We Visit Clandon Park ...

Hello there! Many "Thanks" for your kind comments on my previous post and "Welcome" to my new followers.

It had promised not to rain on Sunday but rain it did just as we were half way to our destination - Clandon Park. We did think of not going and thought of diverting to the Garden Centre but we would only have spent money which we could ill afford to - October, November and December are months where money seems to disappear quicker than we can earn it. At least my car passed its MOT with no problems last week but I still need to pay for the insurance and just paid for my car tax on line. There are many Birthdays to look out for and of course there's Christmas. There I've just gone and used that dreaded word!

We continued to Clandon Park on the outskirts of Guildford in Surrey. We listened to the wipers going swish, swish, swish and wondered whether this was a good idea particularly when fog appeared too!

We had wrapped up warm so we weren't too daunted by the inclement weather!

We thought that we would walk around the gardens first before making our way to the restaurant for tea and cake!

I began taking photos on the manual setting but thought better of it as the camera was getting wet so I switched back to auto.

A side view of Clandon Park and the Parterre designed and planted in 1976 by the garden designer Graham Stuart Thomas.

You can see how wet it was by these flowers.

And this mushroom!

Another view of Clandon Park.

KP found something to take her mind off the rain!

Fungi on a tree trunk.

We stayed hidden in this little wooded area waiting for the rain to stop. The rain got to us anyway!

Through the leaves.

We had visited Clandon Park years and years ago when KP was only a toddler and I remembered the Maori hut in the garden which was the reason I'd wanted to visit again.

Hinemihi or Maori Meeting House was purchased and brought to Clandon Park in 1892 by the 4th Earl when he finished his term as Governor of New Zealand. Before it was brought to Clandon it saved the lives of many people after a volcano erupted on the 10th June, 1886. There are photos of the Meeting House in situ in the house. It shows the land surrounding the Meeting House completely flattened by the natural disaster. How such a humble dwelling could survive is nothing short of miraculous.

We found this creepy crawly on the door! I think he's lost one of his legs!

A closer look at the carving above the door.

And to the side of the door.

Intricate carvings on the porch.

The Surrey Infantry Museum is housed here which probably explains the lone drummer in the grounds.

The main entrance to the house. Once through the main door you enter a vast marbled hall. This is the only room where photographs could be taken.

Inside there are vast collections of porcelain figures as well as a lock of George III's hair!

Back into the garden - more Autumnal colour and more rain!

There were many leaves on the ground.

There was also an exhibition of Maori masks on the top floor!

KP declared them to be "creepy."

Until next time,

June.