Villages R Cool....

Yesterday was a rainy don't do anything outside of the boat sort of day. So the only time I ventured out the hatch was to turn the ignition key to run the motor.

Today was much better so we headed off for a walk  around a couple of the local villages and then it started to rain. Didn't last long  though and with a fine warmish day we had a good look around.

If you've read this blog before you'd have seen house photos before but I make no excuses as where else in the world can you see such living history.
I'd rather look at thatched cottages and stone buildings  than a row of State house's in the "Nui" or  Wolverhamton or anywhere else in the world.

I think the English and their  imports, all ages,  take them for granted and It wouldn't surprise me if  most teenagers  said that  they hadn't noticed any.



Aynhoe Park is privately owned and has 250 acres with Capability Brown designed gardens....

It can be hired for weddings, or just a good OL p - ss up....

 

A lot of it was rebuilt after the 17th century English Civil War...



The neighbouring....

Church of  St Michael..


Continuing around the narrow streets, many one way, we found several thatched cottages...





This in Aynhoe...



















Aynhoe.....

 
 
 

 

Also Aynhoe.. the holes on the end wall would  originally be for  entry to a pidgeon loft  I'd say....


This house on Blacksmith Hill.. Originally a Dairy building, the lounge was where  milk and cheese was stored..

In Aynhoe ...... Original flag stone  paved entry hall....

 

Is for sale at 790,000 quid... Grade 11 listed.. that means you'd probably need  permission to install a new toilet roll holder...



Some interior photos...

Door to master bedroom...

Then up the road a bit...

A couple of pheasants....



Several of the cottages had names with reference to black smithing which must have been what  was originally housed there...

Lovely verandah over front door.... How old some of those horse shoes??


A stroll of a couple of miles to the village of Clifton and...

This thatch stands alone on design...... Who wouldn't want the room at the Top?......

 

 

 

 

 Then in Deddington no thatch  but plenty of Class....

So if one has to stand on the head stone in the cemetery to take the above photo over the stone wall....

 

May as well take a photo there too...

 

Around a village tree was miniature cyclamen....

On the local radio station this morning, "traffic hold up on local road due to Wild Deer on road". How cool is that, 20 miles from centre of Oxford city.

The only hold up you'd see 20 miles from a large city in NZ would be the so called "First Settlers" holding up and robbing  tourists  in a camper van or a couple of back packers.

Tomorrow  Gatwick.....