Hatch Beauchamp is a little conservation village in beautiful rolling farmland between Taunton and Ilminster. The Cider House where we were staying is a spacious barn conversion where the cider apple press for Taunton Cider was housed.
It adjoins the Hatch Court Estate which comprises a beautiful Palladian House, a 600 year old Church, Belmont farm - of which the Cider House is a part - a deer park, acres of woods, parkland and a small lake which John , the owner calls a pond. The estate was bought by John's family in 1900 and Harch Court - the house, was sold by his sister and BIL in 2000. John has now retired from farming
The 70 acres of woodland contain the remains of an 18C landscaped garden. In the visitor's book there are mentions of walking in the woods in the evening and seeing wild deer and badgers whilst herons and kingfishers visit the lake/pond. Recently John sold the woods and farmland to Hatch Court and is now workinjg to enhance the new walk on the remaining 20 acres, which has gloriousviews of the Blackdown Hills and fine trees.
Back left is the church and next is John's house with The Cider House behind. Hatch Court is the large building
Facing the Orangery and the South front houses an arcaded piazza
Two heroes - one Canadian and one British are commemorated in the Church - of which more later.
The Cider House
A warm welcome - fresh flowers and a bottle of wine.
I didn't tidy before the photo - obviously.
Views from our bedroom.
More later.
17 comments:
This is the third time I have tried to publish this - the photos keep disappearing. If it happens again I'll have to publish the photos separately.
I can't get the photos up on my browser (Firefox). I'll wait until later, as I'm looking forward to them given your description.
Cheers.
Your mention of the comments in the visitors' book made me think how I enjoy reading what other visitors say too.
I'm picturing you checking out what they's written :-)
sniff. No photos, I'm using google chrome.
Dear Pat, I can see all the photos of beautiful places from this holiday
(I'm on Linux using Firefox)
Another beautiful part of England, and looking wonderful with the mix of autumn leaves and evergreen trees. I hope your break was as beautiful as the place you visited,
Michelle (with a snoring Zebby Catin the background, of course)
GG: I hope you can see them now.
Mickle: yes it was beautiful in the autumnal golden colours. Zebby Catin would have liked it.
I want to be there!
Granny Annie: it was almost perfect.
Saw the photos in the later posts, it looks lovely!
- Marjolein
The cider house looks great - I hope this means you had a great holiday in it too!
what a lovely looking place, did you see any deer?
Marjolein:the gremlins are here and now my comments are giant size.
Macy: indeed! More details later.
LOM: sadly no but I'm sure they saw me.
Not had cider for many a year. It was the drink of choice when I was underage. By the time I was 18 I'd progressed to lager...
I had trouble posting photos this week too, Pat. That looks like a wonderful place to visit.
Gosh, I must've been sleepy to write such bad grammar: 'what they's written'. Oh the shame.
What a BEAUTIFUL place, my dear Pat....It looks so interesting and pretty! You live in such a Beautiful area Pat...ALL of England is truly sublime---And this place just proves my words!
Looks and sounds wonderful, and I do love that faded blue door. Glad you had a good time, X
Kim:at grammar School cider was our end of term treat in the fifths. Never drink it now.
Judy:I wish Picasa would sort themselves out.
GG: I often slip into bad grammar - just for the hell of it. One has to watch it. A friend used to pronounce beaujolais as Bow Jollis. She ran a pub and unfortunately it slipped out when the brewers were inspecting.
Naomi: it is only about 306 miles from where we live but pleasantly different.
Eryl: thought you would:)
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