Eastnor Castle

 

6 April 2007

 

Helen came home for Easter and on Good Friday we decided to visit Eastnor Castle near Ledbury.  We had been some years’ ago, but not with Helen.  It was just over half an hour’s drive from Toddington.

 

(Click on the pictures below to see an enlargement)

 

The main gate

Eastnor Castle lies on a wooded hillside just a few miles east of Ledbury in Herefordshire.  It was built in the 19th Century by the 1st Earl Somers, originally by the architect Sir Robert Smirke, better known for his later work in London, most notably the British Museum.

The impressive portico

 

 

Roger and Helen on the way in

 

 

Teresa in the courtyard

 

Our first tour was of the castle’s interior (no photography permitted).

 

Work on the castle continued in the latter part of the century, particularly in completing the decoration of the interior.  Augustus Pugin, famous for his Houses of Parliament, and his associate Edward Crace, were among the leading designers employed.

 

 

Roger and Helen on the east terrace

 

 

 

 

 

The exterior style is described as neo-Norman, as shown in the round arches and heavy towers (some of an unusual clover-leaf design)

 

 

The east elevation

 

 

One of the clover-leaf towers

 

 

 

 

Teresa and Helen find time to enjoy the sun on the terrace

 

 

 

 

 

After the tour, we have a light lunch, and visit the gift shop – Teresa can be seen making her purchases just inside the doorway

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are extensive gardens and walks, which we were content to view from afar on this occasion

 

 

 

 

 

An old lorry parked on the estate

 

 

 

The final call was to the Knight’s Maze, which had only been two or three feet high on our previous visit some years’ ago.  This time it was a proper challenge, and only two of our party succeeded – Teresa and Juliet made it to the centre (left).  Roger and Helen were just glad to find the way out again.

 

 

Juliet having negotiated the maze

 

 

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