Stoneleigh Abbey visit

Its Jubilee weekend. We spent yesterday afternoon watching the Queen watching the Thames River Pageant.  At least she did not have to listen and watch the lamentable coverage by the BBC.  My hat goes off to Her Majesty, still doing the job well....and standing for all that time too.  Also my thanks go to all the crowds there to support and give thanks to her and to Prince Philip.

After a day yesterday when it seemed to rain non stop, and which filled my nearly empty water butt, the sun has come out today.  Even though we have been here nearly five years, we have never been to look around Stoneleigh Abbey.  So this morning we decided to get cracking and get out and make the most of the day.

On the start of the visit you go through the Medieval Gatehouse.  There are long attractive borders of herbaceous plants and old roses. 

We arrived at Stoneleigh in time for the first tour of the day.  The rooms we saw were magnificent, with some of the original furniture.  The plasterwork is impressive too.  Jane Austen would have recognised much of what we saw.  I'll certainly go again for the Jane Austen tour. 

Afterwards we had a nice lunch in the orangery, followed by a walk round the gardens, through which the River Avon runs.

The Summer house in which Victoria and Albert must have certainly sat was a shady corner, lined with bark and roots.

The restored stables were open, and that has just reminded me of the short clips I saw last night of the special horse show put on for the Queen at Windsor Castle.  After the party tonight, I hope Her Majesty has a bit of a quiet time...