11 Oct 2014. <GB-ENG> Stratford-upon-Avon, Warw; Droitwich Spa, Droitwich, Worcs —
Today we went into Stratford to enjoy the Mop Fair. The place was rocking! The noise was deafening! The kids were having a ball! Walked about, getting a few photos. Then we decided to visit Nash's House (whose garden is now taking on its winter aspect) and New Place again before we went back to the van.
Finally left Stratford. The day was reasonable, so we set off for
Hanbury Hall, just outside Worcester. This is the family seat of the Vernons, a family with its share of eminent personages and its black sheep. Thomas Vernon (1654-1721) was an eminent lawyer. His heir, Bowater Vernon, swiftly set about spending Thomas's fortune. There are also stories of a cuckolded husband, a suicide, the gaining of titles — in other words, everything a family saga needs to make it interesting. The house's main claim to fame is its Grand Staircase, whose walls and ceiling are covered with paintings of the life of Achilles, painted by
James Thornhill (subsequently Sir James), who later painted the dome of St Pauls and the Painted Hall at Greenwich Hospital. Basically, the National Trust made sure this home was preserved on the basis of this stairway!
But Hanbury is a spectacular house in its own right. The painted ceilings (by James Thornhill) are superb, and the rooms are delightful — but we won't go into them individually.
By the time we had explored the house thoroughly, we had run out of time to go round the garden and the wider estate, so we decided to stay in the area, to come back tomorrow.
Distance driven — today, 36 miles ( 58 km ); to date, 8,509 miles ( 13,694 km )
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