A disappointment

Not the best of days to wander around Shugborough gardens as a very misty drizzly morning was in store but the autumn colours of the changing foliage were well worth seeing. I definitely got my 8000 steps in today! First, we had to cross the lovely Essex bridge. It was here I had a confrontation with cyclists back in 2014. Loved the feeling of power as I stopped them from racing over the bridge!

Went to the farm first and so very disappointed that the animal pens were all empty, the only livestock we did see was the English Longhorn.

National Trust took over the Mansion and grounds last year and when the Staffordshire county council handed it over to the NT, they rehomed many of the animals. But we are reliably informed that there will eventually be a return of sheep and pigs but not for a while yet. The farm buildings were open to view but without the guides dressed as maids demonstrating the art of cake baking and pie making, it lacked authenticity. We were lucky enough to see that before the estate changed hands in 2016. The house was completely different then too, so to see what it was like  click here

I hope in the future NT will reinstate some of those guides playing their part as 19-century servants because today we were so disappointed that I'm glad as NT members we didn't have to pay to get in. We would have been very miffed indeed!

I'm not sure what other NT members feel but these 'themed' displays taking over key rooms are not what we expect in a grand house. This years theme was about the brothers George and Thomas Anson and the rooms were full of maps and military as well as paintings. Yes admittedly they both changed the look of the estate and mansion but surely information boards would have sufficed instead of taking away the grand dining room and parlour. You can read all about it HERE   And then there was the 'Lost Paradise'  small wooden viewing boxes, three of them scattered around the estate. The only one we found didn't work!

Supposed to turn the handle to start the viewing but as fast as Ian turned it ...nothing happened.

Exert taken from the web about the boxes

Inspired by the Arcadian landscape conceived by Thomas Anson in the 18th century, once full of eclectic monuments and early Greek revival structures, ‘A Lost Paradise?’ aims to emotionally connect visitors with the story of their creation and then destruction by the great flood in 1795.

And the artist

Ben Wigley

Ben Wigley is an artist and film-maker whose work explores the journeys people make in life. He is the founder of Artdocs, which spans platforms and audiences by exploring multi-layered, immersive journeys through experimental film, documentary, art and interpretation.

The grounds though were stunning and well worth the visit. Those autumnal colours...amazing.

  For the first time in all the times we have visited Shugborough, we walked up to the Hadrians Arch.
A climb that got the heart pumping and the leg muscles aching. And to think in Oz last year we used to think nothing of climbing hundreds of steps and steep paths to see waterfalls. Prooves how unfit I have become since becoming the couch potatoes again! But what we were lucky enough to see was the estate deer. I didn't know they had any although I should have guessed as deer heads with antlers are displayed in the hall.

And inside the mansion.

A few more photos

Shame this Orange moth was floating in the pond by the ornamental gardens. I couldn't get close enough for a rescue!

Robin trapped in the Mill.

Had visitors late afternoon. Dave and Heather on Nb Vixen arrived. Quite late, around 5ish and most of the moorings had already been claimed. One was free, just behind the boat that was moored on our stern. With a bit of manoeuvring Dave managed to slip Vixen inbetween with inches to spare. Trying to pull the stern in and we realised why it was still vacant.  With a draught of 2'4" there should have been no problem but his stern stuck out by at least 2ft. Nevermind it will do for tonight especially as we have already agreed on a game of Uno!