Mompesson House & Garden

Looking further around the Cathedral Close we come upon Mompesson House which was built for the local Member of Parliament, Charles Mompesson in 1701.
Wandering around allows visitors a step back in to a past world.
This house now belongs to The National Trust
(seen here in the middle)

The back garden

Where we had lunch

The dining table set for tea

and a sitting room set for afternoon tea

and study

bedrooms

and the library

A house next to Sir Edward Heath's house

The house to the left of Mompesson House

We have left the close now and are on our way back to the car park

I love this wall in flower

and lastly this is the end of our cottage holiday in June

nearing Heathrow Airport we want to hit the London orbital

before the late Saturday afternoon traffic

(see the red lights - there's heavy traffic ahead)

Arundells, Cathedral Close, Salisbury

Arundells in Cathedral Close was the home of the late Sir Edward Heath, Prime Minister from 1970-1974.
He served under Sir Winston Churchill and was leader of the Conservative party for 10 years.

We did not take a house tour as the times did not fit in with our travel schedule but we did walk around the garden

http://www.arundells.org/

The above link gives lots of information and history and you can also take a mini house tour by clicking on the picture gallery

The back of the house is much prettier than the front

Imagine having a view of this beautiful cathedral every time one looks out of the window 

Still 2 more posts to come on the close

Salisbury Cathedral and Magna Carta

On our way back from Somerset in June we had planned to visit Highclere Castle the location for Downton Abbey.
It was closed Saturdays for weddings so we decided to visit Salisbury instead.

We walk through the gate into the cathedral close

Where some are taking a rest

This 13th century cathedral boasts Britain's tallest spire (404 feet)

and Britain's largest cloisters

and in the Chapter House with it's beautiful fan ceiling (which I forgot to photo) is the home of the best preserved of the 4 surviving original 1215 Magna Carta.

It's significance spans the democratic world, inspiring important texts from the United States constitution to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It is seen as one of the foundation stones of modern civil liberties. In August 2009 the worldwide stature of Magna Carta was recognised when it was inscribed in the UNESCO 'Memory of the World' register.

We were not able to take photographs as there was a service in the cathedral so we sat for a while and took part instead

Do double click if you want to enjoy the architecture

Salisbury has the largest cathedral close in the country with many interesting buildings surrounding it

We will visit some of these in the next post.

Malmesbury,Wiltshire Pt.14

Malmesbury is one of the oldest continually inhabited sites in the country, dating back to the 7th Century. The Abbey and town sit on the top of a hill and it was interesting as we climbed the steps below the abbey, each step had a plaque depicting some historical relevance to the town and abbey. I photographed these two as we climbed the steps.

941 Athelstan,King of England dies at Gloucester and is buried in Malmesbury Abbey having given King's Heath to the men of Malmesbury forever

1539 Henry the eighth sells the abbey to William Stumpe, an "exceding rich Clothiar"

The abbey ruins surround the part of the building that is still in use as a parish church today

The Inn right next door would have been used as a stopping place for pilgrims

The tomb of King Athelstan

The abbey's position in the centre of town