Warwickshire to be precise. 'Shakespeare's County' as it says on the road signs. A very pretty part of the country which I visit regularly.
It was a lovely afternoon last Tuesday so I decided to check out some local beauty spots before driving home.
Charlecote Park is 5 miles East of Stratford & 6 miles South of Warwick. (Wellesbourne airfield is about a mile down the road if you fancy some spotting .)
This has been the home of the Lucy family for over 800 years and the splendid manor house was built by Sir Thomas Lucy in 1558.
The house has been modernised over the years by successive members of the family.
In around 1760 the legendary Lancelot 'Capability' Brown was employed to create the beautiful grounds & deer park we see today.
This shot of the deer park across the River Avon was taken from the terrace with the tower of Hampton Lucy church in the distance.
It's impossible to show the sheer beauty of this place in a few photos. These were taken during a stroll around the lake.
Another church. This is St Leonard's, Charlecote.
Time to leave. This impressive gatehouse is the only part of the property to remain much as it would have looked in Elizabethan times.
Hope you enjoyed my little tour. I shall return later in the year when the house is open & the flowers are in bloom.
Legend has it that Will Shakespeare was caught poaching deer on the estate in about 1584. This is said to have caused his rapid departure for London.
Whatever the truth of it, Sir Thomas Lucy, JP, was lampooned as Justice Shallow in 'The Merry Wives of Windsor'.
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