Southern England, The Vyne, Rothschild's Exbury Gardens, Beulieu Manor, Motor Museum

On our last England outing we several different kind of places.  First up is The Vyne.  This manor house was visited by Henry VIII and was left to the National Trust by the owners if they would leave it just as they found it, a home.

The beautiful rooms are filled with antiques, wonderful architecture and fabulous wall tapestries.....

 

 

The views are beautiful as are the gardens.....

 

As is this very pretty summer house....

 

Our next stop was the Rothschild's Exbury Gardens.  We were driven through the over 200 acres of gardens in a cart that allowed us to admire its beauty.  It is till early spring but still a beautiful place and has hosted royalty at the main house many times.....

 

 

Romsey Cathedral and Southampton

The next day we left to see Romsey Cathedral.  Founded in 907, it escaped the dissolution of the monasteries by paying Henry 100 pounds.

 

 

 

It is the final resting place of the Earl of Mountbatten who was assassinated by the IRA...

 

 

 

As well as these three beautiful and heart rending tombs.  The first was dedicated to their parents by their children....

 

 

The second was for a young mother who died at the each of 30......

 

 

And the third was for a young child.....

 

 

 

Before leaving I happened to notice this memorial on the wall.  It was dedicated by the parents who lost thier son on the Titanic......

 

 

 

Then it was on to Southampton

.  Our first stop was the Sea City Museum that housed a touching memorial to those who died in the Titanic disaster.  It is centered around the memories and meomorabilia of the many people from the area that lost their lives.  Although no pictures were allowed, I took these before knowing.  They show a map of Southampton with the red dots showing how many familes in the area lost loved ones.

 

 

 

We then went to the local Tudor Museum.  Much of Southampton was flattened by the bombing of World War II but this old building manged to survive and was left as a museum.

 

 

We saw evidence of the bombing because some of the remnants remain.  here are the ruins of an ancient church in the city center....

 

 

 

Southampton is a thriving seaport and two of the world's greatest ocean liners happened to be in port.  Here is the Queen Mary....

 

 

 

And here is the Queen Victoria....

 

 

Before leaving Southampton, we made one last poignant stop. This plaque is a memorial to the band that played as the Titianic went down.....

 

 

And this memorial across the street that is dedicated to the engineers of the Titianic...

 

 

 

Next stop The Vyne, the Rothschild's Exbury Gardens, Beulieu Manor and the Motor Museum!!!

 

 

 

 

Chartwell, Churchill's Home and Arundel Castle, Home to the Dukes of Norfolk

Our next stop on this continuing adventure was Winston Churchill's country home, Chartwell.

 

 

These outbuildings are where Winston had his art studio.  He was an avid and accomplished artist who painted to relax from the strains of governing.  It now houses his large collection of paintings.

 

 

It is a beautiful home suitable for a Prime Minister of England from the aristocracy but a homey one, not overly ostentatious, a true family residence suitable for entertaining.  No pictures were allowed inside the house but the grounds creating the view from the house are stunning.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These are the famous black swans.......

 

 

 

And the flowers just coming into bloom were utterly gorgeous......

 

 

 

Don't miss this house if you are ever in the area.

 

Next stop was Arundel castle, home to the Dukes of Norfolk.  If you are familiar with British history you know that the Norfolks were always involved in intrigue.  One was the uncle of Ann Boleyn and played a huge part in her relationship with the king.  Unfortunately, he and the next three generations of his family ended up on the block for their plotting and scheming!  After seeing this castle I couldn't help but wonder why they sought even more power, this place was magnificent!

 

 

Once again, no photos inside, so you will have to take my word for it that it is one HUGE, over the top, beautiful place with these incredible vaulted ceilings, grand staircases and spectacular rooms.

 

Here is the interior courtyard.....

 

 

And two of the exterior gates providing access to the castle...

 

 

 

After leaving we visited Chichester Cathedral.  Southern England has a copious amount of stunning cathedrals and ancient old churches.

 

 

It also contains beautiful tapestries dating back a thousand years and the oldest sculpture known in the land....

 

 

 

And this 2000 year old floor under the church that once belonged to a Roman villa....

 

 

 

Being the consummate romantic I am, I was especially taken with this 13th century tomb holding the bodies of the earliest occupants of Arundel Castle.  It must have been true love because it is the only tomb in England showing the husband and wife holding hands......

 

 

Our last stop was Bosham, a small village with the most unusual tide I have ever seen.  Those boats are high and dry as far as the eye can see.  When the tide goes out, it really goes out and when it comes back in, it floods the road.....

 

 

 

Our final stop was this tiny 1000 year old church most well known for being shown on the world famous Bayeau Tapestry....

 

 

 

Tomorrow we are off for Romsey,  and Southampton!!