The Greats at Knole House

August 19, 2021

By greats, I mean the Great Hall, the Great Screen and the Great Staircase and to be honest they’re very well named.

Knole, which is close to Sevenoaks and was our stop off on the way to our cabin for our escape weekend close to home, is a former Archbishops’ Palace. The Great Hall would have been right at the heart of it and where the whole household would eat together. For me the floor was a fantastic part of the space, but there was much more to it than that.

The carved oak screen dates to the early 1600s and is decorated with leopards and other symbols of the Sackville family.

But the ceiling can’t go unmentioned - isn’t it fabulous?

The staircase, unlike the hall, was only for members of the family, distinguished guests and high ranking sevants.

The paintings though - they really should be named as greats too. They depict the Four Ages of Man, the Five Senses and the Seven Virtues, though one virtue - temperance - is missing.

The sculpture is Giovanna Zanerini, a celebrated Italian ballerina and mistress of the 3rd Duke of Sackville. She was known by her stage name - La Baccelli and lived at Knole, and she remains there today.

There’s much more to see at Knole, and considering it’s only about thirty minutes from home I can’t believe this was our first - but certainly not our last - visit. It’s definitely worth a look if you’re close by.

Post Comment Love 13-15 August

August 13, 2021

Welcome to this week’s #PoCoLo - a friendly linky which I co-host with Suzanne, where you can link any post published in the last week. We know you’ll find some great posts to read, and maybe some new-to-you blogs too, so do pop over and visit some of the posts linked and share some of that love. If you were here last week it was great to have you along, if you’re new here this week we’re pleased you’re here.

It’s been a much less eventful week here, which can only be a good thing, but as you might spot from the picture below I have committed to a new car. The lease on my current car is due to expire soon, and after four years I’m ready for an update. And it’s an update I’ve gone for, a newer version of what I have and I’m hoping to pick it up tomorrow, though that’s yet to be confirmed.

I’m also trying something new and aiming to doodle or draw something most days in a 2.5cm square box. I’ve marked out the squares but haven’t added the dates as I’ve told myself there are no rules. That means it doesn’t need to be everyday, and every day can be different. It might be a drawing, some mixed media or who knows what. We’ll see how it goes - hopefully, in the not too distant future I’ll fill a page. I hope!

The view from the (hot) tub

August 12, 2021

We’re staying in the Lake District for this post, and more specifically the hot tub from our cottage stay back in June. I’ve yet to share the cottage interior, and that’s good, but the view from the hot tub was exceptional. Even getting to the hot tub was more unusual. Though it was sited on the back of the cottage, access was by walking around the building.

Though it really wasn’t a hardship.

Remember those stones for later.

How’s that for a gate post? With the blossom on the slate, the traditional stones and the well worn wood, the first time we visited we knew we were in for something special.

We weren’t disappointed. It was a gorgeously private and dramatic space.

With everything you could want - the outdoor shower, and somewhere to hang your robe and towel.

And the view.

A purposefully included (or should that be excluded) window, giving the perfect view of the rock and the stones I shared earlier. And the view up the hill of the field. And completely private, and relaxing.