Winchester
We set off around 9:30am to Winchester to find where our super terrific son-in-law Timmy Thompson, used to hang out. We found the old family home easily, the Arbour where Tim scattered his mothers ashes 4 years ago and then found Tim's local Pub which was closed... too early but we took lots of photos for your Tim.
Next destination was the tiny village of Chawton to find the home Jane Austen lived in for 8 years... from 1809 to 1817. It was really wonderful to be able to walk through the house reading all the interesting snippets of information and seeing Jane's writing desk and bedroom... but of course the real reason I was keen to see her home was to see the famous patchwork coverlet Jane, her mother and sister Cassandra made while they were living at Chawton. The British really do this sort of Home-Museum very well, one gets a real feel of what it was like 200 years ago. The house is set in a large well maintained garden with the outbuildings on view as well... the bakehouse is also the laundry and there is a Granary come coffee house.
Jane Austen's writing table.
Jane Austen's Home at Chawton.
The Quilt.
Across the road was The Grey Friar which gets an entry in David's current bible... the 'Good Beer Guide' Lunch was bagettes, chicken for David and I had prawns in a Marie Rose sauce, yummo!
Next destination was the 'Watercress Railway' where we were hoping to see a steam train but they were only running an old diesel today so we decided to head back to Winchester and spent the next two hours walking and walking around the narrow streets and the most beautiful Cathedral in England I reckon... although Salisbury is lovely as well. We found the home Jane Austen lived in for the last 6 weeks of her life and many other interesting homes... we are fascinated by all the different building materials and styles of some very small homes in these very old towns especially when you compoare them to the size of the Cathedral! We are walking by a Coach stop just as the passengers were getting off. There was a little girl about Abi's age rushing along the pavement, smiling and greeting her grand father as well as a little boy about Jack's age running to meet his granny with his arms out wide... gosh I'm a sook... I had tears!!! David is used to me now.
Back to the 'Fulflood Arms' and a search to find a local who remembers Timmy Thompson... we have a drink with two customers and the barman who is only 18 so was only 8 when Tim left for Australia. Eventually another customer turns up, he's the local Newsagent and when his memory is jogged remembers Tim's family... then just as we are leaving a white bearded man comes in, he remembers the family and Tim well so we have a bit of a chat and I ask if I can take a photo for Tim... which I will put up on the Blog when we get back to Wood Green.
Next destination was the tiny village of Chawton to find the home Jane Austen lived in for 8 years... from 1809 to 1817. It was really wonderful to be able to walk through the house reading all the interesting snippets of information and seeing Jane's writing desk and bedroom... but of course the real reason I was keen to see her home was to see the famous patchwork coverlet Jane, her mother and sister Cassandra made while they were living at Chawton. The British really do this sort of Home-Museum very well, one gets a real feel of what it was like 200 years ago. The house is set in a large well maintained garden with the outbuildings on view as well... the bakehouse is also the laundry and there is a Granary come coffee house.
Jane Austen's writing table.
Jane Austen's Home at Chawton.
The Quilt.Across the road was The Grey Friar which gets an entry in David's current bible... the 'Good Beer Guide' Lunch was bagettes, chicken for David and I had prawns in a Marie Rose sauce, yummo!
Next destination was the 'Watercress Railway' where we were hoping to see a steam train but they were only running an old diesel today so we decided to head back to Winchester and spent the next two hours walking and walking around the narrow streets and the most beautiful Cathedral in England I reckon... although Salisbury is lovely as well. We found the home Jane Austen lived in for the last 6 weeks of her life and many other interesting homes... we are fascinated by all the different building materials and styles of some very small homes in these very old towns especially when you compoare them to the size of the Cathedral! We are walking by a Coach stop just as the passengers were getting off. There was a little girl about Abi's age rushing along the pavement, smiling and greeting her grand father as well as a little boy about Jack's age running to meet his granny with his arms out wide... gosh I'm a sook... I had tears!!! David is used to me now.
Back to the 'Fulflood Arms' and a search to find a local who remembers Timmy Thompson... we have a drink with two customers and the barman who is only 18 so was only 8 when Tim left for Australia. Eventually another customer turns up, he's the local Newsagent and when his memory is jogged remembers Tim's family... then just as we are leaving a white bearded man comes in, he remembers the family and Tim well so we have a bit of a chat and I ask if I can take a photo for Tim... which I will put up on the Blog when we get back to Wood Green.
1 Comments:
Hi Pennie,
Loved seeing Jane's quilt. When I saw it they had it hanging on the wall -looks much better on the bed.
Hot,hot, hot here today!
Mary-anne
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