Sevenoaks, Knole, and Wakehurst

Tuesday after breakfast, Connor drove us to the Sevenoaks Sainsbury's where Grammy made some purchases from everyone's sweets-request list. We made a stop in the center of Sevenoaks for a few things from Holland & Barrett, and while we were there we visited M&S for some purchases, including some chocolate-chunk shortbread squares, wouldn't you know? Knole House was nearby and we visited the gardens and house. I showed pictures of the house in my history class for years, and at last got to visit in the flesh. It is quirky and rambles, with three galleries. The gardens are a bit wild, but charming nonetheless. Connor drove us several miles west and then south past the London Temple to Wakehurst Place, another English Renaissance house that sits in the center of a HUGE and wonderfully maintained garden. The estate is now an arm of Kew, and is in my mind, every bit as nice, maybe nicer. The house has some of its original bits, and some rooms that look like classrooms and offices at a university -- kind of 1960s drab.

Sainsbury's

 In preparation for our return to the US of A

Sevenoaks

 Charming Sevenoaks

 Wonderful shops and public spaces

 KBT headed to M&S

Hanging flower baskets all along Sevenoaks High Street

Knole

 Knole sits in an immense park of rolling hills and forests

 Rounded Flemish gables are typical of the English Renaissance

 Kris and Connor

 Sampling wild blackberries

The vegetables made me think of Anna

 I really do love a stone wall

 Enclosed garden with a tower in the distance

Knole has been home to the Sackville family since

the time of Elizabeth I

 Textbook example of an English-Renaissance staircase

 Photography not allowed, but....

 The bed curtains are being restored -- the other textiles will follow

London Temple

 A quick dash around the London Temple grounds on the 

way to Wakehurst Place

 The late summer flowers are beautiful

Wakehurst Place

 Wakehurst is a fine example of an English-Renaissance house

 I think this staircase is splendid, too

 It features a screen (upper-left part of photo above) rich with 

English-Renaissance detail: arcades, strapwork, and pilasters

 A most unusual mantel piece

 Expansive and beautiful gardens

 Ditto

 A view back from the gardens

 English flower borders are so fine

 Walled gardens always make me think of The Secret Garden

 Everything seems to grow with such ease

 And the color palette is fantastic

One way in, one way out

 I can't see wattle without thinking of Uncle

 A beautiful carpet of cyclamen in the shade of huge trees

A lovely day! Thanks to Connor for his good management.

That's all for now.

OXO

D.