Whilst in the UK last week I was able to indulge and I really mean indulge (my ever expanding waistline can testify to that fact) in two of my very favourite English things to do.
My very favourite thing to do is take afternoon tea in quintessentially English teashops and my absolute favourite afternoon tea is to be found in the tearoom of a National Trust property.
There you will find the most wonderful English Cream Teas, such as the one pictured here which we enjoyed after touring Berrington Hall, near Leominster, Herefordshire.
Coming a close second, to a cream tea, is browsing through one of the "Charity" shops that line the high streets of every town we visited.
I think that Ross on Wye has the most!
What was I looking for I hear you ask?
As my dear friend Kate would answer "old pots".
Kate doesn't understand my fascination with antique/vintage china and faience, but she happily shopped with me and even found the bargain of the trip in the Sue Ryder shop in Ledbury.
More about that soon.
A little while ago I bought some mismatched china on ebay.co.uk and had them delivered to Kate's home.
When she brought me the box to open at Little Quebb it was like Christmas morning.
The cup and saucer are Royal Albert English Bone China, decor: Lavender Rose and the plate, which doesn't match but I feel with it's lavender ribbon detail complements them, is by Aynsley.
The Asiatic Pheasant red and white transferware creamer produced by Enoch Wedgwood was a French ebay purchase earlier this year, and is the perfect foil for a small posy of old fashioned roses from our garden.
This afternoon I couldn't resist creating an English Cream Tea vignette to share with you all and will be linking this post to the Tea parties listed below.
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| A home made scone slathered with thick double cream and red fruit jam. Irresistable! |
Lady Katherines Tea Time Tuesday
Tuesday Tea For Two @ The Plumed Pen
Teacup Tuesday with Martha & Terri
Teatime Tuesday @ Rose Chinz Cottage
and
Petite Hermine's Sunday Linky Party
Teacup Tuesday with Martha & Terri
Teatime Tuesday @ Rose Chinz Cottage
and
Petite Hermine's Sunday Linky Party
I've not joined in with any of these before but they all seem like lovely ladies so why not pop in and have a cuppa with them too?
Just click on the links above.
How lovely! We have a tea house nearby were they serve the most delicious desserts and you can have your tea leaves read.
ReplyDeleteI have a china set passed down from my grandmother and it is Lavender Rose. :-)
Maggie, you know I certainly understand the fascination. ;-) Glad you had a nice visit with Kate, enjoying those afternoon cream teas. Wish I could pop over for a cup of tea this afternoon. That scone looks delicious! ~Sarah
ReplyDeleteLovely treasures all!!! Yes, I, too, am a fan of real English cream teas. But we've found you just go to another garden and walk and walk and walk after indulging!!!
ReplyDeleteMy post today is about a cream tea as well!!! Hmmmm, we must be in England!
There is nothing more charming than an English tea! I wish it were a habit in the U.S. I am a sucker for tea pots; I have collected quite a few over the years and treasure each of them.
ReplyDeleteLovely post, Maggie.
Maggie,
ReplyDeleteI love cream teas. Very hard to find clotted cream here. During season in Sarasota I can find it sometimes because of the Brits that visit.
Lovely dishes!
Carol
That scone looks scrumptious!....Save some for me, please.
ReplyDeleteYour little Asiatic pheasant pitcher is lovely. I have yet to master the intricacies of ebay, but seeing that is a little inspiration.
Oh My! I don't know which is Yummier. Having Cream Tea with you or browsing the shops. AND the National Trust is a "DEFINITE TREASURE"...Thank you for taking us along. Oh your cup and saucer are SO BEAUTIFUL and you are right the plate matches with it's lavender ribbon! and the Milk Jug is Wonderful!
ReplyDeleteHave a Beautiful Springtime Week,
Hugs,
Donna
A very pretty cup and saucer...and it is in one of my favorites shapes!
ReplyDeleteHello Maggie,
ReplyDeletewhat a perfect combinations are the three items. The plate is really perfect with Royal Albert's Lavender Rose and the creamer goes well with both. Thank you for sharing this pretty treasures.
Best greetings, Johanna
I'm with you on the cream tea. We had some lovely ones in Cornwall. And we almost always stop in the tea room at a National Trust property. The food is always good in any property. I didn't know about those tea link up parties.
ReplyDeleteHi: I am so glad you joined us. I love to meet ladies with the same love of tea cups. Thank you for sharing it with us. I just love your post today. Have a wonderful week and hope to visit again next week. Blessings, Martha
ReplyDeleteHello Maggie,
ReplyDeleteI am so happy to have you join me for Tea Time! I love your Lavender Rose and of course, I have several pieces of it which had belonged to my mother. It's a set which I started for her years ago when I was first married and worked in a jewelry shop. I love it! Your little pitcher is adorable and I love red transferware and collect it myself. I also enjoy a cream tea, so I have enjoyed your post very much; thank you! Have a lovely day.
Blessings,
Sandi
Oh this sounds wonderful! I love your china, just lovely and romantic. I love the cream idea and the great visit with Kate! I had a cream tea at the "ALVEAR PALACE" in Buenos Aires, Argentina...this hotel it's so English and they have the most incredible elegant, gorgeous with the Eng. china and the greatest sweets! Thank you for sharing I enjoyed so much!
ReplyDeleteHugs
FABBY
I am totally with you, cream tea at a national trust! I love visiting England too and going to the tea rooms and charity shops. So fun! Your new tea cup is perfect to me. I love the colors and the designs.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Terri
Ooh, yummy cream tea! It looks so good.
ReplyDeleteI have a dinner set of the Lavender Rose from Royal Albert (now Royal Doulton, I think). It's no longer made in England and I'm so glad I have everything I need because the Indonesian manufactured items just don't measure up.
Oh to have an English tea ( will have to have a day trip some where Can't get them in Hyde lol Bake well is good though. Oh you must love the French and all that country side etc I would love to visit enjoy the history and hope your restoration all goes well, if it hasn't already
ReplyDeletelove Dawn xx
oh what a wonderful post! i love visiting tea rooms in the UK too as well as the charity shops for china hunting especialy mismatched teacup and saucer, what a lovely teacup you bought on ebay and the plate is gorgeous too! thanks for stopping by my blog and have a lovely tea time! x Susan
ReplyDeleteHi Maggie!
ReplyDeletei am drooling over all these sweets! And of course your gorgeous teacups too :-)
Thanks for putting together such a grand display to share!
Lynn
Oh yum! Scones with clotted cream and jam. I have a lavender rose tea cup just like yours.. . it's one of my favorites. The Aynsley plate really does compliment it nicely. (I like mixing the china for my little tea parties with friends. It seems more relaxed that way.)
ReplyDeleteHello Maggie
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting me for tea this week, I had to come and see your teacup. The Lavender Rose teapot is all I have of this pattern because I have various teacups and prefer to use crystal for the cream and sugar.
I really like the plate you purchased too and it will look very nice piled with fresh scones for another tea.
Judith
Beautiful post! The china is adorable. I absolutely love your plate with the lavender ribbon. And that scone with cream and jam looks so delicious!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful tea, Maggie! Love your transferware creamer and your pretty tea cup. Your photos are stunning!
ReplyDeleteBlessings, Beth
Oh how funny we also enjoyed a National Trust Cream Tea while we were in the UK last week, ours was at Polesden Lacey in Surrey.
ReplyDeleteWell, I am pretty sure I just gained 10 pounds looking at your delicious cream tea! And the tea set is gorgeous. Very pretty dishes and very special treats!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely tea cup and saucer in the Roval Albert pattern Lavender Rose. I enjoyed seeing your wonderful finds and the delicious scone on the sweet Aynsley tea plate. Your post shows what a grand time you had on your holiday.
ReplyDeleteHow very beautiful your china pieces are! Just love them!
ReplyDeleteAnd your post should come with a warning. Your homemade scone is making me drool. :)
I know this is an old post, but I had to comment! This is wonderful! I collect tea cups and am falling in love with red transferware! The cream tea looks so yummy! I've always wanted to visit England - I do hope I get to one day! So lovely!
ReplyDeleteCindy