Period treats

[FamilyWiggs]

I just had a surprise visit overnight to stay in the Feathers Hotel in Ludlow.

http://www.feathersatludlow.co.uk

Glorious Jacobean treasures at the front and some very impressive original public rooms; and the bedrooms were pretty good too. Sadly much of the interior (other than the front) is fairly unsympathetic and hard to discern much of architectural merit. Food was good, and Ludlow is a real treasure. So much and so many different styles side by side - very well worth a visit.

As was the afternoon visit to Stokesay Castle - truly magificient.

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/stokesay-castle/

The C13th cruck roof is jaw-dropping.

A whole load of pics here:

http://www.beautifulengland.net/photos/main.php/shropshire/stokesaycastle/

 

[jocelyn plummer]

I think Ludlow Town Council rather pride themselves on the way in which they have 'knitted in' the roof line of their Tesco shop---it undulates to follow the skyline behind!

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Oh - so that's why it's this very modern curvy shape. I assumed it was used as a ski-jump in the winter...

The Aldi's opposite it is the usual 'orrible jarring mess.

 

[Gareth Hughes]

After all the fuss there was about letting Tesco's even have a store (designed by the then President of the RIBA) I must say I'm amazed to hear that Aldi have been allowed in too - without, it seems, any attempt at architecture. Just shows how a town should stick to its guns and not allow the b*ggers in at all.

 

[JoceAndChris]

Tut, some people just don't want to work do they. :wink: Get back to mucking out your pigs!

Seriously, though, your treats look thoroughly fabulous and I'm adding to the must-visit list.

 

[Penners]

I'm adding to the must-visit list.

Ludlow is a charming little town, in a beautiful area. When we spent a few days in the area with friends, we stayed in a very interesting Landmark Trust property, which I can thoroughly recommend:

http://www.landmarktrust.org.uk/BuildingDetails/Overview/143/Bromfield_Priory_Gatehouse

 

[CatherineB]

I lived in Ludlow throughout my teens. I remember my mother's excitement when the first supermarket (a Gateway, remember those?) opened its doors, on the site where there is now a Tesco. There used to be a monstrosity of a Victorian market building, in what is now a popular outdoor market square; again, I remember my parents' glee when the monstrosity (as we saw it) was demolished, although I daresay there were some who mourned its loss.

There was a proper old junk shop not far from our house, which furnished most of our home. I'd love to have something like that near me now.

(Actually, I'd love to still have that house, albeit not in that location, but it was a lovely double-fronted, double-bay Victorian villa, with a huge garden - we didn't know how lucky we were. It's gone now )

 

[Feltwell]

Ooo, I missed this one. Ludlow and Stokesay are both lovely and well worth a visit, I agree. Stokesay Castle is not too far from Feltwell Towers - in fact, I took Mrs F there for a rare child-free day out and a posh picnic on the glorious spring day that was her 40th birthday earlier this year.

The little church next door to Stokesay Castle is worth a visit too.

 

[Me!]

Whilst probably not in the same league as the feathers, that first picture has just reminded me of this place -

I stayed at the Bristol City Center Premier Inn a few months ago, and was extremely surprised to find that the attached on-site restaurant is in the
Llandoger Trow

 

[Penners]

Well, well... the old Llandoger Trow!

I'd forgotten all about that place - scene of a disgracefully riotous evening in my distant youth.

 

[Moo]

Y'know, Penners, you really give me hope.
If your accounts of your wildly misspent youth are true, we needn't worry about rioters and such-like. Given time they'll all grow up to become pillars of society.

 

[Penners]

I should perhaps qualify the word "riotous". Nothing was set on fire, nothing was thrown at policemen, no windows were smashed and no messages encouraging insurrection were posted anywhere.

It was just a load of hairy-@*sed construction industry blokes celebrating a great success with too much alcohol - probably a lot milder than you'd see in any high street on a Saturday night, nowadays.

You're a dear, Moo, but if I'm a pillar of society, no wonder the structure is in dire need of renovation.

 

[FamilyWiggs]

I should perhaps qualify the word "riotous". Nothing was set on fire, nothing was thrown at policemen, no windows were smashed and no messages encouraging insurrection were posted anywhere.

It was just a load of hairy-@*sed construction industry blokes celebrating a great success with too much alcohol - probably a lot milder than you'd see in any high street on a Saturday night, nowadays.

Gins and Dubonnet all round, eh Penners?

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Oh, and on the subject of period treats, we're currently in the Veneto, visiting stomping grounds of my youth (I used to live in Verona).

A few pics of some architectural treats to follow... once I've weaned them down; 307 pics in the first five days and we've only really done Verona, Soave and a few places on the shores of Lake Garda!

Back to Venice on Monday... can't wait.

This is me trying to look cool and Italian in my shades: 8)

Sadly it is 35-42 degrees and I'm a sweaty heap.

 

[Penners]

I used to live in Verona

So that must be where you and Mrs FW met.

Was her family name Capulet?