Hampton Court Castle - revisited.

Yesterday, I received a surprise email from a member of The British Red Cross Spring Garden Event Committee, Debra Tritton is her name.
It seems that she had come across a post that I wrote back in May about the day the Senior Partner and I had attended the BRCSGE 2011, at Hampton Court Castle in Herefordshire.
Here's a link if you would like to see it: here.
If you google BRCSGE 2011, my post is #6 in the list, who knew?
In 2012 the event is to be held at Berrington Hall, Herefordshire and Ms Tritton very kindly invited me to get in touch with her should we decide to attend the event there.
The Senior Partner and I have already made plans for a vacation next May and it won't be the UK, so sadly we won't be able to go to Berrington and revisit that amazing National Trust property and enjoy one of their amazing cream teas.
I took another look at the May post and enjoyed the event all over again and realised that although I promised to show you the inside of Hampton Court Castle (click on the link to go to the HCC website)I never did write that post.

Well, better late than never!

So sit back, with a cup of your favourite beverage and enjoy a virtual tour of inside Hampton Court Castle.

Warning there are a lot of pix!

The first room that you enter is the Great Hall (pix 1-4)

There are long corridors filled with suits of armour,

 coats of arms, pikes, swords, guns and trophies.

The authentic mediaeval chapel is licensed for weddings.

One of the bedrooms and a large bathroom,

with monogrammed towels.

Another enormous bedroom.

The massive central stone staircase (next 3 pix)

 complete with stuffed lion!

How would you like to celebrate Thanksgiving around this magnificent table?

The Library.

I've added some links in the above text if you would like to learn more about Hampton Court Castle,

they tell the story much better than I can!

If you are ever in the area I can highly recommend a visit to this very quirky and original place.

Joining Bunny Jean for

Bunny Hop Wednesday #16

why not hop on over and meet some new bloggers?

British Red Cross Great Spring Gardening Event, 2011.

Yesterday the Senior Partner and I joined many other keen gardeners at the British Red Cross Great Spring Gardening Event which this year was held in the grounds of Hampton Court Castle, Herefordshire.

To reach the showgrounds the pathway led us past the newly restored Victorian walled kitchen garden and through a tunnel of overhanging wisteria reputed to be over one hundred and fifty years old.

Mr B couldn't resist buying fresh green asparagus and strawberries, both locally grown, we passed on the fruit juices though.

There were many specialist plant nurseries represented, about eighty craft and gift stalls in the grounds and tents.

We enjoyed looking at the varied displays created by several garden designers, "posh shed" builders, potters and wood workers to name just a few.

Several times we were gently accosted by small children from Burghill Primary School, all eager to tell us how they have been working with the British Red Cross and learning lots of different skills. Other activities they had taken part in were Bag Packing at a local supermarket; a sponsored walk; resilience training and creating a refugee camp.

They told us that they "had a fantastic time talking to some people in Ohio (in America!), where we taught some children facts about the British Red Cross".

The Orangery cafe looked beautiful but the lunch menu was a little too much and a little too late for us so we opted for a sandwich and a cuppa in one of the refreshment tents.

We also took the opportunity to tour the Castle but that's another story..........................

I hope that you have enjoyed your virtual visit to Hampton Court Castle Gardens and will come back again for a fascinating look inside.
Walking back to the car we couldn't resist taking more shots of the kitchen garden and it's glasshouses.

Linking this post to The Tablescapers Seasonal Sunday where bloggers gather each week to share seasonal activities happening in their corner of the globe.

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