Newark Park

What a day! At one moment there was sun then torrential rain and repeat! 

I went to Newark Park today, I haven't been in 13 years.

Newark is a small NT property. It is a former tudor hunting lodge which was added to in the Georgian period.. The Trust acquired in the late 1940's and for a while it was a nursing home. In 1970 it was a state of disrepair with the gardens overgrown. American architect Bob Parson took over the tenancy in 1970 and was fundamental to its restoration. After his death in 2000 his partner Michael Claydon maintained stewardship of the house and continued restoration works.

Newark is a smaller property but interesting. Its not somewhere to go for a day really but I was feeling lazy and anyway given the weather I wasn't there too late 

There are 3 male peacocks a dad and 2 off spring. The female has left as she could only have female chicks so eventually there will need to be a new peahen

This peacock was outside the refreshment hut.

Tyntesfield

The weather forecast was not good today. And here's the thing despite a few brief heavy showers it was a nice day! 

I haven't been to Tyntesfield since 2012 so it was nice to come back. Tyntesfield is a Victorian Gothic house. It was acquired by the Trust in 2002 and I say Victorian but it was originally Georgian but what you see is the Victorian additions.

The chapel is a fine example of Victorian Gothic church architecture.

Another nice day