ORIGINAL MESSAGE

NAME: Vic Coughtrey   Then & Now

DATE: 16 January 2014

CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 1954-59

As part of the gradual (and never very strict) separation of all things QE or education in general from the wider interests of OEs, I've decided that the discussion of Stately homes in Thread 108 (replies 29-31) should be the next target. I hope the theme will continue here, on this new restricted subject thread. Please read the the relevant replies in Thread 108 first, to avoid repeating their content in W8. You can still respond to replies in 108, but if the subject is National Trust, English Heritage or Cadw (Wales) property or anything similar your reply will appear in this thread instead, with a link back to 108.

I think my favourite, by the way, is Calke Abbey in Derbyshire, which the NT call their 'un-stately home'. They took the controversial decision to address the subject of the sad decline of the great houses by leaving just one of their properties more-or-less in the terrible state it was in when they took it over, apart from any work required to make it safe. Angela and I found it a powerfully thought-provoking experience but one of the room volunteers told me that, despite all the leaflets scattered around explaining the 'un-stately' policy, people often indignantly demand to know why the NT doesn't do something about the state of the place. It's as if they feel they've been defrauded of their admission fee. The policy of 'controlled neglect' doesn't apply to the huge kitchen garden, which is worth a visit for its extraordinary collection of gourds, pumpkins and squashes and its extensive hot-houses, which used to consume a ridiculous amount of coal every day.

RESTRICTED THREAD: please make National Trust, English Heritage, Cadw properties or other such places open to the public the main subject of your reply.

1st REPLY

NAME: Nigel Wood  

DATE: 12 February 2014

CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1957-64

Mike's mention of his volunteering at Blickling [see Thread 108/31] has prompted me to confess that I do the same thing at Castle Drogo, on the edge of Dartmoor, every other Wednesday in the season. I used to describe myself as one of the old f**ts who sit in the corner of a room and put people off. Actually it's not really like that now: the emphasis is on doing all we can to help visitors enjoy their visit, rather than glaring at those who look as if they might touch a chair. I'm still besotted with Drogo - its beautiful setting, the curious story of how it came to be built, the brilliant Lutyens architecture and so on. It's undergoing a huge repair programme during the next four years to stop water ingress, but is still open - let me know - perhaps Vic would be kind enough to facilitate this - if you're thinking of visiting.

With pleasure, Nigel. This form can always be used to send private messages to anyone on the Register c/o me.

2nd REPLY

NAME: James (Jas) Cowen    Then & Now

DATE: 13 February 2014

CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 56-63

I have been to Blickling a couple of times with my wife, Mike [see Thread 108/31]. Maybe you were even there when we went. Perhaps if we go again we can link up if you can supply a contact number to Vic. I love looking at books and libraries myself but am banned from buying books from the National Trust by my wife. I dare not even set foot in the second hand shops on account of the number of books I have at home and the lack of further space to put any more unless I dispose of at least an equal number I already have. I still occasionally buy stamps or coins at the stamp and coin shop in Salisbury (Dauwalders) as a reminder of my school days but only if they really really do catch my eye apart from occasionally buying a mixture to sort in to my albums, again a reminder of those old stamp club days. I have also a couple of Stanley Gibbons books.

3rd REPLY

NAME: James (Jas) Cowen    Then & Now

DATE: 17 February 2014

CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 56-63

Talking of libraries on National Trust properties [see Thread 108/31], I am often disappointed that we members are not allowed to look inside the books with interesting titles, at least when the volunteer guides are looking. One said to me even we volunteers are not allowed to open them. It seems a pity, especially when so many are obviously just collected for the sake of collecting by the previous property owners and have never been opened. Maybe I will write to the local and national committee about this. After all they have got so much more visitor friendly at so many venues allowing one to sit on chairs, play the pianos or try on costumes. Some allow one to take photos provided that the flash is off.Our daughter Grace, however, went too far at Ham House when younger.She nipped under the ropes in front of one room and set off the loud intruder alarm and looked pleased with herself in the middle of the room.

4th REPLY

NAME: Nigel Wood  

DATE: 18 February 2014

CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1957-64

I quite fancy a job as official National Trust roper-off. I'd have a small van (a Ford van, perhaps, like Amos in Cold Comfort Farm) fitted with orange warning lights and loaded in the back with coils of thick red rope. None of your thin wimpish stuff but the real thing, and a few stout brass posts with heavy brass bases. I'd hare around the country from St MIchael's Mount to Felbrigg, from Corfe Castle to Keld Chapel, ready to do some emergency roping off whenever the need arose.

5th REPLY

NAME: James (Jas) Cowen    Then & Now

DATE: 24 February 2014

CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 56-63

I would like to say congratulation and thanks to all you OEs and others who manage to find the time and inclination to be National Trust volunteers, whether as room attendees, guides, gardeners, roper offers or whatever. My wife and I were amused by one volunteer on one of our visits to Sissinghurst last year. It had been very wet and one of the car park men pointed to a lane where we should park. Unfortunately we parked on the wet grass rather than the gravel roadway, where we should have done. The actions of the man were remarkable as he put his two hands to his head and exclaimed "Oh no!" We have on occasions since in appropriate situations put our hands to our head and also gone "Oh No!". We did of course move from the grass to the gravel, suitably chastened.

As regards your fantasy, Nigel, [reply 4 above] about being a National Trust roper-offer. It got me thinking about other posts that those in a particular trade or organisation regard as normal but which those outside consider most intriguing. As an example I think of film crews and their credits on screen. What exactly do grips, the gaffer and best boy do? Perhaps I will resort to google and enquire. It also brought to mind place names seen, which those who live there no doubt regard as normal, but which sound intriguing to an outsider. Often at night whilst waiting at Kings Cross for the train to Welwyn Garden City I saw a train due to go out 1st stop to Inverkeithing. I have never been there but one day would like to go. Similarly with Ashington, seen on National Express coaches, somewhere up north I have never been.

6th REPLY

NAME: Nigel Wood  

DATE: 26 February 2014

CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1957-64

That's the trouble with pointing: it's not very precise. Children should be told not that it's rude to point, but that it's ambiguous. Cats, it is said, can never be taught to act upon a pointing gesture. Or perhaps they're above even trying. And there's no logical reason why pointing should be taken to signify a direction from wrist to fingertip rather than vice versa, or indeed to signify any direction at all. Too much Wittgenstein in my formative years. And now for some trivia of a different sort: Where else in England as well as the Tyne & Wear/Northumberland area can you find Washington and Ashington even closer to each other? Mr C0cks would have known.

7th REPLY

NAME: Vic Coughtrey   Then & Now

DATE: 26 February 2014

CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1957-64

To bring Nigel's quiz back to the topic of the thread, the answer does indeed point in the direction of cat value.

8th REPLY

NAME: Nigel Wood  

DATE: 03 March 2014

CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1957-64

And my sister-in-law is a room guide in this very place.

9th REPLY

NAME: James (Jas) Cowen    Then & Now

DATE: 23 March 2014

CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 56-63

In response to reply 6 of Nigel's, I was interested to read about Washington and Ashington in the History of the County of Sussex volume 6 on line. I have not been to either, as far as I can recall, but they look interesting places historically and maybe when that way I will go and have a look. In the blurb it says that the road from Washington to Horsham through the main part of Ashington was apparently a medieval drove road. It is remarkable (or is it?) that Tyne and Wear and Sussex have the 2 same place names. My Auntie Ella was from Washington in Tyne and Wear (ex-Durham) and I know much of there. The George Washington of USA fame had definite family connections with it.

10th REPLY

NAME: James (Jas) Cowen    Then & Now

DATE: 17 July 2014

CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 56-63

My wife and I have recently spent some time travelling in Derbyshire and staying on a campsite at Youlgreave or Youlgrave. For those who were involved in discussing Mimms or Mymms elsewhere on the site they might like to look up this village on the Internet. Over the years there have been many variations on the name and even today there has not been complete agreement. Both current spellings are used on different local signposts and maps. When we got near and saw 1 signpost we wondered if we had the right village. But I digress. Whilst in the area we visited, between Uttoxeter and Ashbourne, Sudbury Hall and the NT Museum of Childhood. Sudbury Hall is very much a traditional NT Country House owned by the Anson family but in my opinion especially worth a visit is the Museum especially if you have children with you. There are interesting activities such as going up a chimney as children used to do and a questionnaire 'Should children work?. Parents say yes.

And see my comments about another very interesting NT property in Derbys, Calke Abbey (not an abbey), in my Original Message.

11th REPLY

NAME: James (Jas) Cowen    Then & Now

DATE: 12 August 2014

CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 56-63

Last weekend my wife and and much of our immediate family went to Leeds Castle in Kent for a visit. The birds of prey demonstration was much enjoyed but the castle and flowers in the gardens as well were lovely. Just as with the visits made to Ironbridge Museums in Shropshire an annual ticket may be bought for not much more and we look forward to returning to a medieval weekend at the end of the month. The castle looks grand from the outside but I was surprised at the extent of rooms to look at inside.

12th REPLY

NAME: James (Jas) Cowen    Then & Now

DATE: 28 August 2014

CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 56-63

We went to Leeds Castle on Sat 23rd August for the start of the medieval festival. It continues to 31st August but the last weekend of the jousting is not included in the annual pass. (Boo! Shame!). Whilst in the area we visited on 2 days Ightham Mote near Sevenoaks. This is a National Trust property, which is 1 of the best examples of a medieval manor house and is well worth a visit. It is of a size that it may easily be visited in a couple of hours, as is the lovely garden. For those with better limbs than mine there are also good walks in the lovely valley nearby.

13th REPLY

NAME: James (Jas) Cowen    Then & Now

DATE: 01 December 2014

CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 56-63

I have recently been watching on many afternoons on BBC1 at 3.45pm Glorious Gardens from Above with the gardener Christine Walkden. She looks at gardens in a particular area such as Cornwall, Northumberland, Staffordshire etc. from above in a hot air balloon and then comes to earth to explore the gardens and talk with volunteers and others found at them. Many of these are National Trust gardens. I find them all delightful and would recommend them to others either at the afternoon time or to see on I-player. Sunday also sees a repeat of one episode. I also continue to enjoy the repeats of Doc Martin based at Port Isaac. We stayed in the school house shown in the programme two years running and go often to Port Isaac. This makes it especially interesting for my wife and me but I expect others would also enjoy.

14th REPLY

NAME: James (Jas) Cowen    Then & Now

DATE: 22 December 2014

CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 56-63

I see that there are repeats most mornings now on BBC2 (8.20 a.m.) of the TV programme referred to in my last reply i.e. Glorious Gardens From Above. I have seen some that I missed. This morning it was the turn of two National Trust Staffordshire Gardens. A sheer delight to see! Christine also called at the National Memorial Arboretum and talked to people who go there regularly to mourn their relatives who have died in conflict and often do not have a grave in this country. It moved me to hear that quite a fellowship has grown up with others who visit, who are in a similar situation.

15th REPLY

NAME: James (Jas) Cowen    Then & Now

DATE: 07 January 2015

CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 56-63

What a delight Glorious Gardens From Above is and it continues to be shown on some mornings at 8.20 a.m. on BBC2. This morning Christine was visiting Scottish gardens and yesterday I enjoyed seeing her visit nearby Hampshire gardens that I love, such as Mottisfont Abbey and the Sir Harold Hillier gardens, both near Romsey. I loved the retiring head gardener at Mottisfont talking of his work over 30 years working on the gardens and especially the old country roses, some of which we have in our garden. To quote him "To really enjoy cultivating roses you must have a rose in your heart." Quite! They may only come out once a year unlike modern roses but the scent is superb.

16th REPLY

NAME: James (Jas) Cowen    Then & Now

DATE: 28 January 2015

CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 56-63

I have certainly enjoyed the programmes on every night recently of the Great British Garden Revival (BBC2 at 7p.m.). Not only has this shown the great enthusiasm by the BBC garden team for various plants, some quite neglected in recent years, but also goes to examples in great National Trust gardens. I also like to see the Antiques Road Show, which is so often based at NT gardens. I enjoy antiques and the gardens.

17th REPLY

NAME: James (Jas) Cowen    Then & Now

DATE: 08 June 2015

CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 56-63

It has been a few months since there has been a reply on this thread but I continue to enjoy visiting National Trust Houses and Gardens, as I am sure others reading on the site do also. One visited recently near Shrewsbury is Attingham Park, which I would recommend to others. Many people clearly visit this site, perhaps the premier site in Shropshire, to walk about the estate, especially if they have families and/or dogs but it is interesting for the continual development of both the vegetable and flower gardens and the house. The fruit of the ground is used in the delicious salad meals in the café and restaurant. The house has continual building developments such as restoring the roof of the picture gallery, which has some fine paintings, and the wallpaper along the corridors. In regard to Trip Advisor I give it top ratings.

18th REPLY

NAME: Nigel Wood  

DATE: 13 June 2015

CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1957-64

Re reply 15, I have two pacemaker electrodes in my heart. Would those do instead? Sorry James, just couldn't resist it! But I agree 100% with you about Attingham. We went round it last year or the year before and found it was buzzing. The room guides were enthusiastic and coped well with banter. They sang the praises of Mark, the newish property manager, whom I knew because he'd come there from Castle Drogo where I volunteer once a fortnight. Small world! On the same trip we visited other NT properties in the area, where the room guides were far less lively. Brain-dead would not be pc, would it?

19th REPLY

NAME: James (Jas) Cowen    Then & Now

DATE: 22 June 2015

CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 56-63

Yes I suppose two pacemaker electrodes in your heart, Nigel, are more useful. Maybe there is still room as well for the figurative rose, if not an actual one. We enjoy the company of one of our friends who has a pacemaker and can still play good badminton and table tennis as well as visiting National Trust gardens about here and singing in two choirs. We also have lovely roses in our garden. One orange one by our back window is especially fine.

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20th REPLY

NAME: James (Jas) Cowen    Then & Now

DATE: 08 July 2015

CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 56-63

Whilst staying in Cambridge over the last weekend, extended a bit, we visited National Trust properties in Cambridgeshire and Suffolk. I would recommend visits to all of them, Ickworth House, Anglesey Abbey and the Wimpole Estate. The NT volunteers on these occasions were all lively and informed and by no means brain dead [see reply 18]. We have wanted to visit Ickworth near Bury St Edmunds for some time now and at last have done so. There was not time to go round Bury S.E. this time but perhaps we will do so on a later occasion. At Ickworth we enjoyed a garden tour as well as a state rooms tour. These were much enjoyed but also the basement rooms with earlier heating methods and below stairs practices gave pleasure.