Bucknell

Trip Start Jun 11, 2008
1
57
74
Trip End Aug 15, 2008


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Where I stayed
The Willows, Bucknell
(Birmingham hotels)

Flag of United Kingdom  , England,
Friday, August 1, 2008

The first day of our Stedman get together.  Very exciting.  We were due to meet at the White House in Aston Munslow (we had sussed out the route yesterday) at 10:50 and, for the first time on this trip, it took us less time than estimated to reach our destination.  So we were in plenty of time, in fact we were about 20 minutes early (having allowed for the usual hold ups and traffic delays that didn't eventuate this trip).  Rather than hang around in the farmyard Tom led us off to explore, setting a cracking pace up the hill, with Barbara, Margaret and Ruth at various distances behind.

It was great to meet new Stedman connections and to see again Sandra and her family from near Cambridge and Michaela Stedman from the Gold Coast.  There were about 20 in the group including 6 from Australia - Tom and Ruth, Michaela and 3 from South Australia.
The White House Gardens, Aston Munslow
The White House Gardens, Aston Munslow
At 11:00 we went into the House, where we believe Stedmans lived from 1335 until 1946.  It is a large place, currently with six bedrooms and two bathrooms (no showers) and several living areas.  Theoretically it is two storied but the upper floor has several different levels, reached by steps up or down along the passageways.

There are several barns and farm buildings plus a 13th century dovecote in serious disrepair.  The weather was fine, warm and sunny.  We were able to spend over an hour looking around this wonderful old building and grounds.  It is now owned by the Landmark Trust, having been handed over to them by the last owner, a Miss Constance Purser who had run it as a museum for about 20 years.

We then visited the churches at Munslow and Diddlebury, two small nearby villages.  Both these old (initially from about 13th century) churches have family connections (as does the one at Bucknell, across the road from our B&B).

After a very quick bite to eat at the Craven Arms (another small town) Discovery Centre (which we had visited on Thursday) we all visited Bucknell Hall, where the owner, Constance Price provided a tour of the house and afternoon tea, including home made cakes!  Bucknell Hall was another Stedman residence and it was in its duck pond that Caleb Stedman drowned in the early 1900s, on his way home from an evening at the Sitwell Arms hotel.

We only had a short respite before most of us met for a lively, friendly dinner at the Baron of Beef.

A wonderful, eventful day.
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Comments

milyine
milyine on Aug 11, 2008 at 03:30PM

Thanks for the memories!
Have so enjoyed your travels and have marked down a few now that they are tried and tested to visit ourselves! Have a great final few days and a safe trip home.

Margaret & Hugh

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