A few days away from
it all is a good thing, when we do get away we spend quite a bit of
our time visiting National Trust properties. We had a few days in
Poole, Dorset and even though it was October we had some lovely
weather.
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| Brownsea Island |
On our first day we
went to Poole Quay and went on a boat trip around the harbour. Part
of this trip was to get dropped off at Brownsea Island, if you
fancied it. Brownsea Island for most people is the place where the
experimental first Scouts camp was held. It is also a home to the
increasingly rare red squirrel.
Our next day we
visited Kingston Lacy, a wonderful house that is the home to many
fine paintings and for me, wonderful furniture and carpentry, the
window shutters really caught my attention.
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| Kingston Lacy |
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| Hinton Ampner |
On our final day we
visited Hinton Ampner. A fine private house with spectacular views
over the Hampshire countryside. In contrast to Kingston Lacy, the
owner was a collector of fine china and pottery. Not my thing but it
is easy to appreciate the skill and artistic expertise of the
potters.
I guess for some it
is a bit of anathema that the average citizen of today should go
around glimpsing into houses and lives that at one time ruled over
us. For me it is a pleasure to see that although the people are gone
we as a nation are now able to visit these fine houses and
voyeuristically look into the lives of our forebears. Besides, the
National Trust own and look after plenty of other properties that
have a more significant place in our history too.
‘Till the next
time.
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