Day: August 11, 2007

This weekend we went to Sudeley Castle – http://www.sudeleycastle.co.uk – which is just outside of Cheltenham in a town called Winchcombe. It took about 45 minutes from Bristol Temple Meads to Cheltenham and then 2 buses later we entered Winchcombe. This is a little township with the thatched roofing and Coltswold stone. Just beautiful. From here it was about a 10 minute walk to the castle through the countryside. The grounds are incredible with stunning gardens, oak and chestnut trees. Inside the grounds they had a display of what life would be like in the 15th century with wool spinners, gun powder maker, a guy making lead bullets and people cooking over open fires. Just after midday the joust began. I was very excited to see this. The knights looked incredible in their chain mail and colourful cloaks. They put on an incredible show even if the crowd was a bit lack lustre. Well I have finally seen a joust. Apparently they run courses in it around Warwick Castle area. Hmmm, my new sport? I think not.
After the joust it was into the gardens. Dad, you would have loved it. So many roses, lavendar, knot gardens, hedges, the smell from the flowers was incredibly heady and delightful on a perfect summers day. We have both even managed to come away a bit burnt. Unfortunately we under estimated the heat of the day.
Well, I can say that I truly have loved this area and would be more than happy to come back and just sit in the gardens watching the flowers grow and listening to the bees.
No wonder Katherine Parr (King Henry VIII’s last wife) lived here with her 2nd husband, Thomas Seymour until her death. It is spectacular.