#victorian conservatories sussex

[hometoursandotherstuff]

Some pics of Dunford House in West Sussex, an 1852 Victorian villa in the South East of England. The home had been gifted to the local YMCA in 1952 and the plans they submitted were rejected as being “harmful.” I’m glad they allow it to be ruined.

Love these hanging dried plants in the entrance.

Love the walls and all the patina in this home. Notice how they simply painted the floors black. 

Peeking into the rooms, this home is so incredible. The walls are very skillfully faux finished to look worn. 

The conservatory and greenhouse are spectacular.

Stained floor? Don’t care. And, it’s such an elegant home.

Now, the home starts to get moody. Still black floors, but painted walls and a darker look.

Closeup up the wall- looks like it was done with a pallet knife.

And, when you get to the bar, the whole room is black with lovely pink velvet vintage chairs. 

The kitchen is modernized.

The grounds are weathered, too.

And, they’ve got a little hot tub, running on a wood or coal stove going, too.

 https://www.desiretoinspire.net/category/black/page/2/

[brajeshupadhyay]

Whether, like Plumber Manor in Dorset, they’ve been owned by the same family for hundreds of years or are a cherished new project such as Caer Beris in Wales, manor hotels have a family at their hearts.  Packed with history, these hotels pride themselves on delightfully old-fashioned hospitality with generous meals, antique furniture, gardens to wander in and countryside to admire.  There are famous ones, including Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, and Gravetye and Cowley Manors, but there are plenty of others to discover, and some of them have superb deals this year. Lympstone Manor, Devon  Lympstone Manor in Devon has a Michelin-starred restaurant and 21 bedrooms in the main house, with high levels of indulgence that include a resident artist and a vista of the River Exe Stunning: Pictured is one of the bathrooms, which features two freestanding gold baths and a marble double sink  When chef Michael Caines bought this Regency mansion near Exmouth in 2017, part of the appeal was the surrounding farmland which he thought would make an ideal terroir for English sparkling wine. More than 17,000 vines were planted, and the first vintage is due in 2021. In the meantime, there’s a Michelin-starred restaurant and 21 bedrooms in the main house, with high levels of indulgence that include a resident artist and a vista of the River Exe. New this year are equally luxurious shepherd’s huts that sleep up to five guests. Doubles from £560, including breakfast and lunch (lympstonemanor.co.uk).   Ockenden Manor, West Sussex Sussex treat: Ockenden Manor, near Cuckfield, serves afternoon cream tea with scones and finger sandwiches  Tucked into the countryside near the South Downs, next to the boutique-filled village of Cuckfield, parts of this mansion date from the 16th Century. If you want to delve into the oldest part of the hotel, ask for the Master Timothy suite, which has wooden panelling, reading nooks and an adjacent room for children. Downstairs is given over to a bar, drawing rooms and a restaurant which overlooks a semi-wild garden; its wine list reflects the burgeoning Sussex vineyard scene. The former walled garden now houses a spa with an indoor and outdoor swimming pool; there are also a handful of suites, allowing guests to drift between their rooms and treatments. One-night Spa Break Getaway costs from £143pp for dinner, B&B with £25 voucher towards a spa treatment from Monday to Friday (prideofbritainhotels.com). Buckland Manor, Worcestershire Chef Will Guthrie raids the nearby Vale of Evesham for produce both in the restaurant and for hampers to take on picnics around Buckland Manor and beyond  There are 15 rooms, some of them with four-poster beds and views of church spires. Distinctly more family-friendly than many Cotswolds hotels, there are interconnecting rooms as well as special menus for children  Domesday mention:  The manor house has ‘Domesday Book history and plenty of modern-day appeal’ A manor house with Domesday Book history and plenty of modern-day appeal. The 15th Century timbered hall provides the backdrop for afternoon tea in winter, although in summer it spreads out into the gardens. The beautiful village of Broadway is a gentle hike away, so are the gardens at Snowshill. There are 15 rooms, some of them with four-poster beds and views of church spires. Distinctly more family-friendly than many Cotswolds hotels, there are interconnecting rooms as well as special menus for children. Chef Will Guthrie raids the nearby Vale of Evesham for produce both in the restaurant and for hampers to take on picnics around the hotel and beyond. Two-night stays from £315pp, including B&B plus one dinner and a National Trust card worth £127 (bucklandmanor.co.uk). Plumber Manor, Dorset Generations of the Prideaux-Brune family have lived at Plumber Manor in Dorset since they built it in the 1600s – and it shows A textbook West Country manor house, from the long driveway surrounded by fields to the mullion windows framed by roses. Generations of the Prideaux-Brune family have lived at Plumber since they built it in the 1600s and it shows, with resident black labradors, proper family portraits and a collection of classic cars. There are six bedrooms in the main house, ten others in a restored stone barn. Spread over three dining rooms, the menu is classic country house, strong on cheese souffle and peppered beef, followed by home-made puddings. B&B from £155. For a three-night minimum stay, dinner, B&B is from £137.50pp per night (plumbermanor.co.uk). Manor House, Wiltshire The 14th Century ivy-clad manor house in Wiltshire is filled with stained-glass windows, beams and a Michelin-starred restaurant There are 21 rooms in the main house and 29 cottages around the grounds, some of which are dog-friendly With its charming honey-stoned houses, Castle Combe is often described as England’s most beautiful village, and it has caught the eye of many a Hollywood director. It has a 14th Century ivy-clad manor house – in the same honey-coloured stone to match – filled with stained-glass windows, beams and a Michelin-starred restaurant. There are 21 rooms, including the delightful Lordsmeer suite in the main house and 29 cottages around the grounds, some of which are dog-friendly. There’s an 18-hole golf course and a glorious Italianate garden, and the Bybrook river meanders through the grounds. B&B doubles from £250 (exclusive.co.uk/the-manor-house). Titchwell Manor, Norfolk A hotel that catches the posh but gently boho North Norfolk vibe beautifully; this Victorian building is too close to the beach to have any airs and graces, but there’s a lot of breezy charm. Meals are served in an expansive conservatory and there are 26 rooms, some with hot tubs. Owned by the Snaith family, it is managed by their son Eric, who also runs Norfolk’s smartest fish and chip shop in nearby Thornham. Family-friendly, it’s also a stylish bolthole for birdwatchers; there’s an RSPB reserve next door. B&B from £140. A two-night walking break including dinner, B&B plus a packed lunch on one day costs from £265pp (titchwellmanor.com). Longueville Manor, Jersey  Longueville Manor, Jersey, puts food and wine at the centre of its appeal This Relais & Châteaux hotel may put food and wine at the centre of its appeal, but there’s much more on offer.  The 30 rooms and suites are cream and serene, generously sized and with French-accented luxury.  For extra privacy, there’s a two-bedroom cottage in the grounds, alongside tennis courts and a spa. The hotel also has its own yacht. Longueville became a hotel in 1949 and is now in the third generation of family ownership.  There’s a fine cellar, with more than 5,000 bottles, a forager on staff to supplement the extensive kitchen garden and honey from hives dotted around the grounds.  Doubles from £225, room-only (longuevillemanor.com). Aynsome Manor Hotel, Cumbria Aynsome Manor Hotel, Cumbria, has 13 bedrooms, some in the beamed eaves of the building, all with the sort of views that will have you pulling on your walking boots For those who like the wilder side of Cumbria, here is a handsome, good-value manor near Cartmel, now run by the second generation of the Varley family. There are just 13 bedrooms, some in the beamed eaves of the building, all with the sort of views that will have you pulling on your walking boots. Guests eat in the dining room rather than a restaurant and the food aims to make the flavours sing with minimal fuss. The menus are set-price and a bargain at three courses for £30. B&B from £90 per night (aynsomemanorhotel.co.uk). Caer Beris Manor, Powys The Southwick family bought Caer Beris Manor in Powys last year and spent lockdown continuing their renovation programme  Lord Swansea built this mock-Tudor mansion, surrounded on three sides by the River Irfon, in 1896 on the foundations of a 13th Century castle. It was bought by the Southwick family last year. There are 22 rooms spread across the estate, ranging from suites to single rooms. The family spent lockdown continuing their renovation programme and have created picnic areas throughout the grounds, which also hold orchards and an otter hide, while there’s trout, salmon and grayling to fish for. The 1898 restaurant sources its ingredients locally. Mains start at £16. B&B from £90 (caerberis.com). Manor House, Argyll and Bute Manor House, Argyll and Bute, is ‘delightfully gentle’ with just 11 rooms and spectacular West Coast views The Scots don’t do manors in quite the same way as the English – fortified castles were more their thing. This hotel is one of the exceptions, and it’s delightfully gentle with just 11 rooms and spectacular West Coast views. It was built for the Duke of Argyll in 1780, next to Oban’s harbour. Staying here is a superb introduction to the Inner Hebrides, from the freshly caught seafood in the restaurant to sunset views from McCaig’s Tower behind the hotel – although watching from the Nelson bar at the hotel with a fine whisky in hand is nearly as good. Sailors can use the hotel’s own mooring. Double B&B from £224 (manorhouseoban.com). The Manor at Sway, Hampshire Pictured is one of the bedrooms at The Manor at Sway, Hampshire, where ‘William Morris mixes with a touch of modern design’ All the space and grace that the Edwardians could muster comes into play at this hotel on the southern edge of the New Forest, where William Morris mixes with a touch of modern design. It’s a great car-free option as it’s near the railway station and there are wonderful walks into the forest and heath to explore from the hotel. There are just 11 bedrooms and a restaurant serving local produce. Dishes include local pork with black pudding, crisp ham and charred baby gem lettuce, while puddings include lemon curd tart with basil. Doubles from £189, including dinner, breakfast and afternoon tea (themanoratsway.com).  Moonfleet Manor, Dorset Room with a view: Moonfleet Manor, a Georgian mansion in Dorset, overlooks the magnificent Chesil Beach Not just for adults: One of the lounges at the hotel, which is child-focused, with play areas and picnics If you want to get your child manored up, head here. Overlooking Chesil Beach and part of the Luxury Family Hotel group, it’s thoroughly child-focused. There are interconnecting rooms, indoor and outdoor play areas, including a pool, and in a Covid-made-fun way, picnics are available for every meal including breakfast. The South West Coastal Path runs alongside the back garden. In the Georgian mansion, there’s a playfulness that adults will appreciate too, with high teas and grown-up meals and, above all, Snoopy, the venerable hotel spaniel. Two nights from £329, including breakfast and dinner for two. Children stay free but are charged for meals; two hours of childcare a day is included from September 7 when the creche reopens (moonfleetmanorhotel.co.uk). Long Crendon Manor, Buckinghamshire Long Crendon Manor in Buckinghamshire has bedrooms with original features, a bakery, farm shop and florist  Not a hotel as such, but you can stay in this manor, which is stacked with beamed charm. Parts of the main house date from the 12th Century. It’s still a working estate, with ducks and geese in the orchard that creates the cider, and Gloucester Old Spot pigs that provide the morning bacon. Head into the courtyard and there’s a bakery, farm shop and florist. The farm shop cafe serves lunch and it’s walking distance from two pubs in the village. B&B doubles from £145 (longcrendonmanor.co.uk).  Rothay Manor, Cumbria This small foodie hotel in the heart of the Lake District is owned by Jamie and Jenna Shail, who have bought significant flair and rolltop baths to the low-slung white house near Ambleside. Eight of the rooms on the ground floor are dog-friendly; first-floor rooms have balconies. Its main restaurant has three AA rosettes and five courses start from £70 a head, but there’s also a more casual restaurant. B&B from £221 (rothaymanor.co.uk). The post Give your British mini-break some real style and book a stay in one of these 14 grand houses appeared first on Shri Times News. from WordPress https://ift.tt/3ld1rKb

http://sansaartimes.blogspot.com/2020/08/give-your-british-mini-break-some-real.html

[sussexconservatories]

At Sussex Conservatories we give access to reliable specialist suppliers of verandas, orangeries and conservatory designs such as Victorian style conservatory, Georgian, Edwardian conservatory, solid roof, gable, p-shape, lantern, t-shape conservatory, etc.

[architectnews]

Surrey Architecture: Buildings + Architects

Surrey Architecture, Architects, English Projects, Property Proposals, Construction Designs, News

Surrey Buildings : Architecture

Contemporary English Buildings in Surrey, southeast England Built Environment, UK

post updated 23 Aug 2020

Surrey Building – Latest Designs

Surrey Architecture News, chronological:

27 Oct 2019 Hunter’s Moon Design: Paul Archer Design photography : Kilian O’Sullivan Hunter’s Moon House Nestled in leafy suburbia, Hunter’s Moon, once a tired bungalow is given a new lease of life with a full renovation and an expansive 14.5m open-plan extension.

27 June 2019 Business School for the Creative Industries, Epsom Design: UNStudio visualisation : FlyingArchitecture Business School for the Creative Industries at UCA Epsom, Surrey This new extension proposes a connecting building to supplement the current facility and accommodate new undergraduate and post-graduate programmes.

16 Oct 2018 Hox Haus, Englefield Green, Egham Design: 74 Architects photography © Ed Kingsland Hox Haus in Egham Manchester-based architecture and interior design practice completes £2.7m project to extend and remodel a Grade II-listed, two-storey, Victorian brick building just outside Egham, for students attending Royal Holloway, University of London.

22 Aug 2017 Restoration and Rebuilding of Clandon Park image © AL_A and Malcolm Reading Consultants Clandon Park Design Competition Six design concepts are going on display at Clandon Park as part of the next stage in a competition which will eventually create a final design for the 18th-century Palladian house.

29 Jul 2017 The Boilerhouse for Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham Design: Cartwright Pickard photography © Hundven-Clements New Building for Royal Holloway, University of London

5 May 2017 High Containment Large Animal Facility (HCLAF), Woking Design: NBBJ, Architects photograph : Richard Chivers High Containment Large Animal Facility Building in Surrey Architectural practice NBBJ has been appointed by The Pirbright Institute to design a new £48m High Containment Large Animal Facility (HCLAF), a specialist laboratory and work space for research in large farm animals and viral diseases.

19 Dec 2016 The Hidden House, Surrey Hills AONB Architect: AR Design Studio image courtesy of architects office The Hidden House, Surrey Hills AONB Planning approval for new four bedroom home.

14 Aug 2016 ; 17 Nov 2011 The McLaren Production Centre, Woking Design: Foster + Partners picture © McLaren McLaren Production Centre The second building designed by Foster + Partners at McLaren’s Woking site is a 34,500-sqm facility. The building will house the assembly of all future McLaren Automotive road cars, including the recently-launched MP4-12C high-performance sports car.

8 June 2016 Winner Announced for Visitor Hub in Langley Vale Wood, Surrey Design: Mark Wray Architects image courtesy of architects office Visitor Hub in Langley Vale Wood, Surrey The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and the Woodland Trust are delighted to announce the winner of the open design competition for a new Visitor Hub at Langley Vale Wood in Surrey as Mark Wray Architects from Bath.

6 Oct 2015 Wayside House Design: OB Architecture photograph : Martin Gardner, martingardner.com Wayside House in Surrey OB Architecture were appointed to complete the extension and alterations to Wayside a large private house set in an approximately 1 acre of garden and mature landscape.

School of Veterinary Medicine at University of Surrey Design: Devereux Architects image from architect School of Veterinary Medicine at University of Surrey – 24 Jan 2013 As one of the University’s largest and most prestigious future development sites, the new school, which sits within the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, will comprise three complimentary and inter-related buildings totalling approximately 9000m2 – an Academic Building, a Veterinary Clinical Skills Centre and a Veterinary Pathology Facility.

Recent Surrey Building Designs

21 Nov 2011 East Surrey College, Redhill Design: Archial picture from architects East Surrey College The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh opened the new £43m East Surrey College building, designed by architects Archial, on 18 Nov 2011.

17 Jun 2011 Watts Gallery, Compton Design: ZMMA Architects / Purcell Miller Tritton photo : Richard Bryant/Arcaidimages.com Surrey Building : Watts Gallery

19 May 2011 Epsom House

Surrey Architecture

Key Surrey Building Projects, alphabetical:

All Saints House, Petersham, Richmond, Surrey 2006 Stephen Ibbotson Architects Private house

Butterfly house – Chetwood Associates RIBA Regional Award 2004

Cable & Wireless Sports Club, Teddington 1996 MacCormac Jamieson Prichard

Charterhouse School Building, Godalming 2010- Belsize Architects image from architects Charterhouse School Building

Christ’s College school, Guildford 2008 DSDHA £15.5m

The Circles, Long Ditton 1930s Wells Coates 2006 – refurbishment John Winter Architect Private house

Daniels House, Surrey 1993 Panter Hudspith Architects Private house

Esher House, Surrey 2006 Wilkinson King Architects Private house RIBA Awards 2006 – South RIBA Awards

European Institute of Health & Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford – Nicholas Grimshaw & Partners

Frensham Heights School & Performing Arts Centre, Farnham 2003 Burrell Foley Fischer 340-seat theatre

Goddards – Private house, Abinger Common 1900 Edwin Lutyens Goddards

‘Goldfinger House’, Windlesham 1963 Erno Goldfinger All-glass conservatory addition 2008 Grade-II listed, structural timber shell

Greenside, Surrey -; demolished 2005 Connel Ward & Lucas former grade-II listed home

Hersham Golf Club Hotel & Spa Development 2009- ReardonSmith Architects image from architects studio Hersham Golf Club Hotel

Homewood House, Portsmouth Road, Esher 1938-39 Patrick Gwynne Architect Open to public: this Modern Surrey house owned by National Trust

The Heights office park, Brooklands 2002 Hamiltons Architects

House in Surrey 2009 Designkommander image from architects House in Surrey

The Knight House – Private house, 16 Arlington Rd, Petersham 1987 David Chipperfield Architects

Lightbox Gallery & Museum, Woking 2007 Marks Barfield Architects £7m Architecture Competition winner

McLaren Technology Centre, Woking 2004 Foster + Partners image : Nigel Young_Foster + Partners McLaren Technology Centre Surrey

The Menuhin Hall, The Yehudi Menuhin School, Stoke D’Abernon 2006 Burrell Foley Fischer LLP RIBA Awards 2006 – South

Munstead Wood – Private house, nr Godalming, Surrey 1896 Edwin Lutyens

Olivetti Training Centre, Haslemere 1969-72 James Stirling, Architect

OSh House, Surrey 2006 t-sa : Toh Shimazaki Architecture ‘Open and Shut House’ – Private house

Painshill Park Visitor Centre & Education Centre, Portsmouth Rd, Cobham 2003 Feilden Clegg Bradley Architects

Priory Park Pavilion, Reigate 2007 Dominique Perrault image from architects Priory Park Pavilion

Queen’s Stand, Epsom Racecourse 1993 Richard Horden Associates Surrey building – RIBA Awards 1993 National Award

Richmond Riverside, Surrey 1988 Erith & Terry highly controversial mix of pastiche neoclassical facades with jarring suspended ceilings behind

Runnymede Civic Centre, Station Rd, Addlestone 2008 Feilden Clegg Studios

St Ann’s Hill, Chertsey 1937 Raymond McGrath Modern building – Private house

Wrythe Lane Health Centre 2008 Penoyre & Prasad

More Surrey buildings online soon

Location: south east England, UK University of Surrey Building : Nicholas Grimshaw

County Architecture adjacent to Surrey

Berkshire Buildings

Hampshire Buildings

Kent Buildings

Sussex Buildings

English Architecture

Wells Coates – architect of The Circles, a Modern Surrey house.

Modern Architecture

Modern Houses

Comments / photos for the Surrey Building page welcome

Website: England, UK

The post Surrey Architecture: Buildings + Architects appeared first on e-architect.

[jeremystrele]

An Unforgettable Tour Of Victoria’s Government House

An Unforgettable Tour Of Victoria’s Government House

Interiors

by Elle Murrell

Victoria’s Government House, built in 1876, in the Italianate style. The tower, with the arcaded lookout and decorated cornice, is 44-metre high, excluding the flagpole which is 13.7-metres. The grounds today span 11 hectares, with 18 hectares having been transferred to Domain Park (now Kings Domain). Photo – Amelia Stanwix for The Design Files.

‘We are fortunate that the House was built in the 1870s, following the Gold Rush,’ says the Governor. ‘Victoria is the beneficiary of a purpose-built Government House, the largest in the Commonwealth still to this day, of which the State Apartments form the most significant wing, including the Ballroom.’ Photo – Amelia Stanwix for The Design Files.

The Governor of Victoria, Linda Dessau AC and her husband Anthony Howard QC in The Conservatory. Photo – Amelia Stanwix for The Design Files.

The Conservatory is an extension of the State Drawing Room and features views of the west lawn and the city skyline. Photo – Amelia Stanwix for The Design Files.

Small award ceremonies, musical recitals, international welcomes and community receptions are held in the State Drawing Room. The portrait is of novelist Mrs Campbell McInnes (later Angela Thirkell) (1912) by John Collier. Photo – Amelia Stanwix for The Design Files.

Most of the furniture was custom-made for this room in 1876 and the large casement windows to the left open out to the Fountain Court. Photo – Amelia Stanwix for The Design Files.

The State Chair is the focal point of the Ballroom. The arched back rail features a crown and has  ‘Advance Victoria’ carved underneath. It includes lions’ heads carved on the arms, the cross of St George (England and Wales), the cross of St Andrew (Scotland) on the legs, and the floral emblem of Ireland, the shamrock, on the skirt of the seat. it is only ever used by the Monarch or the Monarch’s representative. Photo – Amelia Stanwix for The Design Files.

Three original crystal chandeliers, by Oslers of Birmingham who supplied Buckingham Palace, are striking features of the Ballroom. Converted from gas to electricity, the chandeliers each have more than 1,000 pieces of crystal. Photo – Amelia Stanwix for The Design Files.

Under the current Governor, the ballroom has been utilised for a trailblazing IDAHOBIT reception, Red Cross blood drive, Circus Oz workshop, yoga class for International Yoga Day, rock concert for teenagers who need support, and reception for The Duke and Duchess of Sussex during their visit last year, to name but a few events. Photo – Amelia Stanwix for The Design Files.

The ballroom and adjoining Minstrels’ Gallery access room were originally white, redecorated in their current striking ‘Hopetoun blue’ colour scheme in 1889 for the arrival of Lord and Lady Hopetoun, the former was the first Governor-General of Australia. Photo – Amelia Stanwix for The Design Files.

At 42-metres long and 16.7-metres wide, the Ballroom is bigger than the ballroom at Buckingham Palace. Photo – Amelia Stanwix for The Design Files.

The majority of the artwork is loaned from and rotated by the National Gallery of Victoria, with the Governor seeking to showcase a diversity of artists including women, indigenous and younger artists. To the left is an artwork, ‘Painting at Kalkutjara’ by Pantjiti Mary McLean, woven into a tapestry (1998) by Irene Creedon. To the right, is Sally Smart‘s ‘Diary (Joey and I)’ (1991). Photo – Amelia Stanwix for The Design Files.

The Ballroom was restored in the 1960s – 700 books of gold leaf were used to decorate the ceiling alone! Photo – Amelia Stanwix for The Design Files.

‘I think everyone remembers how it feels to walk into Government House and to experience first-hand, the scale and the beauty of this heritage building,’ tells the Governor of Victoria, Linda Dessau AC.

For Victoria’s first Lieutenant-Governor, Charles La Trobe, things looked considerably different, but still made an impact. In 1841, the site was parkland and had been an important meeting place and camping ground for local Aboriginal people. La Trobe saw great potential, as its highest point could provide one of the few vistas visible to Melburnians looking south of the Yarra River. And so, he set it aside for a future Government House.

It wasn’t until over a decade later that the Colonial Government called for design submissions, but the winning entry (an Elizabethan-style building J. G Knight and Kemp) was considered too costly. Another decade later, competition 2.0 saw a French Baronial-style building by Reed and Barnes chosen, however, estimated at £45,000, it was also deemed too expensive.

Cue the economic boom of the Gold Rush… In 1871, Inspector General of the Public Works Department William Wardell (of Melbourne’s St Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral and Gothic Bank fame) was commissioned to create a purpose-built Government House for Victoria. John James ‘JJ’ Clark, who designed the Old Treasury Building, and Peter Kerr, who designed the Victorian Parliament House, worked under Wardell to draw the designs, which were ‘of Italian architecture’. Constructed by Martin and Peacock between 1872 and 1876, the building cost the colony £200,000, including furnishings.

ALL THE DESIGN DETAILS

Not everyone was initially impressed, with the papers commenting on the ‘plain’ exterior, ‘labyrinth’ plan, and ‘vastness’, but then, on the other hand, praising ‘the ornate and tasteful decoration of the interiors’, particularly the ironwork and glass. Subjectivity aside, the Victorian Heritage Register honours it as ‘one of the largest and most beautiful mansion houses in Australia’ and one of ‘the finest examples of 19th-century residential architecture’. It remains the largest Government House in all of The Commonwealth.

The main building is approximately 3,035-square-metres, with its ornamental tower 44-metres high. Including outbuildings, the entire complex spans 240 rooms. The wow-factor State Apartments include the State Hall with cathedral-esque cross-vaulted ceilings, State Drawing Room with stunning adjoining Conservatory, and the Billiard Room featuring a portrait of every past Governor and spouse. There is also the State Dining Room and the unforgettable State Ballroom, which is larger than that of Buckingham Palace and can accommodate up to 800 people! Complementing its warm New Zealand Kauri pine floor, this Ballroom was redecorated in a current striking ‘Hopetoun blue’ colour scheme in 1889 and then restored again (using 700 books of gold leaf for the ceiling alone) in the 1960s.

Much of the State Apartments furniture was custom made for Government House in 1876, though the most iconic inclusion, The State Chair, was crafted c.1859. The Drawing Room includes a 19th century Steinway grand piano once played by Dame Nellie Melba and still in use today, while the Dining Room features a telescopic table in Spanish mahogany and Australian red cedar by James McEwan and Co. Seating 54 people, this design is almost the length of a cricket pitch! Several other furniture pieces and décor items are on loan from the Johnston Collection.

Walls are adorned with captivating portraits, including of the Royal Family and other dignitaries. Several works have been gifted into the Houses’ collection, although the majority of the artwork is loaned from and rotated by the National Gallery of Victoria. ‘When it comes to the art, much of the selection is guided by what is available at the time, but always with an eye to showcasing Victoria’s rich artistic talent across the decades, and the diversity of artists including women, indigenous, and younger artists,’ tells the Governor. ‘The building makes me feel very proud to be a Victorian as well as the Governor of Victoria. But it is the work that takes place within its walls that matters most.’

The State Dining Room features a telescopic table, seating 54 people, it’s almost the length of a cricket pitch. Photo – Amelia Stanwix for The Design Files.

Brian Dunlop‘s ‘Sesquicentenary portrait of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II’ (1984) in the State Hall. Photo – Amelia Stanwix for The Design Files.

State Dining Room details, including the portrait ‘A Lady in Grey (Portrait of Mrs. McCubbin)’ (1900), by Frederick McCubbin. ‘I am always proud when I see local and international guests studying and appreciating the broad range of Victorian art on display,’ tells the Governor. Photo – Amelia Stanwix for The Design Files.

When the House was completed The Argus newspaper reported: ‘The shell may be a trifle rough, but the kernel is a sweet one. To the stranger the interior of Government House is one series of surprises’, praising the ‘superb’ entrance hall, staircases ‘rich in the wealth of the ironworker’s art’, and windows of ‘exquisitely frosted glass’. Photo – Amelia Stanwix for The Design Files.

A VENUE FOR VICTORIA

From Federation 1901 to 1931 the House went national, as it became the official residence of Australia’s first Governor-General… and the State Governor was sent off to Stonington Mansion in Malvern. From 1934 until today, the complex continues to be: the residence of the Governor; the primary venue for the Governor’s constitutional, ceremonial, community and international engagement activities; and the workplace of the Office of the Governor.

‘For nearly 150 years, Government House Victoria has been the backdrop of important constitutional ceremonies and occasions, where significant charities have been founded or fostered, where the War effort has been advanced (via Red Cross packing stations in the Ballroom), where schoolgirls (from Mac Rob High) were educated during the Depression, and where many, many thousands of good Victorians have been thanked, congratulated and awarded,’ details the Governor.

‘The State Apartments have long been opened up to the community and it is important that we are providing opportunities to broaden the reach and diversify our engagement – whether by welcoming people who have never visited before, through tours and receptions, or by working with different community organisations to showcase Victoria’s vast array of artistic talent and intellect with free performances and lectures,’ she continues.

Since 2015, The Governor and Mr Howard have hosted a number of ‘firsts’, from overnight school camp-outs to mark VicHealth’s 30th anniversary, a trailblazing International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia reception in 2017, to a youth iftar dinner during Ramadan, and more. ‘Tony and I do find it particularly gratifying when we see the magnificent Ballroom being used for events that many years ago, never would have been contemplated, such as a blood bank with the Red Cross, or a circus workshop for newly arrived children with Circus Oz, a yoga class for International Yoga Day, or a rock concert for teenagers who need support,’ highlights the Governor.

This was my very first visit to Government House, and from the high-tech bollards at the entrance to the perfectly-racked gravel that I reluctantly drove on and the countless palatial velvet furnishings I was dying to stroke, it was hands-down (*and behind my back) an unforgettable visit. The morning was a visual-feast/crash-course on our State’s rich history, and, most excitingly, the more recent projects that continue to keep us on the map, embarking on a progressive path into the future.

Victoria’s Government House and Grounds will also be open to the public as part of Open House Melbourne on July 27th, 2019, as well as on January 26th each year.

Tours of the Government House Gardens are held on the third Thursday of each month, find more information here.

[chriskarrtravelblog]

Top 10 B&Bs

From Georgian elegance to a converted chapel and a former windmill in the reed beds, The Good Hotel Guide features a great choice of places for bed and breakfast. Here the editors pick ten of the best B&Bs

  Chapel House, Penzance, Cornwall

A Georgian house overlooking the harbour, with views to St Michael’s Mount has been given the boutique treatment by hostess Susan Stuart. The six bedrooms are chic and contemporary, with soft coastal hues, perhaps a hand-made four-poster. New arrivals are welcomed with tea and cake. On Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, guests can enjoy a communal supper of local produce. Breakfast includes sizzled cod roe with smoked bacon, home-baked breads and pastries. At Sunday brunch there are devilled kidneys, kedgeree, bubble-and-squeak.

B&B £125–£220. Set dinner £27.50. 01736 362024, chapelhousepz.co.uk

  Brownber Hall, Newbiggin-on-Lune, Cumbria

There are old-fashioned comforts at Peter Jaques-Walker’s Victorian country house with views to Howgill Fells – freshly baked cakes on the sideboard, a 1950s honesty bar – but this is a stylish operation. The eight bedrooms, some with wet room shower, are contemporary and unfussy, supplied with 100 Acre toiletries. Public rooms have bare floorboards, period furniture, modern artworks. Four nights a week there are stone-baked pizzas, while breakfast brings home-made granola, home-baked sourdough, Westmorland sausage, waffles and crispy bacon.

B&B £66–£200. À la carte £30. 01539 623 208, brownberhall.co.uk

  Shallowdale, Ampleforth, Yorkshire

There are glorious views to the Howardian hills from Anton van der Horst and Phillip Gill’s 1960s house in beautifully tended gardens. With just four bedrooms, the hosts can lavish time and care upon their guests, and clearly love to do so. There are home-baked scones at tea, books to read, freshly squeezed orange juice at breakfast. Little extras include chocolates and luxury toiletries. At night, given notice, Phillip will cook dinner with imagination and real flair.

B&B single £115–£140, double £135–£170. Set dinner £48). No under-12s. 01439 788 325, shallowdalehouse.co.uk

  2 Blackburne Terrace, Liverpool

A town house on a cobbled drive in the city’s Georgian quarter has been given a very stylish make-over by owners Sarah and Glenn Whitter. The four bedrooms are supplied with hand-made chocolates, a nip of artisan gin. One has an in-room, free-standing bath, a blue velvet sleigh bed; a top-floor suite has an ottoman upholstered in orange velvet, a bathroom with a free-standing volcanic-limestone bath against a raw stone wall. Guests have use of the drawing room and walled garden. Breakfast brings rare-breed meats, kippers, vegetarian options.

B&B £160–£290. No under-10s. 0151 708 5474, 2blackburneterrace.com

  Old Whyly, East Hoathly, Sussex

Sarah Burgoyne’s Georgian red-brick manor house in glorious gardens with tennis court and outdoor pool, close to Glyndebourne, is essentially a beautiful private home, filled with antique furniture, paintings and possessions. New arrivals are welcome d with tea and home-baked cakes. The four bedrooms have romantic period style. At night Paris-trained Ms Burgoyne cooks dinner, served by candlelight in the dining room, or under a vine-covered pergola. Breakfast brings eggs laid by the hens and ducks that roam the grounds, with orchard fruits, honey from the hives.

QBandB Old Whyly

B&B £98–£150, D,B&B £136–£188. Set dinner £38. 01825 840216, oldwhyly.co.uk

  Cley Windmill, Cley-next-the-Sea, Norfolk

One of the most unusual B&Bs in Britain, Julian and Carolyn Goldee’s five-storey tower mill stands overlooking the River Glaven and reed beds, with views to the North Norfolk coast. There are eight characterful bedrooms in the mill tower and outbuildings. The Wheel Room and its shower room are accessed by ladders. The River Room has views on three sides and direct garden access. Book ahead for a set dinner in the beamed room at the tower base.

B&B doubles £159–£245. Set menu £32.501263 740 209, cleywindmill.co.uk

  Millgate House, Richmond, Yorkshire

Nothing is stinted at this Georgian town house on the market square. Tim Culkin and Austin Lynch, owners since 1980s, have filled every room with antiques and artworks, clocks and ornaments, while creating a green oasis in the walled garden. The six bedrooms have original features, perhaps a fireplace, a cabinet of china. In the morning the Spode and silverware are laid out for a breakfast of home-baked bread, organic yoghurt, fresh fruit, kippers or what you will.

B&B £125–£165. 01748  823 571, millgatehouse.com

  St Cuthbert’s House, Seahouses, Northumberland

Jill and Jeff Sutheran are the friendly hosts at this converted Presbyterian chapel B&B and occasional music venue. A pulpit gallery overlooks the sanctuary cum lounge, with harmonium and honesty bar. A ground-floor bedroom has a walk-in wet room. All have a coffee machine, black-out curtains, Gilchrist and Soames toiletries, robes, slippers, a salon-quality hair dryer. A breakfast of honey with Lindisfarne mead, award-winning sausages, kippers or kedgeree from the local smokehouse, fresh-baked bread and home-made marmalade sets guests up for a day exploring the Farne Islands.

B&B single £110–£130. 01665 720456, stcuthbertshouse.com

  Riverwood, Strathtay, Perth and Kinross

The River Tay runs through the woodland gardens of Ann and Alf Berry’s contemporary house in a conservation village a short drive from Pitlochry. Guests can fish for brown trout, enjoy a complimentary round of golf at Strathtay course. The interiors are very smart (no outdoor shoes, please). Bedrooms have an espresso machine, a mini-fridge, Arran Aromatics toiletries. Some have a private patio. A wonderful breakfast brings Dunkeld smoked salmon, potato rösti, griddled pancakes. A dinner of local ingredients is offered on certain nights.

B&B £110–£155, D,B&B (on selected nights) £180–£215. No under-12s. 01887 840 751, riverwoodstrathtay.com

  Ael y Bryn, Eglwyswrw, Pembrokeshire

In the heart of the Pembrokeshire countryside, overlooking gardens with a wildlife pond, water features and views to the Preseli hills, Robert Smith and Arwel Hughes’s B&B invites guests to unwind. Built in the 1940s as a hostel for agricultural workers, it has been made over by the owners with every comfort. Guests have use of the conservatory, music room and library. Four immaculate bedrooms are supplied with ground coffee, fresh milk and biscuits. A communal dinner is served with prior notice.

B&B single £90–£150. Set dinner £26–£30. No under-16s. 01239 891 411, aelybrynpembrokeshire.co.uk

    The post Top 10 B&Bs appeared first on Britain Magazine | The official magazine of Visit Britain | Best of British History, Royal Family,Travel and Culture.

Britain Magazine | The official magazine of Visit Britain | Best of British History, Royal Family,Travel and Culture https://www.britain-magazine.com/features/top-10-bbs/

source https://coragemonik.wordpress.com/2019/06/27/top-10-bbs/

[davidoespailla]

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Have a New Home, and It’s So Not What You’d Expect

Samir Hussein/WireImage

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are kissing Kensington Palace buh-bye! After months of speculation about where they will raise their first child, who is expected in April, the royal family has confirmed that the couple are ditching their abode at Nottingham Cottage in London’s Kensington Palace and moving on—to Frogmore Cottage.

This 10-bedroom, stucco-faced cottage on the grounds of Windsor Castle, about 30 miles west of London, is reportedly a special spot for the newlyweds. For one, it’s a stone’s throw from Frogmore House, a sprawling estate where they hosted their wedding reception and shot their engagement photos.

But don’t be fooled—Frogmore Cottage isn’t as luxurious as Frogmore House. In fact, it’s currently inhabited by Windsor Castle staff!

Even weirder? Turns out Frogmore Cottage gets its name from an actual amphibian infestation. The cottage earned its name in 1875, when Queen Victoria visited and noticed an “immense number of little frogs” on the property, which she found “quite disgusting.” Yikes!

So why did Harry and Meghan choose such run-down digs?

Why Harry and Meghan chose Frogmore Cottage

While this housing choice might seem like a head-scratcher, it makes sense if you remember Markle’s love of home design—and her own humble beginnings. The fact that she had a lifestyle blog suggests that she might love the process of overhauling a house, rather than simply moving into one that’s already picture-perfect.

And wouldn’t you know it, before the royal couple moves in, Frogmore Cottage is slated to undergo extensive renovations, whose cost will run into millions of pounds?

The first order of business? Security. In the past, Windsor Castle visitors could walk within yards of Frogmore Cottage, right up to the small fence surrounding its gardens. Now that a royal couple will be living here, that just won’t do.

If Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex move into a renovated Frogmore Cottage on the Windsor Castle estate, as reported @byEmilyAndrews, then safety considerations will have to be addressed, including access by the public. This is my photo of the cottage from 2016. pic.twitter.com/Iy308brp0W

— Patricia Treble (@PatriciaTreble) November 23, 2018

So plans are already in motion to upgrade security. While details are scant so far, Los Angeles-based broker and home security expert John Graff would wager that some road closures may be in order.

“Any public roads immediately adjacent to the home will need to be assessed for possible closure, with the installation of security bollards to prevent attacks,” he says. “Other likely additions include bulletproof and blast-resistant windows, security fencing, chemical/biological weapon detection devices, and, of course, alarms and video cameras.”

Joe DiRosa, a real estate agent at RealtyTopia in Wyomissing, PA, agrees that a ton of new security features should be installed on the property.

“Everything from motion sensors to fiber-optic cameras should be installed,” he says. “In addition, I expect the couple’s personal security team will make a visible presence on the property to protect against both the paparazzi and any unwelcome intruders.”

Additional renovations at Frogmore Cottage

Security aside, the cottage itself is in desperate need of renovations to suit this royal duo’s more modern tastes. After all, Markle’s former home in Toronto oozed California cool, rather than stuffy Old World charm. How will the twain meet? DiRosa expects the decor to retain a Victorian look, but with contemporary upgrades.

“Artwork, tapestries, and furniture will be shifted around, as I would expect they will have access to the Royal Collection,” he says. “I am sure several of the paintings will be swapped out with more modern English artists that are more within the couple’s taste.”

Real estate experts also say they’d expect to see a lot more baby-proofing.

“I’d think the renovations would include a main-level family room where parents and children can play on the floor without fear of damaging heirloom sculptures and art,” says Dana Scanlon, a real estate agent in Bethesda, MD. Furthermore, she’d recommend “heated bathroom floors throughout, to ward off the damp English chill, and a glass conservatory for breakfasts and family meals.”

Only time will tell what Frogmore Cottage will become, but let’s just say the members of the royal renovation team have a lot of work ahead of them!

The post Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Have a New Home, and It’s So Not What You’d Expect appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Have a New Home, and It’s So Not What You’d Expect

[sussexconservatories]

Experienced and local expertise in home conservatory and home improvements offering conservatory sales and installation in East Sussex, West Sussex and Home Counties. We design conservatories, organgeries and glass extensions. Our conservatory styles include Edwardian Conservatories, Georgian Conservatories and Victorian Conservatories.

[brajeshupadhyay]

Give your British mini-break some real style and book a stay in one of these 14 grand houses

Whether, like Plumber Manor in Dorset, they’ve been owned by the same family for hundreds of years or are a cherished new project such as Caer Beris in Wales, manor hotels have a family at their hearts. 

Packed with history, these hotels pride themselves on delightfully old-fashioned hospitality with generous meals, antique furniture, gardens to wander in and countryside to admire. 

There are famous ones, including Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, and Gravetye and Cowley Manors, but there are plenty of others to discover, and some of them have superb deals this year.

Lympstone Manor, Devon 

Lympstone Manor in Devon has a Michelin-starred restaurant and 21 bedrooms in the main house, with high levels of indulgence that include a resident artist and a vista of the River Exe

Stunning: Pictured is one of the bathrooms, which features two freestanding gold baths and a marble double sink 

When chef Michael Caines bought this Regency mansion near Exmouth in 2017, part of the appeal was the surrounding farmland which he thought would make an ideal terroir for English sparkling wine. More than 17,000 vines were planted, and the first vintage is due in 2021.

In the meantime, there’s a Michelin-starred restaurant and 21 bedrooms in the main house, with high levels of indulgence that include a resident artist and a vista of the River Exe. New this year are equally luxurious shepherd’s huts that sleep up to five guests. Doubles from £560, including breakfast and lunch (lympstonemanor.co.uk).  

Ockenden Manor, West Sussex

Sussex treat: Ockenden Manor, near Cuckfield, serves afternoon cream tea with scones and finger sandwiches 

Tucked into the countryside near the South Downs, next to the boutique-filled village of Cuckfield, parts of this mansion date from the 16th Century. If you want to delve into the oldest part of the hotel, ask for the Master Timothy suite, which has wooden panelling, reading nooks and an adjacent room for children. Downstairs is given over to a bar, drawing rooms and a restaurant which overlooks a semi-wild garden; its wine list reflects the burgeoning Sussex vineyard scene.

The former walled garden now houses a spa with an indoor and outdoor swimming pool; there are also a handful of suites, allowing guests to drift between their rooms and treatments.

One-night Spa Break Getaway costs from £143pp for dinner, B&B with £25 voucher towards a spa treatment from Monday to Friday (prideofbritainhotels.com).

Buckland Manor, Worcestershire

Chef Will Guthrie raids the nearby Vale of Evesham for produce both in the restaurant and for hampers to take on picnics around Buckland Manor and beyond 

There are 15 rooms, some of them with four-poster beds and views of church spires. Distinctly more family-friendly than many Cotswolds hotels, there are interconnecting rooms as well as special menus for children

 Domesday mention:  The manor house has ‘Domesday Book history and plenty of modern-day appeal’

A manor house with Domesday Book history and plenty of modern-day appeal. The 15th Century timbered hall provides the backdrop for afternoon tea in winter, although in summer it spreads out into the gardens.

The beautiful village of Broadway is a gentle hike away, so are the gardens at Snowshill. There are 15 rooms, some of them with four-poster beds and views of church spires. Distinctly more family-friendly than many Cotswolds hotels, there are interconnecting rooms as well as special menus for children.

Chef Will Guthrie raids the nearby Vale of Evesham for produce both in the restaurant and for hampers to take on picnics around the hotel and beyond.

Two-night stays from £315pp, including B&B plus one dinner and a National Trust card worth £127 (bucklandmanor.co.uk).

Plumber Manor, Dorset

Generations of the Prideaux-Brune family have lived at Plumber Manor in Dorset since they built it in the 1600s – and it shows

A textbook West Country manor house, from the long driveway surrounded by fields to the mullion windows framed by roses.

Generations of the Prideaux-Brune family have lived at Plumber since they built it in the 1600s and it shows, with resident black labradors, proper family portraits and a collection of classic cars.

There are six bedrooms in the main house, ten others in a restored stone barn. Spread over three dining rooms, the menu is classic country house, strong on cheese souffle and peppered beef, followed by home-made puddings.

B&B from £155. For a three-night minimum stay, dinner, B&B is from £137.50pp per night (plumbermanor.co.uk).

Manor House, Wiltshire

The 14th Century ivy-clad manor house in Wiltshire is filled with stained-glass windows, beams and a Michelin-starred restaurant

There are 21 rooms in the main house and 29 cottages around the grounds, some of which are dog-friendly

With its charming honey-stoned houses, Castle Combe is often described as England’s most beautiful village, and it has caught the eye of many a Hollywood director. It has a 14th Century ivy-clad manor house – in the same honey-coloured stone to match – filled with stained-glass windows, beams and a Michelin-starred restaurant. There are 21 rooms, including the delightful Lordsmeer suite in the main house and 29 cottages around the grounds, some of which are dog-friendly. There’s an 18-hole golf course and a glorious Italianate garden, and the Bybrook river meanders through the grounds. B&B doubles from £250 (exclusive.co.uk/the-manor-house).

Titchwell Manor, Norfolk

A hotel that catches the posh but gently boho North Norfolk vibe beautifully; this Victorian building is too close to the beach to have any airs and graces, but there’s a lot of breezy charm. Meals are served in an expansive conservatory and there are 26 rooms, some with hot tubs.

Owned by the Snaith family, it is managed by their son Eric, who also runs Norfolk’s smartest fish and chip shop in nearby Thornham. Family-friendly, it’s also a stylish bolthole for birdwatchers; there’s an RSPB reserve next door.

B&B from £140. A two-night walking break including dinner, B&B plus a packed lunch on one day costs from £265pp (titchwellmanor.com).

Longueville Manor, Jersey 

Longueville Manor, Jersey, puts food and wine at the centre of its appeal

This Relais & Châteaux hotel may put food and wine at the centre of its appeal, but there’s much more on offer. 

The 30 rooms and suites are cream and serene, generously sized and with French-accented luxury. 

For extra privacy, there’s a two-bedroom cottage in the grounds, alongside tennis courts and a spa. The hotel also has its own yacht.

Longueville became a hotel in 1949 and is now in the third generation of family ownership. 

There’s a fine cellar, with more than 5,000 bottles, a forager on staff to supplement the extensive kitchen garden and honey from hives dotted around the grounds. 

Doubles from £225, room-only (longuevillemanor.com).

Aynsome Manor Hotel, Cumbria

Aynsome Manor Hotel, Cumbria, has 13 bedrooms, some in the beamed eaves of the building, all with the sort of views that will have you pulling on your walking boots

For those who like the wilder side of Cumbria, here is a handsome, good-value manor near Cartmel, now run by the second generation of the Varley family.

There are just 13 bedrooms, some in the beamed eaves of the building, all with the sort of views that will have you pulling on your walking boots. Guests eat in the dining room rather than a restaurant and the food aims to make the flavours sing with minimal fuss. The menus are set-price and a bargain at three courses for £30. B&B from £90 per night (aynsomemanorhotel.co.uk).

Caer Beris Manor, Powys

The Southwick family bought Caer Beris Manor in Powys last year and spent lockdown continuing their renovation programme 

Lord Swansea built this mock-Tudor mansion, surrounded on three sides by the River Irfon, in 1896 on the foundations of a 13th Century castle. It was bought by the Southwick family last year.

There are 22 rooms spread across the estate, ranging from suites to single rooms. The family spent lockdown continuing their renovation programme and have created picnic areas throughout the grounds, which also hold orchards and an otter hide, while there’s trout, salmon and grayling to fish for. The 1898 restaurant sources its ingredients locally. Mains start at £16. B&B from £90 (caerberis.com).

Manor House, Argyll and Bute

Manor House, Argyll and Bute, is ‘delightfully gentle’ with just 11 rooms and spectacular West Coast views

The Scots don’t do manors in quite the same way as the English – fortified castles were more their thing. This hotel is one of the exceptions, and it’s delightfully gentle with just 11 rooms and spectacular West Coast views. It was built for the Duke of Argyll in 1780, next to Oban’s harbour. Staying here is a superb introduction to the Inner Hebrides, from the freshly caught seafood in the restaurant to sunset views from McCaig’s Tower behind the hotel – although watching from the Nelson bar at the hotel with a fine whisky in hand is nearly as good. Sailors can use the hotel’s own mooring. Double B&B from £224 (manorhouseoban.com).

The Manor at Sway, Hampshire

Pictured is one of the bedrooms at The Manor at Sway, Hampshire, where ‘William Morris mixes with a touch of modern design’

All the space and grace that the Edwardians could muster comes into play at this hotel on the southern edge of the New Forest, where William Morris mixes with a touch of modern design. It’s a great car-free option as it’s near the railway station and there are wonderful walks into the forest and heath to explore from the hotel. There are just 11 bedrooms and a restaurant serving local produce. Dishes include local pork with black pudding, crisp ham and charred baby gem lettuce, while puddings include lemon curd tart with basil. Doubles from £189, including dinner, breakfast and afternoon tea (themanoratsway.com). 

Moonfleet Manor, Dorset

Room with a view: Moonfleet Manor, a Georgian mansion in Dorset, overlooks the magnificent Chesil Beach

Not just for adults: One of the lounges at the hotel, which is child-focused, with play areas and picnics

If you want to get your child manored up, head here. Overlooking Chesil Beach and part of the Luxury Family Hotel group, it’s thoroughly child-focused. There are interconnecting rooms, indoor and outdoor play areas, including a pool, and in a Covid-made-fun way, picnics are available for every meal including breakfast. The South West Coastal Path runs alongside the back garden.

In the Georgian mansion, there’s a playfulness that adults will appreciate too, with high teas and grown-up meals and, above all, Snoopy, the venerable hotel spaniel.

Two nights from £329, including breakfast and dinner for two. Children stay free but are charged for meals; two hours of childcare a day is included from September 7 when the creche reopens (moonfleetmanorhotel.co.uk).

Long Crendon Manor, Buckinghamshire

Long Crendon Manor in Buckinghamshire has bedrooms with original features, a bakery, farm shop and florist 

Not a hotel as such, but you can stay in this manor, which is stacked with beamed charm. Parts of the main house date from the 12th Century. It’s still a working estate, with ducks and geese in the orchard that creates the cider, and Gloucester Old Spot pigs that provide the morning bacon.

Head into the courtyard and there’s a bakery, farm shop and florist. The farm shop cafe serves lunch and it’s walking distance from two pubs in the village. B&B doubles from £145 (longcrendonmanor.co.uk). 

Rothay Manor, Cumbria

This small foodie hotel in the heart of the Lake District is owned by Jamie and Jenna Shail, who have bought significant flair and rolltop baths to the low-slung white house near Ambleside. Eight of the rooms on the ground floor are dog-friendly; first-floor rooms have balconies. Its main restaurant has three AA rosettes and five courses start from £70 a head, but there’s also a more casual restaurant. B&B from £221 (rothaymanor.co.uk).

The post Give your British mini-break some real style and book a stay in one of these 14 grand houses appeared first on Shri Times News.

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[sussexconservatories]

Best way to Design a Conservatory? Hire a Professional!

Designing a Conservatory is a complicated process as there are a lot of things that go into the making of a good Conservatory. Building a Conservatory involves a great deal of decision making and with the number of elements to be thought of and the number of choices available, you could get confused for choice.

For instance, the external design itself has a number of choices. There are a number of traditional options such as: Lean To Conservatory Edwardian conservatories Victorian conservatories P Shaped conservatories Gable conservatories Then you also have the Bespoke conservatory options where you can choose the design as per your choice.

So when the options are so many, isn’t it wise to take the opinion of a professional? That is where we, at Sussex Conservatories, come in the picture. We have a professional team of in house designers to help you out with all the tiny details to do with your Conservatory.

Meeting up with the conservatory design professionals will give you clarity about things like the real space requirements, basic building costs, finance methods, building regulations, and planning requirements if any, etc. Talking to our experts will help you decide the design and practical details depending on what you want to use the conservatory for, how it will be integrated into your property and the like. Visit us to discuss your prospective project with us!

[sussexconservatories]

At Sussex Conservatories we give access to reliable specialist suppliers of verandas, orangeries and conservatory designs such as Victorian style conservatory, Georgian, Edwardian conservatory, solid roof, gable, p-shape, lantern, t-shape conservatory, etc.

[sussexconservatories]

Experienced and local expertise in home conservatory and home improvements offering conservatory sales and installation in East Sussex, West Sussex and Home Counties. We design conservatories, organgeries and glass extensions. Our conservatory styles include Edwardian Conservatories, Georgian Conservatories and Victorian Conservatories.

[sussexconservatories]

Experienced and local expertise in home conservatory and home improvements offering conservatory sales and installation in East Sussex, West Sussex and Home Counties. We design conservatories, organgeries and glass extensions. Our conservatory styles include Edwardian Conservatories, Georgian Conservatories and Victorian Conservatories.