If I want to over-ride the dreariness of yet another grey, wet, summer's (hollow laugh) day, here in the West Country, I think back to the time I spent with my dear Friend in New Zealand (aka the Finz) when she stayed in July and, in particular, the day we went to Cothay Manor, just a few miles away in Somerset.
The day we stepped beyond the yew hedge and saw this:
Photo: Jane Parkin
Who can resist a unicorn?
Photo: Jane Parkin
The gardens are, we agreed, quite magical; they made me think of Le Grand Meaulnes, Alain-Fournier's lost domain, not least because it is very easy to become lost, trying to find Cothay. (Satnav is no help but, somehow, that is just as it should be.)
I had forgotten to charge my camera battery and ran out of juice half way through the morning, so some of these photos are by the Finz, no mean garden designer and plantswoman herself, and who is duly credited, as and when.
Photo: Jane Parkin
Cothay, said to be the England's finest small mediaeval manor house, is also rather magical.
Photo: Jane Parkin
And over tea and cake, because there has to be tea and cake . . .
Photo: Jane Parkin
we allowed ourselves to become quite spellbound.
Footnote: Cothay featured in BBC1's Gardeners' World in July so, if you are in the UK, you can share some of the magic via BBC iPlayer here. Available until 4 November.
Wonderful photos from both of you. I will certainly put Cothay on my places to visit list. How nice to see a manor house that Capability Brown didn't modernise. It looks delightful. (Fancy another visit?)
Posted by: Maureen | 21 August 2011 at 07:55 AM
As always love your words and your images. Particularly like the doorwya image.
All life-enhancing
wx
Posted by: wendy robertson | 21 August 2011 at 12:20 PM
I've been following your blog for sometime and love your writing style. Your lastest post encouraged me to comment as my husband, mother and I visited Cothay a few weekends ago. We were enchanted. Did you know that Chris Webb, the sculptor responsible for the unicorn is also responsible for the sword in the stone at Taunton Castle and the kingfisher's eggs, Taunton's new play sculpture in Somerset Square?
Posted by: Ginger Grandma | 22 August 2011 at 12:50 PM
Thank you, M. Yes, a return visit definitely - but only if this miserable weather improves. Failing that, next year.
Thank you Wendy. Yes, I loved the Finz's doorway photo. We spent a lot of time in India photographing doorways. . .
A warm welcome, Ginger Grandma - and thank you so much for the very helpful information on the sculptor. I shall make a point of looking for his works when I am next in Taunton. It will be a welcome distraction from the forthcoming first annual checkup at Musgrove Park.
Posted by: 60 Going On 16 | 23 August 2011 at 11:58 AM
What a lovely day out! The pictures really capture the beauty of the place. Wish I was there, especially like the look of that cake!
Posted by: Lynne Kovan | 30 August 2011 at 12:59 PM
Oh, that does look enchanting! I would love to see that little manor house!
Posted by: Jay from The Depp Effect | 03 September 2011 at 02:51 PM
That stone unicorn seems straight out of a storybook, what a beautiful, magical place!
Posted by: Susan | 05 September 2011 at 07:24 PM
Lynne: welcome to you too. Yes it was very fine cake.
Jay: you would love it. I keep telling you that you must head down here!
Susan: ah, yes, the unicorn . . . what is it about unicorns?
Posted by: 60 Going On 16 | 06 September 2011 at 07:45 PM