Friday, 22 April 2011

Arley Hall.................................................... my woodland walk discovery


Arley Hall's formal gardens occupy the land to the front of the house.
The landscape designers use of a Ha-ha instead of walls means the view is never interrupted.
  The image above is a great example...just beyond the Sundial is the ditch
(you can just make out the line).

A view of Arley Hall from the gardens...the farmland to the right blending in.

Arley Hall from the Grove leading to the Woodland Walk

The Grove

At the end of the Woodland Walk the path heads back towards the house but
I spotted a small gate leading to a small building and decided to investigate.
 I discovered a piece of quintessential England... a Cricket Ground.

The Cricket Pavilion

Scoreboard numbers scattered on the floor
The Cricket Pavilion was built in 1902 and must have witnessed many matches over the years.
 It was adorned by old black and white photographs some dating back over 50 years.
  The Cricket Team of 1971
The player standing on the right of the back row is Fred Gillet a former work colleague of my father and my old Cub Scout master in the 1960's.
1971 was also the year my father passed away at the very young age of 44 which made this discovery all the more poignant.

A beautiful setting for a game of Cricket
Arley Hall is a lovely place with a long history and well worth a visit.  

3 comments:

grammie g said...

Hi Andrew...such delightful posts you have done here at Arley Hall.
How nice to have come across the Cricket Pavilion, and that it brought back some mixed memories. what a coincidence!!
It is just so beautiful and well kept and great that you have brought this place to us in your post!!

TexWisGirl said...

wow. that is neat to find a piece of your own and your father's history here. small world...

that is one gorgeous place! love the gardens!

Unknown said...

Wow Andrew. Great tour and that tudor barn in the previous [post is relly something!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.