Painting of two worlds at Melford Hall, Suffolk

No sooner than the guide told me the name of this painting and the artist, than I forgot it. However, the story that goes with it stuck with me and one I felt I must tell.

The painting is hung over the fireplace in the children's dining room in Melford hall. Its fascinating as it was painted in two halves, but different artists. 

The couple on the bridge are the focal point. The husband points towards the light - where people are having fun, skating, chatting and going places. The mood is airy and free with plenty of space and movement. 

As we are drawn towards where the wife is pointing, the mood darkens with the colours and stoic forms of the church and government buildings. The people going to church are slouched and seem to trudge through the environment. 

Michael and I stood and commented on details we picked up in the painting for a good half an hour. the more you look into it, the more tiny and significant symbols you pick up.

Melford Hall

From the outset, this National Trust place captures all that it is to be grand.. and old.. and stately. 

It dates back into the 1500s and was originally a monastic hunting lodge. It has been owned by the same family since 1780s and they still live in part of it!

One of the most fabulous things about Melford Hall is its connection to Beatrix Potter.  I got a little silly and excited when I began to see all the hand drawn pcitures she had left as gifts for the children of the family and was giddy when I saw the original Jemmia Puddle Duck.

Melford Hall is set, as most are, amongst grassland filled with grazing sheep. Its only open in the afternoons and allows visitor to wander the paddocks with their dogs.

It houses rare Tudor Paintings as well as many of Beatrix Potters water-colours. 

The curved library is a beautiful display of how building can be refurbished and extended over the years and still retain a fascinating theme.  The room was built on so that there could be extra room upstairs and had to incorporate curves and large columns. 

This is the pond that Beatrix Potter sat and sketched her original Jeremy Fisher story book. ( small sqwee here)

This is the original wall of Mr McGreggors Garden. ( Noted in both Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny books)

Cheddar Gorge Caves

Cheddar Gorge is one of the most famous and beautiful cave systems in the world. After visiting a number of caves around the world, I'd have to say it is the most accessible and coupled with the audio tour - for kids and adults - its one of the most extensively explained and educational. 

The displays of stalagmites and stalactites, the dripping 'lava' effect of the calcium rich water over rocks and the fairy pools are a stunning display.  The Victorians began the fascination with caves, making 'show caves' where hey played with lights, mastering the dramatic atmosphere of the journey a tourist took and the views they had as they wandered further into the system. 

These photos are from the Goghs Cave, though we explored two others in the area as well.