Day 164 - June 12th

Warning - heavy photo post

We are spending the next couple of days in the West Midlands.

Today we visited a couple of National Trust Properties which we visited last year when in the area but felt they deserved another visit - Packwood House & Baddersley Clinton.

Packwood House 

When originally built in 1570, Packwood House was a simple timber-framed farmhouse but the Fetherston family, who occupied the house until 1876, made various changes removing much of its Tudor character. But when Graham Baron Ash inherited the house in 1925 he set about restoring many of the original Tudor features and so the overall effect is of a Tudor property.

After looking round the house, we ventured into the gardens including the kitchen garden, Corolean Garden, Yew Garden  and Orchard. Last year when we visited we joined a garden tour which whilst interesting didn't allow us much time to stop and admire the  flowers. Today, wandering around on our own, we were able to stop and take in all that there was to see. The flowers were beautiful.

Within the grounds there is a Sunken Garden which is planted as a 'dry garden' with statues and exotic dessert plants and plants which like dry weather.

In the orchard area we spotted some wild orchids. They seem to be everywhere this year.

Baddersley Clinton

Baddersley Clinton dates back to the 13th century and the house sits in the middle of a moat.

The house has an interesting history. In the late 16th century, priests took shelter to evade capture and the priest hole is still visible with a trap door covering the entrance.

Like Packwood House, Baddersley Clinton has beautiful gardens including a very large vegetable garden and, in flower at the time we visited, there were lots of gorgeous peonies.