Lamport Hall is about 40 minutes from home and seems to be on a road that leads to places I am often visiting. I see the signs for Lamport and think 'one day....'. When I saw they were having snowdrop walks I knew the day had arrived. Off I went not knowing much about the Hall and gardens which meant I was in for a real treat.
I began to realise how much of a treat the moment I arrived. The family motto is writ large on the building, such a loud proclamation I knew this would mean it was going to be a fascinating visit.
Lamport Hall's origins go back to Elizabethan Times and it was owned by the Isham family up until 1976. The house was amended and refashioned over the centuries until reached its current state in 1862. In 1974 it was first opened to the public and when Sir Gyles Isham, who included acting in his many talents, died the Hall was given over to the Lamport Manor Trust.
The Hall itself is beautifully proportioned.
and it has several mottos carved upon it.
They really wanted their message to be seen.
It is rather a lovely building and whilst large, not ridiculously large if that makes sense.
I got a bit fascinated by this wall. I thought it must be the ruin of something.
I really wished I could see the other side. When I got home and googled the history of the Hall I realised this was the rockery, 'the' rockery where Sir Charles Isham displayed his 'fairy miners'. Yes dear readers, this is the site of the first UK garden gnomery. I realised I had been on a pilgrimage without knowing it. Oh how I would love to see the other side!
and there is this round thing.
I don't know what it is/was, but its interesting isn't it?
This is the Bog House, which when I saw the sign I wondered to myself whether it had a bog in it. Well it is the site of the midden, so yes, it did.
I spent a moment admiring the bones of this magnificent wisteria and promised I would try and revisit when it was in flower.
and I enjoyed the topiary mounds. A simple construction and yet such an impactful feature. I pondered where I could place some mounds.
But I was there primarily for snowdrops, and I was not disappointed.
The woodland walk is superb.
It is quite simple, yet with nice touches such as this small stumpery. I like simple, simple works well for me.
There are features such as this summer house (snowdrop house?)
The paths lead you on,
and I looked across the sweeps of snowdrops and thought how much I want my Wild Garden to look like this. I decided I need to get dividing my snowdrops and maybe buy some more 'in the green' to help mine bulk up.
As I walked through I wondered if this was a grave hidden in the undergrowth?
Can you see the Polar Bear? It is a Polar Bear isn't it? Do you think that the gardener has a secret love of glacier mints?
I went into the stable yard as they had an art display and I saw this on the wall. It was painted by Italian prisoners of war who were housed (imprisoned?) here in WW2.
I admired the church, which sadly was not open so I could not wander inside. There was a note on the door saying where the key is kept, but I had not really the time on this visit.
I nodded hello to the horse made of horse shoes,
and I stopped and pondered a house across the road and wondered what its history is. I wonder if it has links to the Hall and thought just how beautiful it is.
Lamport Hall is an absolute gem of a place. I was so glad I visited and I will definitely visited again.
and I might buy another gnome too, it feels like I should....
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