We try to get out and about every couple of weeks and are often scratching around to find somewhere we haven't visited. But twice in the last few weeks we have found glorious places so near to home I am almost ashamed to say we have not been before.
Today I will share out visit to Wollaton Park in Nottingham.
The day we chose followed a very wet and windy Saturday and we were expecting it to be overcast with a fair chance of more rain, but to our delight the day dawned bright, crisp, even sunny and amazingly warm!
Wollaton Hall was designed by Robert Smythson and completed in 1588 (the year of the Spanish Armada) for Sir Francis Willoughby. The exterior remains much as is was originally and is considered to be a masterpiece.
The interior was remodelled in 1642 following a fire and again in the 18th and 19th Centuries by Sir Jeffry Wyatville for 6th Lord Middleton.
It opened to the public in 1926 and is home to the city's Natural History Museum.
As well as the stunning house, whose period rooms you can visit by joining one of the guided tours, the grounds are well worth a visit. Stunning in Autumn they would make an excellent place for Summer picnics, with acres of space (approximately 500 now, though originally it was 790 acres). There are deer and plenty of wildlife and birds as well as formal gardens.
My post is a little picture heavy, but I hope it conveys the space and delightful variety of vistas. We thoroughly enjoyed the visit and indeed the Natural History Museum and will certainly be keeping this in our places to revisit book for next Spring and Summer.
Have a lovely week and I hope the sun keeps shining a little longer for you as it certainly is here today.
TTFN
Jenny xx
