Impressions of Althorp

On a beautiful summer day last June, I had the opportunity to visit Althorp, the country manor home of the Spencer family, Princess Diana and the place where she is buried. Althorp dates from 1508 and is part of a 13,000 acre estate. The day included lunch in the Picture Gallery and participation in Charles Spencer's annual literary festival.  We also had time to walk around the estate and see a glimpse of the life of this historic family. 

View of manor house from the back

When we arrived, we were led up to the Picture Gallery where our luncheon was held.  Charles Spencer was sponsoring the literary event which was held in various rooms around the house.  Charles was a former NBC news correspondent and Diana's brother. Since he was the oldest male heir, he inherited the estate from his father, the Eighth Earl of Spencer and Princess Diana's father.  Charles Spencer was 27 when his father died and he inherited the estate.  He is working to maintain and  preserve Althorp.  It's very common for estates to host a variety of events to raise money to help preserve the estate for future generations.

Charles Spencer greeting us in the Picture Gallery

The Picture Gallery seats two hundred for dinner and houses sixty portraits

which include ten of Charles II's mistresses, known as 'The Windsor Beauties.'

The Spencer Gallery overlooking the Saloon

After lunch, we attended different sessions of the literary festival.  I was interested in learning more about the Spencer family history, so I attended a talk given by Charles Spencer about the history of his family and Althorp.  

back of the stables

Before we headed back to London, we walked around the grounds of the Althorp estate.  The grounds were stunning, with the stables a prominant building near the house.  They are now used as a gift shop and cafe for visitors. Until the early 20th century, the stables were home to one hundred horses and up to  forty grooms!

front of the stables

There were lovely gardens all around the stables.   The garden around the house was orginally designed in 1860.

There are plenty of sheep to make a picture perfect scene of the English countryside.  

As you walk back behind the house, you follow a path which ends at a pond.  In the middle of the pond is an island.  You can see the monument that is mostly overgrown now but this is where Princess Diana is buried.   It's very peaceful and a beautiful setting. 

Our day concluded with a scenic bus ride back to London and a deeper appreciation of what is involved in owning and managing an English country manor house. 

Mine own romantic town

Last April, our good friends Eva and John visited us from Cleveland. John has a sister that lives in England, so while he visited her and Tom was working, Eva and I headed north to Edinburgh (with a short stop in York, subject of a previous blog.)  Then in late May, Tom and I took a long weekend and visited Loch Lomond and then stopped in Edinburgh on the way home.  The pictures are from both weekends.

Edinburgh is a much smaller city than London so it's a fun city to walk around (if you like hills)  and try to absorb the immense history of this beautiful city.  These are just a few highlights of my two spring trips to Edinburgh.

Edinburgh Castle is built on volcanic rock created around 340 million B.C. and around 900 B.C. there was archaeological evidence for human settlement. The first historical reference to a fortress on the rock was around A.D. 600.  It's history is overwhelming and as the castle history states, it's history is Scotland's history.  Kings, Queens, crown jewels, wars.. all were part of this fortress.  It's location is easy to say why it was such a strategic part of Edinburgh.

The view from Edinburgh Castle looking out to the Firth of Forth and the section of  the city called New Town.

On a clear day, the views from the castle are spectacular .

In late May, they were already constructing bleachers for the world famous Military Tattoo which is
 held for three weeks in August.

Eva and I at the top of Edinburgh castle.

I love the view looking from the canons to the city with the sea in the background.  

If you have any Scottish ancestors, it's not hard to find the clan tartan in the woolen shops in Edinburgh.  Eva and I were looking for McQueen and Maxwell plaids!  

The castle sits high on a rock above the city.  The castle has been both a fort and a royal residence since the 11th century.

The Royal Mile ~  the Royal Mile is four different streets (actually 200 yards longer than a mile) that extend from near the castle down a hill to the Palace of Holyrood.  The Royal Mile is filled with shop, cafes, and tiny alleys  (a close) leading to tiny squares.  

About half way down the Royal Mile, is St. Giles Cathedral, Scotland's most important church.  It was founded in the 1120's but is best known as the church of John Knox, the leader of the Scottish Reformation.  He was the Minister of St. Giles from 1559 to 1572 after he led the Lords of the Congregation into Edinburgh.  He played a principal role in establishing the styles of worship that were to be accepted throughout the country.

St. Giles' Cathedral

The organ at  St. Giles' is a Rieger organ (Austrian) that was built  in 1992 and made of beautiful Austrian oak.

                                                               

ceiling of St. Giles' Cathedral

The Palace of Holyrood is at the end of the Royal Mile.  The Queen usually spends a week here each summer.  The ruins that you see are the ruins of an abbey-part of a 12th century Augustinian monastery  that originally was here.  Scotland's royalty preferred to stay at the Palace of Holyrood rather than in Edinburgh Castle which could be quite windy.

Palace of Holyrood, Edinburgh

Such dusky grandeur clothed the height

Where all the huge castle holds it state

And all the steep slope down

Whose ridgy back heaves to the sky

Piled deep and massy, close and high

Mine own romantic town.

(Marmion Canto IV, Sir Walter Scott)