So on Friday morning (another gloriously sunny day) we returned.

Ludlow is a flourishing medieval market town located on a cliff side above the River Teme and surrounded by the countryside of the Welsh Marches.

The Buttercross situated in the centre of the town at the junction of Broad Street, High Street and King Street was built in 1746. It was designed by William Baker and built in the classical style. Originally, a butter market was held on the ground floor and today it is still used by traders on market day. The upper rooms have had a variety of uses over the years - a meeting chamber for the Town Council, a boy's charity school and a museum.

Friday is a market day and I was really pleased to find that the Heron Cross pottery stall was there again and yes I did make a purchase :)

Parts of the castle date back to around 1086. No-one else seem interested in visiting again - I think they'd seen enough last December :(

There are lots and lots of small independent shops in Ludlow.

D and I spent an enjoyable 10 minutes or so in this shop. In the end I had to beat a hasty retreat as I was being tempted by far too many books!

A few photos taken by D with the Canon Bridge camera.

St Laurence's Church. (I did manage to escape for 45 minutes to revisit while the others were looking round the town. When I went in at Christmas there was a market on and I wasn't able to get as many photos as I would have liked but this time it was much quieter. I'll do a separate post on the church as I appreciate not everyone will want to look at countless pictures of stained glass and misericords!!).

The Feathers - the oldest part of the hotel including the timber front was built in 1619.

In the afternoon we went to Westonbury Mill Water Gardens near Pembridge. Thanks so much to Pete (from Quacks of Life) in recommending them. They were delightful and totally unique.

The 3.5 acre water gardens have been developed over the last 15 years together with the construction of various follies. The latest addition is a wildflower meadow to which has been added a Spiral Mound.

The Stone Tower (the first folly) was built when the owner, Richard Pim, found a small iron water wheel. Water gushes from the mouths of gargoyles and the Tower is home to white doves.

The Glass Dome is built from 5000 wine bottles - when its sunny a stained glass effect is created.

Monet Bridge

The Spiral Mound

African Summer House

Giant Cuckoo Clock powered by water.

There's a lovely tea room - I had Lemon Drizzle cake :)

We had a look round the plant sales area before leaving. The sedums were covered in bees and butterflies (Small Tortoiseshells and Commas)

I treated myself to one of the Sedums which is a deeper pink than the plants I have at home.


A few more pictures taken by D with the Canon showing a different perspective to the garden and the zoom came in handy again :)