#new driveways in wiltshire

[rballandsonltd]

https://www.rballandson.co.uk/expert-new-driveways-in-wiltshire-hampshire-and-salisbury-transform-your-homes-curb-appeal/

A professionally installed driveway can make all the difference to your home’s appearance, functionality, and value. Whether you’re looking to enhance the curb appeal of your property or improve the safety and convenience of your outdoor space, a new driveway is an excellent investment.

[elliebyrrdwrites]

Drabble #29

This is going so much further than I thought it would.

Harry found her in the break room, searching for caffeine. “There’s been another call; lewd conduct in Wiltshire.” He sighs and holds up the report. “Just came in.”

Hermione grimaced. “What kind of lewd conduct are we talking about here, Harry?”

He shrugged and followed her. An hours old cup of coffee in her hand. It’s one of those paper cups that eventually start to collapse in on itself after too many uses.

It’s nearly time to go home and she’s only on her second cup of the day.

“Indecent exposure. Public masturbation.”

She rounded the corner heading for Malfoys office. Her chest wiggles and pulses and he steps out of his office, an eyebrow raised as he eyes her cup. He disdains office pot coffee. He loathes it, begs her to stop poisoning herself with it. Sometimes, it’s all she can get because at home, she’s run out and they left without stopping by a coffee shop this morning.

“Harry’s got wonderful news for us, Malfoy. There’s some wizard jerking off near your home.”

“Are we sure it’s not Theo?”

“It’s a woman.”

Hermione gasped and turned to face Harry. Draco coughed. “I’d better get my coat.”

Harry shook his head. “Look,” he said once Draco returned, coat pulled on, tie still loosened from earlier. His hair was disheveled, his lips still slightly swollen. After she went down on him, he fucked her. Hard and against his desk. She bit his uninjured upper lip when he brought up moving in together, effectively shutting him up.

Harry continued, “I was ordered by Robarbs to give this one to you guys.” He scratched his chin and glanced down the hall. “I really can’t see this being him but, I was in his office when the call came in. So if something happens…”

“If this is an ambush, we’ll return here and kill Robarbs. Then we’ll take over the DMLE and declare you king.” Draco patted his shoulder and winked. “Right, Potter?” He pulled the report with the coordinates and read it over with a snort.

Harry shook his head, his chin lifting in distaste. “This isn’t a joke, Malfoy. We’ll have to arrest him. Things will get ugly.”

“Potter,” Draco lifted a brow. “Someone is trying to kill me and nearly killed Granger in the process. It’s already ugly. Killing the man responsible will make everything pretty. Trust me.”

“Please don’t, though.” Harry’s voice was monotonous, devoid of all humor. He was worried, of course he was. “Just, send a patronus my way, will you? Before you do anything crazy?” He looked to Hermione, pleading for her to agree with his big green eyes.

“Of course, Harry. I promise.”

Draco frowned but grabbed her by the hand before leading them to the room of apparation. They apparated into a driveway that was long and winding through trees and into a house upon a hill. It was luxurious and quiet and in the middle of nowhere. She could feel the wards magic pressing against her skin, demanding to figure out who she was.

Draco look unbothered, grinning slightly as he looked up at the house.

“There’s nobody around.” She glanced around. “Did we apparate directly into someone’s property?”

Draco said nothing and tugged on her hand, pulling her up the driveway. ““Draco, do you know where we are?”

“I do.” He nodded with a smile.

“Where are we?” She was hurrying alongside him, his stride long and brisk.

“Don’t worry, it’s safe.”

“What’s happening? Was there really a call?”

He glanced down at her and tilted his head. “There was really a call but, there was no crime.”

“Perverting the course of justice is a crime,” she huffed. ”Falsely reporting of a crime fall under that penalty.”

Draco laughed and stopped to turn to her. “Murdering assailants and covering them up is fine but reporting a false crime is inexcusable.” He grinned down at her like he loved her and her little swotty ways. “Youre adorable, you know that?”

Before she could protest or argue, he tugged her into him, his hands firm on her waist, and kissed her. He kissed her like they didn’t just finish shagging just twenty minutes ago. He kissed her like he couldn’t get enough.

It was wonderful. It was daunting.

“Get a room, you two!” A male voice called down from the house on the hill. “Better yet, don’t. Come here and give me a better view! “

Draco pulled away and laughed. Hermione peered up to see Theo smiling down at them. “This isn’t Theo’s house.”

“No, it’s not.” Draco smiled that smile of his he only allowed a few to see. Her, Theo and, “Pansy!” He called as a tall, slender woman stepped out of the house. Her sleek black hair was longer, past her shoulders.

Draco pulled her hand as he resumed their trek up the hill.

Hermione had only seen her a handful of times since she and Draco became close. Usually at bars. They were rare appearances but when she, Theo and Draco got together, it was surely to be riotous.

Hermione never told Draco that she felt little bites of jealous nipping at her chest and her cheeks whenever Pansy was around.

“So is it true, then?” She called down. She was holding a glass of champagne, her arms were crossed and her eyes were clearly scanning and scrutinizing Hermione from where she stood. “Did you finally bag your little Golden Girl?”

“I did.” Draco grinned and threw his arm around Hermione’s waist, pulling her against his body. “She even agreed to move in with me today.”

[what-if-queen-camilla]

Chapter 25

Celebrating my 50th entry, posting chapter 25 today... what a journey it's been so far! Thank you all so,very much for (still) reading, liking and commenting my little story - your feedback always means so much to me and I hope you're going to enjoy this little "happy chapter" in between all the drama... please do let me know what you think / wish for!

04th August 1995

Raymill House, Wiltshire

"Can I finally open my eyes now?", Thea asked, more excited than annoyed, as she was guided through an obviously long corridor at a house or place she didn't think she'd been before. It was her 8th birthday today, she was on summer school break, and Mummy had taken her on a very special surprise trip to a secret destination. The car ride from Middlewick House, where they were still living after Andrew had moved out right after New Year's, had only taken a few minutes so, wherever they were, it couldn't be far away, but she had no orientation left with the blindfold Mummy had put on her. "Just a few more steps, darling, we're almost there!", Camilla promised and carefully guided her birthday girl around the last corner and into the beautiful, bright room in their soon-to-be home that would soon be her's. She hadn't shown her the house with which she had fallen in love the moment she had first set a foot in yet; a beautiful, stone manor country house with a huge garden, acres, stables and a swimming pool, it was simply perfect for them, perfectly located at the end of a long driveway, hard to reach for uninvited guests and only just a short 15-minutes drive away from Highgrove. The only catch had been the price. 850,000£ was much more than she could actually effort, but thanks to the help of her father and some good friends she had eventually been able to purchase the six-bedroom house as a new home for her children and herself and she had no doubt that they'd be happy here. The room she had chosen to be Theodora's had a huge window front which offered a breathtaking view over the garden; just what her sweet little angel would love and make her feel comfortable. "Okay, darling, are you ready for your birthday surprise?", Camilla asked, feeling just as excited as the birthday girl herself. Thea nodded impatiently and Camilla solemnly removed the blindfold from her eyes. "Well, my darling… welcome to our new home!", she announced and after a few insecure blinks, Thea's eyes widened in astonishment, enchantedly wandering around the room, along the walls, up and down the ceiling and finally out of the window. "Wooow!", she exclaimed, looking at her mother in complete disbelief. "Is that true?", she asked and Camilla, wiping a few tears of joy away as she was so relieved and moved by her daughter's reaction, nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, darling, it is!", she confirmed. "And if you like it, this could soon be your room." "Oh Mummy!", Thea cheered, falling into her mother's arms. "Of course I like it! It's beautiful! Just look at the view over the garden… can we go down and have a look?"

"Yes sure, come on, I'll show you around!", Camilla said, took her daughter's hand nad happily showed her around their new home; there were six bedrooms on the first floor, one for Camilla, one for Tom, Laura and Theodora respectively, one for a guest and one which Camilla had decided to become the painting room; an entire room where she, and Thea too, if she liked as she was already a much better painter than she herself anyway and Camilla had no doubt that she had inherited that talent from Charles, could store all of their painting equipment and work on their pictures whenever they fancied and wouldn't ever have to worry about tidying it up afterwards, getting the easels out of the way or not to accidentally ruin a precious piece of furniture with a paint brush; an entire room where they could be creative, relax, dream and just do what they enjoyed most. She couldn't wait to get started! Downstairs, on the ground floor, the heart of the house was a huge kitchen which naturally invited to some cosy cooking or baking events and though it would most certainly end in a disaster, like most of her cooking or baking attempts, Camilla was still looking forward to officially inaugurating it with her children. Apart from the kitchen, the ground floor had a huge dining room where they could host the most fabulous luncheons or dinner parties with all of their friends and family, as well as two sitting rooms, one bigger and one smaller one, each with a fireplace, offering maximum cosiness, and wonderfully wide, floor-to-ceiling windows with the same, fantastic view over the garden as the ones in Thea's room. "Do you think we will be happy here, little darling?", Camilla asked as they had finished the little house tour and Thea nodded excitedly. "Yes, Mummy, very much so.", she assured her with sparkling eyes, and Camilla pulled her into her arms. "Wonderful. That makes me really, really happy.", she sighed, before enthusiastically adding: "Oh, by the way, sweetie, you haven't seen the garden yet! Come on!" With that, she took her daughter by the hand again and led her outside, where they toured the huge garden with the beautiful, mediterranean terrace, the pool area and all its wonderful trees and bushes which were all so nicely grown and surely already a home to all different sorts of local wildlife.

"And now let's go and see the stables.", Camilla said, pointing right over there. As if by command, in that very moment a horse neighed passionately, undoubtedly from the stables they were just about to view and Thea looked at Camilla irritatedly. "Mummy…? Did the former owners leave a horse here?" Camilla shrugged her shoulders in innocent unawareness. "Not to my knowledge. Let's just go and have a look!", she suggested and Thea immediately ran off to the stables. Camilla smiled as she knew exactly what was going on and she couldn't wait for her darling to discover the very special birthday present that was already waiting for her at their new home: being just as much of a pony-mad girl as her mother, Thea had been wishing to have her own horse for years and, of course, they had ponies at Middlewick House and she had been allowed to ride on some of Andrew and Camilla's horses but now that she was eight, she was old enough to have her own horse, not only for the fun things, but also to take on the less fun responsibilities that came about with owning a horse, properly looking after an animal, feeding and grooming it, mucking out its stable and all that sort of stuff, of course not on her own, but Camilla thought it'd be good for her, especially after the divorce and now with the relocation, to have something, or rather someone, she could care for and who could care for her, and unsurprisingly, both her men, Charles and Andrew had wholeheartedly agreed. What had taken her by surprise though, was Charles' suggestion to gift her one of the retired Cavalry Blacks who had been helping to guide the Royal Family taking part in huge ceremonial occasions like Trooping the Colour - an incredibly patient, strong, resilient and calm, very special breed that not even Andrew, despite all of his years served in the Household Cavalry, had ever been able to call his own yet. Of course, it was all different for Charles, who had insisted that his daughter should have the very horse that had served himself over several years, before it got too old for all the pomp and circumstances, especially the loud noises and huge crowds, but aged 18, the good-natured gelding was just perfect as a first horse for a little girl like Thea. He had arrived a few days ago and Charles had temporarily sent over someone from Highgrove to look after him for as long as Camilla and the children hadn't moved it yet. His name was Albert and Charles had even commissioned an incredibly noble, royal blue saddle pad with his name embroidered, as well a as very special blanket, also in royal blue, saying "Happy 8th birthday Theodora", which he himself had carefully put on Albert's back once he had heard Camilla’s car rolling up the driveway. "See, old boy, here comes your new owner.", he whispered as he noticed Thea running over. Hopefully it was going to be a success…

Of course it was a success. Thea was absolutely over the moon with both, her birthday present as such, and the fact that it came from Sir and that he was there. She excitedly ran into his arms and Charles picked her up, twirling her around, both of them happily giggling and laughing. Once more, Camilla had to turn around and wipe a few tears away. It was such a relief to see her little girl, who'd been through quite a lot recently, so happy again, and of course it always made her particularly emotional to see Charles and Thea together like that. If only… - "no, stop it!", she admonished herself, before straightening her shoulders, putting on a brave face, smilingly greeting the love of her life with a firm kiss, while Thea was already bonding with Albert, friendly introducing herself, speaking to him and patting him carefully. "Perhaps he'd like some polos.", Camilla suggested and handed her daughter a box of polo mints, which gave them a few private seconds. "Hello darling.", she whispered, looking at him in pure love and adoration. Sometimes, her feelings for him still overwhelmed her. "It's so nice to see you." Of course, Charles noticed the tears in her eyes immediately, pulled her in his right arm and tenderly stroked her back. "You're alright, darling?", he asked concernedly, looking at her in sorrow. "Yes, yes, darling. It's just that days like this always make me a bit… melancholic.", she said. He didn't reply but instead pulled her even closer and gently kissed her forehead. He understood. And he felt the same. But for him this birthday was an enormous improvement compared to the years before. He still wasn't in her life as her father and probably would never be, but at least he was there as her mother's partner, he could be with his ladies at all, and express his endless love for them both and it almost felt like they were a really, normal, happy family. "Wanna go for a little walk?", he asked, offering her an arm to link and she agreed only too happily.

[firstimpressionsus]

How much it cost to install an imprinted concrete driveway

Pattern imprinted concrete floors are highly sought after for areas like patios, walkways, driveways, poolside gardens, etc. It can be also used in combination with aggregate or acid staining.   You can also use pattern imprinted concrete Wiltshire in the below give ways:

You can add pattern-imprinted concrete to

Kitchen, bathrooms entry and exit points basements and family rooms 

Stamped concrete floors enhance the appearance of walls and fire places or refurbish your existing concrete floors

You can also use the stamping on concrete kitchen counters to get a new design element

How much it will cost?

Stamped concrete paving may cost you lots of money depending on the materials and labor demand in the local market. Cost will be also worked out taking in consideration of elements like complexity of the project. However like it is said “you get what you pay for” so you expect to high quality patio or driveway floor by using stamped concrete. By installing the floor you will  enjoy the benefits like long lasting paved floor for driveway, patio and pool deck etc. it should be noted that maintenance cost of imprinted concrete driveways is negligible or nil. You can easily sweep away the dust, fallen leaves and dirt brought inside by your automobile and shoes.

The flooring is impact, water and heat resistant thus won’t crack easily despite heavy traffic. At the most you can use detergent water to clean the imprinted concrete floor. Coming to the cost you may have to spend $8 to $12 per square foot for basic flooring and $12 to $18 for midrange jobs if you introduce borders or applying contrasting colours in the pattern. You will have to spend $18 for a square foot if it is a high profile custom made job.

Employ professionals for pattern imprinted concrete pavements Employ the best Concrete driveway contractors who are hardened and wizened with experience and derived knowledge over the years. You can employ the services of First Impression Driveways, UK the best concrete driveway contractors in the country. You can contact them on phone numbers 0800521658, and 01865582767 or by sending mail to info@firstimpressionsdrivewaysandpatios.co.uk.

[stonesuredrives]

By improving the way your home looks from the outside, the entire property can be given a new lease of life and a fresh look. Stonesure Drives & Patios Ltd offer a professional installation service for patio & driveway surfacing, all aspects of groundworks & commercial surfacing including car parks & forecourts.

Website: https://www.drivewaysinswindon.co.uk

Address : 23 Chestnut Avenue, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN2 1SN

Phone Number: 07389729914

[brajeshupadhyay]

Whether, like Plumber Manor in Dorset, they’ve been owned by the same family for hundreds of years or are a cherished new project such as Caer Beris in Wales, manor hotels have a family at their hearts.  Packed with history, these hotels pride themselves on delightfully old-fashioned hospitality with generous meals, antique furniture, gardens to wander in and countryside to admire.  There are famous ones, including Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, and Gravetye and Cowley Manors, but there are plenty of others to discover, and some of them have superb deals this year. Lympstone Manor, Devon  Lympstone Manor in Devon has a Michelin-starred restaurant and 21 bedrooms in the main house, with high levels of indulgence that include a resident artist and a vista of the River Exe Stunning: Pictured is one of the bathrooms, which features two freestanding gold baths and a marble double sink  When chef Michael Caines bought this Regency mansion near Exmouth in 2017, part of the appeal was the surrounding farmland which he thought would make an ideal terroir for English sparkling wine. More than 17,000 vines were planted, and the first vintage is due in 2021. In the meantime, there’s a Michelin-starred restaurant and 21 bedrooms in the main house, with high levels of indulgence that include a resident artist and a vista of the River Exe. New this year are equally luxurious shepherd’s huts that sleep up to five guests. Doubles from £560, including breakfast and lunch (lympstonemanor.co.uk).   Ockenden Manor, West Sussex Sussex treat: Ockenden Manor, near Cuckfield, serves afternoon cream tea with scones and finger sandwiches  Tucked into the countryside near the South Downs, next to the boutique-filled village of Cuckfield, parts of this mansion date from the 16th Century. If you want to delve into the oldest part of the hotel, ask for the Master Timothy suite, which has wooden panelling, reading nooks and an adjacent room for children. Downstairs is given over to a bar, drawing rooms and a restaurant which overlooks a semi-wild garden; its wine list reflects the burgeoning Sussex vineyard scene. The former walled garden now houses a spa with an indoor and outdoor swimming pool; there are also a handful of suites, allowing guests to drift between their rooms and treatments. One-night Spa Break Getaway costs from £143pp for dinner, B&B with £25 voucher towards a spa treatment from Monday to Friday (prideofbritainhotels.com). Buckland Manor, Worcestershire Chef Will Guthrie raids the nearby Vale of Evesham for produce both in the restaurant and for hampers to take on picnics around Buckland Manor and beyond  There are 15 rooms, some of them with four-poster beds and views of church spires. Distinctly more family-friendly than many Cotswolds hotels, there are interconnecting rooms as well as special menus for children  Domesday mention:  The manor house has ‘Domesday Book history and plenty of modern-day appeal’ A manor house with Domesday Book history and plenty of modern-day appeal. The 15th Century timbered hall provides the backdrop for afternoon tea in winter, although in summer it spreads out into the gardens. The beautiful village of Broadway is a gentle hike away, so are the gardens at Snowshill. There are 15 rooms, some of them with four-poster beds and views of church spires. Distinctly more family-friendly than many Cotswolds hotels, there are interconnecting rooms as well as special menus for children. Chef Will Guthrie raids the nearby Vale of Evesham for produce both in the restaurant and for hampers to take on picnics around the hotel and beyond. Two-night stays from £315pp, including B&B plus one dinner and a National Trust card worth £127 (bucklandmanor.co.uk). Plumber Manor, Dorset Generations of the Prideaux-Brune family have lived at Plumber Manor in Dorset since they built it in the 1600s – and it shows A textbook West Country manor house, from the long driveway surrounded by fields to the mullion windows framed by roses. Generations of the Prideaux-Brune family have lived at Plumber since they built it in the 1600s and it shows, with resident black labradors, proper family portraits and a collection of classic cars. There are six bedrooms in the main house, ten others in a restored stone barn. Spread over three dining rooms, the menu is classic country house, strong on cheese souffle and peppered beef, followed by home-made puddings. B&B from £155. For a three-night minimum stay, dinner, B&B is from £137.50pp per night (plumbermanor.co.uk). Manor House, Wiltshire The 14th Century ivy-clad manor house in Wiltshire is filled with stained-glass windows, beams and a Michelin-starred restaurant There are 21 rooms in the main house and 29 cottages around the grounds, some of which are dog-friendly With its charming honey-stoned houses, Castle Combe is often described as England’s most beautiful village, and it has caught the eye of many a Hollywood director. It has a 14th Century ivy-clad manor house – in the same honey-coloured stone to match – filled with stained-glass windows, beams and a Michelin-starred restaurant. There are 21 rooms, including the delightful Lordsmeer suite in the main house and 29 cottages around the grounds, some of which are dog-friendly. There’s an 18-hole golf course and a glorious Italianate garden, and the Bybrook river meanders through the grounds. B&B doubles from £250 (exclusive.co.uk/the-manor-house). Titchwell Manor, Norfolk A hotel that catches the posh but gently boho North Norfolk vibe beautifully; this Victorian building is too close to the beach to have any airs and graces, but there’s a lot of breezy charm. Meals are served in an expansive conservatory and there are 26 rooms, some with hot tubs. Owned by the Snaith family, it is managed by their son Eric, who also runs Norfolk’s smartest fish and chip shop in nearby Thornham. Family-friendly, it’s also a stylish bolthole for birdwatchers; there’s an RSPB reserve next door. B&B from £140. A two-night walking break including dinner, B&B plus a packed lunch on one day costs from £265pp (titchwellmanor.com). Longueville Manor, Jersey  Longueville Manor, Jersey, puts food and wine at the centre of its appeal This Relais & Châteaux hotel may put food and wine at the centre of its appeal, but there’s much more on offer.  The 30 rooms and suites are cream and serene, generously sized and with French-accented luxury.  For extra privacy, there’s a two-bedroom cottage in the grounds, alongside tennis courts and a spa. The hotel also has its own yacht. Longueville became a hotel in 1949 and is now in the third generation of family ownership.  There’s a fine cellar, with more than 5,000 bottles, a forager on staff to supplement the extensive kitchen garden and honey from hives dotted around the grounds.  Doubles from £225, room-only (longuevillemanor.com). Aynsome Manor Hotel, Cumbria Aynsome Manor Hotel, Cumbria, has 13 bedrooms, some in the beamed eaves of the building, all with the sort of views that will have you pulling on your walking boots For those who like the wilder side of Cumbria, here is a handsome, good-value manor near Cartmel, now run by the second generation of the Varley family. There are just 13 bedrooms, some in the beamed eaves of the building, all with the sort of views that will have you pulling on your walking boots. Guests eat in the dining room rather than a restaurant and the food aims to make the flavours sing with minimal fuss. The menus are set-price and a bargain at three courses for £30. B&B from £90 per night (aynsomemanorhotel.co.uk). Caer Beris Manor, Powys The Southwick family bought Caer Beris Manor in Powys last year and spent lockdown continuing their renovation programme  Lord Swansea built this mock-Tudor mansion, surrounded on three sides by the River Irfon, in 1896 on the foundations of a 13th Century castle. It was bought by the Southwick family last year. There are 22 rooms spread across the estate, ranging from suites to single rooms. The family spent lockdown continuing their renovation programme and have created picnic areas throughout the grounds, which also hold orchards and an otter hide, while there’s trout, salmon and grayling to fish for. The 1898 restaurant sources its ingredients locally. Mains start at £16. B&B from £90 (caerberis.com). Manor House, Argyll and Bute Manor House, Argyll and Bute, is ‘delightfully gentle’ with just 11 rooms and spectacular West Coast views The Scots don’t do manors in quite the same way as the English – fortified castles were more their thing. This hotel is one of the exceptions, and it’s delightfully gentle with just 11 rooms and spectacular West Coast views. It was built for the Duke of Argyll in 1780, next to Oban’s harbour. Staying here is a superb introduction to the Inner Hebrides, from the freshly caught seafood in the restaurant to sunset views from McCaig’s Tower behind the hotel – although watching from the Nelson bar at the hotel with a fine whisky in hand is nearly as good. Sailors can use the hotel’s own mooring. Double B&B from £224 (manorhouseoban.com). The Manor at Sway, Hampshire Pictured is one of the bedrooms at The Manor at Sway, Hampshire, where ‘William Morris mixes with a touch of modern design’ All the space and grace that the Edwardians could muster comes into play at this hotel on the southern edge of the New Forest, where William Morris mixes with a touch of modern design. It’s a great car-free option as it’s near the railway station and there are wonderful walks into the forest and heath to explore from the hotel. There are just 11 bedrooms and a restaurant serving local produce. Dishes include local pork with black pudding, crisp ham and charred baby gem lettuce, while puddings include lemon curd tart with basil. Doubles from £189, including dinner, breakfast and afternoon tea (themanoratsway.com).  Moonfleet Manor, Dorset Room with a view: Moonfleet Manor, a Georgian mansion in Dorset, overlooks the magnificent Chesil Beach Not just for adults: One of the lounges at the hotel, which is child-focused, with play areas and picnics If you want to get your child manored up, head here. Overlooking Chesil Beach and part of the Luxury Family Hotel group, it’s thoroughly child-focused. There are interconnecting rooms, indoor and outdoor play areas, including a pool, and in a Covid-made-fun way, picnics are available for every meal including breakfast. The South West Coastal Path runs alongside the back garden. In the Georgian mansion, there’s a playfulness that adults will appreciate too, with high teas and grown-up meals and, above all, Snoopy, the venerable hotel spaniel. Two nights from £329, including breakfast and dinner for two. Children stay free but are charged for meals; two hours of childcare a day is included from September 7 when the creche reopens (moonfleetmanorhotel.co.uk). Long Crendon Manor, Buckinghamshire Long Crendon Manor in Buckinghamshire has bedrooms with original features, a bakery, farm shop and florist  Not a hotel as such, but you can stay in this manor, which is stacked with beamed charm. Parts of the main house date from the 12th Century. It’s still a working estate, with ducks and geese in the orchard that creates the cider, and Gloucester Old Spot pigs that provide the morning bacon. Head into the courtyard and there’s a bakery, farm shop and florist. The farm shop cafe serves lunch and it’s walking distance from two pubs in the village. B&B doubles from £145 (longcrendonmanor.co.uk).  Rothay Manor, Cumbria This small foodie hotel in the heart of the Lake District is owned by Jamie and Jenna Shail, who have bought significant flair and rolltop baths to the low-slung white house near Ambleside. Eight of the rooms on the ground floor are dog-friendly; first-floor rooms have balconies. Its main restaurant has three AA rosettes and five courses start from £70 a head, but there’s also a more casual restaurant. B&B from £221 (rothaymanor.co.uk). The post Give your British mini-break some real style and book a stay in one of these 14 grand houses appeared first on Shri Times News. from WordPress https://ift.tt/3ld1rKb

http://sansaartimes.blogspot.com/2020/08/give-your-british-mini-break-some-real.html

[dracomai]

answer this LATER cause ur having fun but: what kind of luxuries the malfoy manor have ? like specifically extravagant things they own or even rooms designed for one activity? and what kind of rich muggle things are in them (like jacuzzis or like tvs idk)? the PEOPLE wanna know

MALFOY MANOR.     first,     i wanna say thank you for giving me a reason to ramble on about the malfoy manor.     i’m gonna take this time to just talk about everything i possibly could.     okay so to talk about the history,     i need to introduce you to the first malfoy,     the founder of the malfoy manor.    

ARMAND MALFOY.     armand was a french born wizard who arrived in great britain with the norman invasion     (     he gained the friendship of william the conqueror     ).     he was also the first malfoy in britain.     sometime after william I was made king of england in 1066,     armand provided various services to the king.     while the exact details of the services are unknown,     they were known to be shady and magical in nature.     (     probably:     threatening with hexes,     hexing enemies of the king,     using various dark spells.     )     in exchange for these services,     king william granted armand a piece of land in wiltshire,     seizing the property from it’s former landholders.     the malfoy manor would over the next ten centuries,     be the home of the malfoy family.     the family would expand the estate even further by annexing more property from surrounding muggles but also gain more riches by coming into contact with muggles and making money off of their ways.     properly doing business with them.     (     this was before the international statute of wizarding secrecy.     of which the malfoys initially opposed the imposition of the statute.     upon the realization that further opposition would distance them from the new heart of power being the newly formed ministry of magic,     they cut all ties with muggle families and became supportive of the statute.     holding all denial that they had ever fraternized with non magic families.     )             (     malfoys had historically been associated with high-born muggle circles,     such as royalty and aristocracy,     which,     in part,     resulted in their vast collection of muggle treasures and works of art.     all of which are stored within the manor.     )

I.     DRIVEWAY.     "     they turned right,     into a wide driveway that led off the lane.     the high hedge curved with them,     running off into the distance beyond the pair of impressive wrought-iron gates barring the men’s way…      the source of the noise proved to be nothing more than a pure-white peacock,     sturring majestically along the top of the hedge.     “     —    description of severus snape and yaxley walking along the driveway.

the gravel driveway to the manor house is wide and has a large hedge curving alongside it.     the driveway and hedge go past a pair of wrought-iron gates.     these gates permit select individuals     (     those who make some sort of salute    )     to pass through them as if they are smoke,     and with others the iron contorts into a face,     which demands the purpose of the person trying to enter the manor.     the yew hedge is known to have albino peacocks roving along the top of it.     the outside of the manor is grand and the land surrounding it is vast,     filling many acres.     those acres contain numerous types of trees and various plant and perhaps other animal life. 

II.     THE MANOR.     "     a handsome manor house grew out of the darkness at the end of the straight drive,     lights glinting in the diamond-paned downstairs windows.     somewhere in the dark garden beyond the hedge a fountain was playing…    the hallway was large,     dimly lit,     and sumptuously decorated, with a magnificent carpet covering most of the stone floor.     the eyes of the pale-faced portraits on the walls followed snape and yaxley as they strode past.     “     —    description of the manor and the entrance hall.

malfoy manor is a     "    handsome manor house    "     surrounded by elaborate gardens,     including a fountain.     the front door swings inward at the approach of a person     (    or perhaps just a select group of people    )     without anyone visibly opening it.     the hallway is large,     dimly lit,     carpet covering the stone floor.     the walls of the entrance hall display pale-faced portraits lining the walls      (     presumably former malfoy family portraits     ),     and at the end of the hall is the bronze-handled door to the drawing room.      

III.     THE DRAWING ROOM.     "     the drawing room was full of silent people,     sitting at a long and ornate table…     illumination came from a roasting fire beneath a handsome marble mantelpiece surmounted by a gilded mirror.     "     —     description of the drawing room.

the drawing room was a widely proportioned room.     probably the grandest room of the house,     it had ceilings 30 feet high,     two chandeliers,     and a pipe organ at one end.     it had a long ornate table,     where the death eaters and voldemort sat during their meeting.     also,     during the death eater meeting,     the usual furniture was pushed carelessly up against the walls.     the drawing room has a ‘handsome’,     ornate marble mantelpiece with a gilded mirror which has an intricately scrolled frame on top.     many of the known activities of the death eaters took place in the drawing room,     which had dark purple walls with more portraits,     and a large crystal chandelier,     which was eventually destroyed by dobby     (     their house elf     )     during the escape of several prisoners.     It was probably restored     (     by magic     )     to where it was previously hung.

IV.     CELLAR.     during voldemorts stay in the manor,     this room functioned as a holding cell for prisoners.     this room is one hundred percent escape proof with only house elves able to bypass the room’s securities.     it is below ground level,     no light,     damp floored,     and made of stone with stone beams     .     the family’s collection of dark artefacts are hidden below within the cellar to prevent any being seized during ministry raids.     one such raid having been conducted in december 1992.     considering that a vast amount of dark artefacts reside in the cellar,     this makes it an immensely dangerous room to step foot in if you’re not fully aware of what is held in the room.     touch the wrong thing and you could possibly die.

V.     ITEMS WITHIN THE MANOR.      because of their association with muggle royalty,     they gained a vast collection of muggle treasures and works of art.     they also have an abundance of dark artefacts.      some items can be bewitched by dark magic for various purposes,     which is where the name dark artefacts originates from.     it is unsure what these items specifically are,     but draco keeps a small amount of them in his bedroom along shelves and around the house displayed.    he keeps a lot of his own dark artefacts,     cursed items,     taxidermized dark magical beings.     there are also journals from every malfoy stored,     detailing their lives during that period and about muggle societies during that time.     including the journal of his own father,     and dracos own.     

[ginaakers]

Because it’s #Friday night! The start of the #weekend. What are you up to? - Big hair short skirt! Try on about 100 outfits and always end up going back to the first one you put on 😂 - If you’re off out #clubbing this is for you x Night at Da Club (The Ladies on a night out): Ladies it’s like ya birthdays Making that walk down your driveways Eyebrows on point, ya best hair days Wearing ya threads in the new craze (Your friendly neighbourhood Taxi Driver): Back of cab Hittin the clubs Just havin fun They’re Tearin it up Out with ya friends Hang ups there’s none Back in cab when their nights done (The Ladies on a night out): Ladies it’s like ya birthdays...... (Mr. Securitee, Da Big Bad Doorman): Yo ladies I’m ya man on door Let’s see some ID (“No way we been here before”) C’mon c’mon now you know the drill Show me your creds (so we can keep out the feds) and you can go get and hit that dance floor (The Ladies on a night out): Ladies it’s like ya birthdays..... (She’s the Coolest Cloakroom Concierge in the City): Nice jacket girl, let me take that for you, And wow where did you get that awesome hair do Y’all so on fleek tonight Da club is bangin’ alright No time to waste go set that dance floor alight (The Ladies on a night out): Ladies it’s like ya birthdays...... (Mr. Smooth Bartendah): Who’s Next! What can get for you? Gin and coke now is that one or that two? Have tried this club special, no? Well it’s new Can I join you later when you’ve had a few? (The Ladies on a night out): Ladies it’s like ya birthdays..... (The Club DJ): Now I’m ya house DJ I’m a master of bass Scratchin and mixin, this is MySpace Ya feelin my tunes before ya seeing my face I’m first and last thing ya hear when come to this place (The Ladies on a night out): Ladies it’s like ya birthdays Making that walk down your driveways Eyebrows on point, ya best hair days Wearing ya threads in the new craze (at Wiltshire) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bnb9j08FaZv/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=i9hy69jgxq6z

[rocyfanandez30]

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Farmingdale is a unique town in the county of Wiltshire. It is located on the valley floor between Oxford and the River Tamar. The name is derived from an old French term that meant 'farming'. Fierce competition among paving contractors in the area, made this town a unique market town. Contractors from all over the country have shifted their headquarters to Farmingdale in order to take advantage of the strong market. Today, many of these paving contractors have taken up the craft of setting new contracts with the owners of land and development companies.

There are several benefits of hiring a good paving contractor. It makes your job easier by reducing strain on your back and also provides you with a sense of pride in doing a good job for your business. With such a variety of surfaces available and the large number of companies that operate in this region, you can be assured of getting a paving contractor who is reliable, competitive and trustworthy. In short, you need to search online for a reputable paving company in Farmingdale. You will find plenty of websites that offer their services for various reasons, like finding a contractor or paving contractor and looking for quality paving materials.

The place where you plan to build your farm is also of importance. This is especially so if you are looking at developing land around an irrigation channel or river. The drainage of the land will have to be managed effectively in such a scenario and paves can do the job perfectly. Farmland that has drainage that is good usually grows well and yields a lot. However, good drainage can help in keeping excess rainwater away from the land, which can cause damage to the underlying soil.

Farmingdale is known for its excellent weather conditions and it doesn't disappoint even during the winter. You can find a paving contractor here if you want to hire one. The main shopping center, Sizzler, is located in this town. There are many places where you can eat, drink and shop. The town also has a shopping mall, that offers a wide variety of different stores, along with restaurants.

There is also the Central Shopping Center in the town. It has over one hundred and fifty shops and restaurants. There is a movie theater in the town that offers some good movies. There are many different entertainment options in the town.

Farmingdale is located on approximately eleven kilometers of landfill that was once used for industrial purposes. The land has since been re-developed into a residential area. Most people come to the town and settle down after work. The population has been steadily increasing and the roads and infrastructure are in very good condition. If you are thinking of starting a new business, why not hire a reputable paving contractor to build a beautiful lawn for your home? Farmingdale paving contractor offers 

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[raygoodwinmajournal]

Epochal Territories Shoot #5 - 28/12/2020

Winter tightens it grip amongst the masses, with a bitter chill blasting through the streets and waving the frost ridden grass and frozen ponds. Parked cars litter the side of the streets with one wondering if some will even start in the morning. The Christmas break sees us staying in Wiltshire for the last time before the in-laws move locally. This particular time of year has seemingly been subdued and subjugated by the pandemic which is completely unavoidable, stuck in the back of ones mind no matter how much you try and do things normally like walking around a village or photographing for a project.

Marshfield is a small village local to where I stayed, with a much larger footfall and right next to a main road which eventually leads to the M4 and Bristol. I had never been to Marshfield so I wasn’t really expecting anything, but it is architecturally similar to a French pre-war village, with massive limestone cottages packed onto one main street. These houses are massively expensive and give one the thought that they’re either for local people or people wanting to escape the city, or want a second home that isn’t too far from a main road. The village then turns into a weird space where expensive homes meddle with a council estate and nearby road noise. For the walk, I tracked my location including my mileage just to keep a track of where I have been and how long I was out for. 

I chose to use the Canon 5D because at the current point in time of shooting this, I already have three rolls of film to be developed shot through the Mamiya 7ii, so the decision to shoot digitally was to create some work to have instantly whilst I await the developing of my film. The 5D was yet again paired with the Yongnuo 35mm F2 and the same B&W preset that I used for the Talbot Gardens Estate shoot. My ISO was set to 400 and my aperture ranged from between F8 an F11, with shutter speeds going from 1/125s to 1/40s. The batteries weren’t enjoying the almost zero degree temperature, with one of them going flat fairly quickly. In post production, the shadows were brought up whilst the highlights were lowered to maximise the dynamic range. 

Here you can see the odd mixture of more classical building design and newer council houses from the mid 20th century. There is something estranging with the newer cookie cutter designed housing knocking on the doors of buildings that have been a part of Marshfield for hundreds of years. The petroleum sign is also something from another time, with the dated logo design and notifying the driver can use their Visa card to pay. 

Another garage is situated around the corner, where you have to ask the attendees to have your car filled up. A skip is parked in-between filled with all sorts of house related ephemera, presumably from a house clearance. The streets weren’t that desolate, with a multitude of families walking around a quaint village whilst the bitterly cold wind blasts up the high street. I found that the village didn’t really have a notable aesthetic tying it to Britain. I feel that you could plonk it anywhere within the U.K or France it would be right at home, seemingly with the look and feel of it being anonymous. 

Perhaps the most alienating landscape, a barren driveway with rusty scaffolding, another skip filled with rubbish and traffic cones littering the drive. Shooting in this environment was extremely difficult, as it is so detracted from what I am usually photographing, whether that is housing estates, military bases or urban sprawl. 

Soon enough, the village started to turn into a bleak housing estate where the wind stopped and the road noise loudened. Immediately I felt the feeling of alienation from the quaint village to the drab council estate. The other notable aspect was nobody was walking around, compared to the many families we bumped into in the village. The area felt a lot more rough, with the social status being presumably lower and most likely a notable decrease in house prices.

It would seem that the houses situated in the council estate in Marshfield seemed a similar design to those photographed in Martins Croft in Colerne whilst shooting for Mileage May Vary. The junction acts as a leading line towards the road that crosses the frame, with the sidewalk splitting the frame in two, with the road taking the lower half and the houses taking the upper half. I always find these houses to invoke a massive feeling of malaise, which is probably down to their cookie cutter design, and the ambiguity of their location. If I was to remove any idea of it’s location, it could be anywhere within the U.K. The roads are completely temporary, as are the sidewalks one uses to traverse the estate. Looking towards these houses with the complete depersonalisation is to me, deeply uncomfortable. These are places where people live their lives, a place to come home to after working a job which is probably slowing killing them. Yet nobody is around, almost creating a liminal space - a place of transience. 

The community centre hide behind the bare trees, with it’s cathedral-esque design utilised to be a beacon of activities for the village. I enjoy the idea of the architecture being hidden from view, but not completely where hints are still visible like some windows the the sign to enter the property. The roads and sideways again act as transient spaces where time is only measured in seconds.

Transcript:

village on the doorstep of the M4 roadnoise gateway to the city limestone cottages in a line better breeze frozen lake houses for sale selling for too much money out of the price bracket for most village experience ask for assistance at the petrol pump looming council house in the range of the laymen grotty boxes beaten up cars on the driveway football field they play local games here for locals again outsiders welcome but frowned upon are you new here elderly crossing please be careful this is residential this is a main road here for all the traffic linking counties renovated housing make a house a home away from home from the city country getaway stones throw from the city

A coda. The experience of walking from a village into a council estate within a matter of minutes is a strange experience. The quaint nature of the limestone cottages with Christmas decorations in the window mixed with the unwashed façade of council houses brings up an odd feeling of ennui and listlessness. It brings up the feeling that where could be some animosity between the village dwellers and the council house tenants. Something I do enjoy however is writing down my thoughts and feelings of where I have been. I often have loads of things going around my head when I am shooting, so the ability of unloading the total word vomit in my head is therapeutic, almost cathartic. It also goes along with my images, giving them a somewhat consistent context to where my head is when I am on location.

But, I am beginning to enjoy shooting film again. Despite the price of developing and buying film, the look and film is totally unbeatable and something which is massively undeniable to me. This does bring up the question whether I use both film and digital, or just use the film images. For the time being, there might be a possibility that they can coexist depending they can have a visual consistency (same tones and aspect ratio). If they can be made to be similar in aesthetic, then there would be no reason for them to not be together, which just means I have to make sure that what I include in the final product are visually consistent with each other. The zeitgeist is somewhat hidden when in a village setting, where the urban doesn’t entirely appear to be present in the typical sense of contemporary architecture, shops rammed with consumers and overpriced coffee shops. Instead, the alienation within the space is a lot more nuanced compared to the more suburban areas such as the council estate. In the village setting, the alienation is instead coming from the aspect that the majority of the housing within the area is placed upon a pedestal, away from those trying to climb the property ladder buying their first home. Instead, it is primarily aimed for the wealthier, middle class crowd who are financially better-off and maybe even looking to have another home away from the city, creating a faux-countryside aesthetic for their lives. It comes to a point where the necessity of the home diminishes and then becomes a commodity, a material thing to gain to say to your friends that you own a property in a certain county or village oh look at me in my new_house painted with farrow & ball with the new electric landrover on the drive wecarefortheenvironment. 

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[ingek73]

He was stupid, but he apologized.

Not taking away that Harry should never had worn it and it was wrong, but I do wonder why it was available in a costume shop in the first place. And why the people he was with never said anything. That said it was a weird ‘party’ theme from the start and there have long been rumours about Williams costume. ‘black leggings’??

Anyway re the ‘party’:

UK news

The party that caused a king-size hangover

How Nazi gear, a popular society choice, put Harry in the doghouse

Sandra Laville and Laura Barton

Thu 13 Jan 2005 21.44 EST

In a marquee pitched in the grounds of a country mansion owned by the Olympic triple gold medallist rider Richard Meade, the young and expensively educated drank, danced and flirted until 5am on Sunday.

The following day, when the Beaufort hunt met to gallop across the vales and fields of the Gloucestershire/Wiltshire borders, the hangover of the majority of its young followers who attended the party thrown by Mr Meade for his three children had no doubt subsided.

But six days on, the fallout from the choice of dress of one of the 250 guests has exposed the peculiar sense of humour and lack of decorum of a young royal and his upper crust twentysomething friends.

Although a few said they were horrified when Prince Harry crunched up the driveway wearing a Nazi desert uniform, no one appeared bothered by the general theme of the party itself - natives and colonials. Indeed among the Windsors the subjugation of the colonies appears to be a popular topic: at Prince William's 21st guests dressed to the theme of Out of Africa.

After being forced to make a statement apologising on Wednesday night, Prince Harry was keeping his head down yesterday and was thought to be at his father's Highgrove estate, smarting from a severe telling-off.

Mr Meade continued with his chores, apparently oblivious to the fuss. A former boyfriend of Princess Anne, he had thrown the party for his son Harry, 22, a member of the Beaufort hunt, who rides competitively with Zara Phillips, and his siblings James, 23, and Lucy, 21.

Their mother, Angela, insisted: "I did not see any Nazi uniform."

Many of the young prince's chums - apparently known as Club H; not H after Harry but because the circle of friends grew from gatherings in the cellars of Highgrove - were also keeping a low profile.

Centred on the polo and hunting scene, they include Emma, Luke and Mark Tomlinson, whose parents own the Beaufort polo club; Susannah Harvey, a model Prince Harry met at the Beaufort hunt ball; Guy Pelly, the son of a Kent landowner; and Davina Duckworth-Chad, known as "deb on the web" after Country Life featured her on the internet.

Wealthy and privileged they may be, but many of the costumes they chose for last Saturday's party appeared to be home-made.

Prince William appeared in a leopard outfit with black leggings. Guy Pelly, who has been blamed wrongly for introducing Harry to illegal drugs, dressed up as the Queen and delivered a speech mocking her voice to guffaws from the guests. Others donned cowboy boots or stuck feathers in their hair as American indians or swirled a kaffiyeh round their heads.

Prince Harry arrived in a jacket with the German flag on the arm and removed it to reveal the desert uniform of General Erwin Rommel's Afrika Korps, complete with the badge of the Wehrmacht on the collar, that he had hired from Maud's Cotswold Costumes, in the Gloucestershire village of Nailsworth.

A few of the gathered guests commented, according to an insider, but their reaction was "you are going to get into trouble for that", rather than any particular outrage at his choice of costume.

Villagers in West Littleton said the revelry had continued well into Sunday morning. One said: "Cars started arriving at the farm around 6pm and there were two large bodyguards sniffing around the village for a bit. I could hear disco music pumping from behind the farm and some posh people talking on a PA system, but it was all a bit muffled. It just sounded like a lot of posh people laughing a lot."

Others defended the behaviour of the third in line to the throne. "If William and Harry want to enjoy themselves at a party, they should be able to do that in private," said one. "People should just leave them alone."

As demands grew for the prince to appear publicly and apologise, those involved in the costume hire business said his choice of outfit was not uncommon.

At Angels Costume Hire in Shaftesbury Avenue, London, staff said colonial parties tended to be popular only among society types. "The Nazi uniform is a frequently-requested costume," said Emma Angel, the shop manager.

At the Party Superstore on Lavender Hill, London, a Nazi costume can be hired for £49; it is a popular choice.

"People dress up as Nazis all the time for various reasons," said Duncan Mundell, the owner, who had some sympathy for Prince Harry. "The poor guy. He's just gone out to a fancy dress party without thinking," he said. "The same thing happened at my 40th birthday party at a restaurant in Wandsworth. Three or four people had come dressed as Nazis. What we didn't realise was that there was a bar mitzvah going on in the same restaurant. Eventually we were asked to change or leave."

This was to have been the month that Prince Harry started his first intensive officer training at Sandhurst, but a knee injury has postponed this until May. The prince's knee has not stopped him skiing - he is due to fly off in the next few months with a group of friends and his girlfriend Chelsy Davy, before meeting his father for the traditional Easter week's skiing at Klosters.

-

(my god. That last party. The poor people celebrating a bar mitzvah)

“‘harry was 19 when he dressed up as a nazi’ i knew about the holocaust when i was in at least year 7 and knew better ‘he was only young when he said slurs, it was a mistake’ at 14 (sometimes younger) kids know not to say slurs and even so, ‘mistakes’ hurt people, i know kids who have been called slurs and harassed. i don’t understand why a lot of people forgive him when it never hurt or affected you in the first place.” - Submitted by Anonymous

[raygoodwinbaphotographyjournal3]

PHOT303 - Mileage May Vary - From Film to Digital

COVID-19 has initiated a lockdown for our nation, with many businesses closing for this time and many being held under house arrest. This also means that shooting film at the moment is not possible, as I cannot afford to send over multiple medium format rolls to be developed and scanned, with the addition of lab scans not being wanted for this project. This is turn means that I have to shoot digitally for the foreseeable future. I personally do not have a massive problem with it, but I would prefer to use the Mamiya 7ii which I have that now lives in my camera bag until June. 

With no surprises, I am using my old faithful Canon 5D and the 50mm F1.8 STM which has served me so well for many many years. Despite the 5D’s age, it keeps on clunking over and creating really nice images. The 50mm F1.8 STM might be the cheapest prime that Canon offer, but it is still a stellar piece of glass when one is on a budget. It uses the same optical design as previous iterations, but uses some newer coatings to reduce chromatic abberations and flaring. 

Shooting has been extremely limited, due to being stuck in a village in Wiltshire with no way to explore further locations. The lockdown has severely limited where I can shoot and what I can shoot. There are only so many pre-2009 cars in a small village, yet there is another portion to the north that is easy to walk to and possible to explore. This will happen in due time.

It is hard to re-imagine what this project is, and what it is to become. It is still the documentation of cars that escaped the VSS, but it is now narrowed down into a singular location. I also have to get used to shooting in a digital format, of which I haven’t used for a project since this time last year. I am having to work around using a camera that isn’t analogue, a different aspect ratio and resolution. In contrast, I do feel right at home with the 5D as it is the camera that I use for my professional work, and the camera that I have used for the better part of 4 years. I am still sticking to shooting more of the encompassing area, instead of zooming into the details of the cars, as I feel that the spaces around the vehicles gives more context to the photograph as more of a field study of the economical aspects to car ownership. Above, is a Toyota Prius and an MG ZR sitting proudly on somebodies driveway. They’re quite a juxtaposing mix, as the Prius is a car synonymous with environmentally friendly inclined motorists, and the ZR more of a boy racer demographic. Yet, they are both parked on a driveway of a nicely presented bungalow, with a pristine garden where an elderly gentleman resides.

I also like to document the areas where vehicles have been, but aren’t currently there. With this, there is a hauntological aspect to the images, as a spectre of the vehicles is around in the form of the tyre tracks left in the dirt, but they aren’t there. I also like the bungalows in this area, as there is a New Topgraphics aspect to the design of them. There is an interesting mix of newer houses, with an older house just top the left of centre with the chimneys showing. 

The editing process is also rather different when it comes to a digital raw file, as there is so much information on the image that can be recovered and changed. With digital files, I like them to be a flat as possible to emulate the ‘film’ look. For this, I reduce the contrast to a little as possible, and reduce the highlights to have a larger dynamic range. I always find digital images to be incredibly contrasty when compared to an analogue photograph. It also makes the image rather washed out and pushes the details up slightly. I find a lot of large format images also have this quality to them, with the contrast being fairly low and the details extremely high. Not to say that digital images can compete with large format, but still. This process shall continue throughout the lockdown period, continuing with the same editing style, camera and lens.

[brajeshupadhyay]

Give your British mini-break some real style and book a stay in one of these 14 grand houses

Whether, like Plumber Manor in Dorset, they’ve been owned by the same family for hundreds of years or are a cherished new project such as Caer Beris in Wales, manor hotels have a family at their hearts. 

Packed with history, these hotels pride themselves on delightfully old-fashioned hospitality with generous meals, antique furniture, gardens to wander in and countryside to admire. 

There are famous ones, including Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, and Gravetye and Cowley Manors, but there are plenty of others to discover, and some of them have superb deals this year.

Lympstone Manor, Devon 

Lympstone Manor in Devon has a Michelin-starred restaurant and 21 bedrooms in the main house, with high levels of indulgence that include a resident artist and a vista of the River Exe

Stunning: Pictured is one of the bathrooms, which features two freestanding gold baths and a marble double sink 

When chef Michael Caines bought this Regency mansion near Exmouth in 2017, part of the appeal was the surrounding farmland which he thought would make an ideal terroir for English sparkling wine. More than 17,000 vines were planted, and the first vintage is due in 2021.

In the meantime, there’s a Michelin-starred restaurant and 21 bedrooms in the main house, with high levels of indulgence that include a resident artist and a vista of the River Exe. New this year are equally luxurious shepherd’s huts that sleep up to five guests. Doubles from £560, including breakfast and lunch (lympstonemanor.co.uk).  

Ockenden Manor, West Sussex

Sussex treat: Ockenden Manor, near Cuckfield, serves afternoon cream tea with scones and finger sandwiches 

Tucked into the countryside near the South Downs, next to the boutique-filled village of Cuckfield, parts of this mansion date from the 16th Century. If you want to delve into the oldest part of the hotel, ask for the Master Timothy suite, which has wooden panelling, reading nooks and an adjacent room for children. Downstairs is given over to a bar, drawing rooms and a restaurant which overlooks a semi-wild garden; its wine list reflects the burgeoning Sussex vineyard scene.

The former walled garden now houses a spa with an indoor and outdoor swimming pool; there are also a handful of suites, allowing guests to drift between their rooms and treatments.

One-night Spa Break Getaway costs from £143pp for dinner, B&B with £25 voucher towards a spa treatment from Monday to Friday (prideofbritainhotels.com).

Buckland Manor, Worcestershire

Chef Will Guthrie raids the nearby Vale of Evesham for produce both in the restaurant and for hampers to take on picnics around Buckland Manor and beyond 

There are 15 rooms, some of them with four-poster beds and views of church spires. Distinctly more family-friendly than many Cotswolds hotels, there are interconnecting rooms as well as special menus for children

 Domesday mention:  The manor house has ‘Domesday Book history and plenty of modern-day appeal’

A manor house with Domesday Book history and plenty of modern-day appeal. The 15th Century timbered hall provides the backdrop for afternoon tea in winter, although in summer it spreads out into the gardens.

The beautiful village of Broadway is a gentle hike away, so are the gardens at Snowshill. There are 15 rooms, some of them with four-poster beds and views of church spires. Distinctly more family-friendly than many Cotswolds hotels, there are interconnecting rooms as well as special menus for children.

Chef Will Guthrie raids the nearby Vale of Evesham for produce both in the restaurant and for hampers to take on picnics around the hotel and beyond.

Two-night stays from £315pp, including B&B plus one dinner and a National Trust card worth £127 (bucklandmanor.co.uk).

Plumber Manor, Dorset

Generations of the Prideaux-Brune family have lived at Plumber Manor in Dorset since they built it in the 1600s – and it shows

A textbook West Country manor house, from the long driveway surrounded by fields to the mullion windows framed by roses.

Generations of the Prideaux-Brune family have lived at Plumber since they built it in the 1600s and it shows, with resident black labradors, proper family portraits and a collection of classic cars.

There are six bedrooms in the main house, ten others in a restored stone barn. Spread over three dining rooms, the menu is classic country house, strong on cheese souffle and peppered beef, followed by home-made puddings.

B&B from £155. For a three-night minimum stay, dinner, B&B is from £137.50pp per night (plumbermanor.co.uk).

Manor House, Wiltshire

The 14th Century ivy-clad manor house in Wiltshire is filled with stained-glass windows, beams and a Michelin-starred restaurant

There are 21 rooms in the main house and 29 cottages around the grounds, some of which are dog-friendly

With its charming honey-stoned houses, Castle Combe is often described as England’s most beautiful village, and it has caught the eye of many a Hollywood director. It has a 14th Century ivy-clad manor house – in the same honey-coloured stone to match – filled with stained-glass windows, beams and a Michelin-starred restaurant. There are 21 rooms, including the delightful Lordsmeer suite in the main house and 29 cottages around the grounds, some of which are dog-friendly. There’s an 18-hole golf course and a glorious Italianate garden, and the Bybrook river meanders through the grounds. B&B doubles from £250 (exclusive.co.uk/the-manor-house).

Titchwell Manor, Norfolk

A hotel that catches the posh but gently boho North Norfolk vibe beautifully; this Victorian building is too close to the beach to have any airs and graces, but there’s a lot of breezy charm. Meals are served in an expansive conservatory and there are 26 rooms, some with hot tubs.

Owned by the Snaith family, it is managed by their son Eric, who also runs Norfolk’s smartest fish and chip shop in nearby Thornham. Family-friendly, it’s also a stylish bolthole for birdwatchers; there’s an RSPB reserve next door.

B&B from £140. A two-night walking break including dinner, B&B plus a packed lunch on one day costs from £265pp (titchwellmanor.com).

Longueville Manor, Jersey 

Longueville Manor, Jersey, puts food and wine at the centre of its appeal

This Relais & Châteaux hotel may put food and wine at the centre of its appeal, but there’s much more on offer. 

The 30 rooms and suites are cream and serene, generously sized and with French-accented luxury. 

For extra privacy, there’s a two-bedroom cottage in the grounds, alongside tennis courts and a spa. The hotel also has its own yacht.

Longueville became a hotel in 1949 and is now in the third generation of family ownership. 

There’s a fine cellar, with more than 5,000 bottles, a forager on staff to supplement the extensive kitchen garden and honey from hives dotted around the grounds. 

Doubles from £225, room-only (longuevillemanor.com).

Aynsome Manor Hotel, Cumbria

Aynsome Manor Hotel, Cumbria, has 13 bedrooms, some in the beamed eaves of the building, all with the sort of views that will have you pulling on your walking boots

For those who like the wilder side of Cumbria, here is a handsome, good-value manor near Cartmel, now run by the second generation of the Varley family.

There are just 13 bedrooms, some in the beamed eaves of the building, all with the sort of views that will have you pulling on your walking boots. Guests eat in the dining room rather than a restaurant and the food aims to make the flavours sing with minimal fuss. The menus are set-price and a bargain at three courses for £30. B&B from £90 per night (aynsomemanorhotel.co.uk).

Caer Beris Manor, Powys

The Southwick family bought Caer Beris Manor in Powys last year and spent lockdown continuing their renovation programme 

Lord Swansea built this mock-Tudor mansion, surrounded on three sides by the River Irfon, in 1896 on the foundations of a 13th Century castle. It was bought by the Southwick family last year.

There are 22 rooms spread across the estate, ranging from suites to single rooms. The family spent lockdown continuing their renovation programme and have created picnic areas throughout the grounds, which also hold orchards and an otter hide, while there’s trout, salmon and grayling to fish for. The 1898 restaurant sources its ingredients locally. Mains start at £16. B&B from £90 (caerberis.com).

Manor House, Argyll and Bute

Manor House, Argyll and Bute, is ‘delightfully gentle’ with just 11 rooms and spectacular West Coast views

The Scots don’t do manors in quite the same way as the English – fortified castles were more their thing. This hotel is one of the exceptions, and it’s delightfully gentle with just 11 rooms and spectacular West Coast views. It was built for the Duke of Argyll in 1780, next to Oban’s harbour. Staying here is a superb introduction to the Inner Hebrides, from the freshly caught seafood in the restaurant to sunset views from McCaig’s Tower behind the hotel – although watching from the Nelson bar at the hotel with a fine whisky in hand is nearly as good. Sailors can use the hotel’s own mooring. Double B&B from £224 (manorhouseoban.com).

The Manor at Sway, Hampshire

Pictured is one of the bedrooms at The Manor at Sway, Hampshire, where ‘William Morris mixes with a touch of modern design’

All the space and grace that the Edwardians could muster comes into play at this hotel on the southern edge of the New Forest, where William Morris mixes with a touch of modern design. It’s a great car-free option as it’s near the railway station and there are wonderful walks into the forest and heath to explore from the hotel. There are just 11 bedrooms and a restaurant serving local produce. Dishes include local pork with black pudding, crisp ham and charred baby gem lettuce, while puddings include lemon curd tart with basil. Doubles from £189, including dinner, breakfast and afternoon tea (themanoratsway.com). 

Moonfleet Manor, Dorset

Room with a view: Moonfleet Manor, a Georgian mansion in Dorset, overlooks the magnificent Chesil Beach

Not just for adults: One of the lounges at the hotel, which is child-focused, with play areas and picnics

If you want to get your child manored up, head here. Overlooking Chesil Beach and part of the Luxury Family Hotel group, it’s thoroughly child-focused. There are interconnecting rooms, indoor and outdoor play areas, including a pool, and in a Covid-made-fun way, picnics are available for every meal including breakfast. The South West Coastal Path runs alongside the back garden.

In the Georgian mansion, there’s a playfulness that adults will appreciate too, with high teas and grown-up meals and, above all, Snoopy, the venerable hotel spaniel.

Two nights from £329, including breakfast and dinner for two. Children stay free but are charged for meals; two hours of childcare a day is included from September 7 when the creche reopens (moonfleetmanorhotel.co.uk).

Long Crendon Manor, Buckinghamshire

Long Crendon Manor in Buckinghamshire has bedrooms with original features, a bakery, farm shop and florist 

Not a hotel as such, but you can stay in this manor, which is stacked with beamed charm. Parts of the main house date from the 12th Century. It’s still a working estate, with ducks and geese in the orchard that creates the cider, and Gloucester Old Spot pigs that provide the morning bacon.

Head into the courtyard and there’s a bakery, farm shop and florist. The farm shop cafe serves lunch and it’s walking distance from two pubs in the village. B&B doubles from £145 (longcrendonmanor.co.uk). 

Rothay Manor, Cumbria

This small foodie hotel in the heart of the Lake District is owned by Jamie and Jenna Shail, who have bought significant flair and rolltop baths to the low-slung white house near Ambleside. Eight of the rooms on the ground floor are dog-friendly; first-floor rooms have balconies. Its main restaurant has three AA rosettes and five courses start from £70 a head, but there’s also a more casual restaurant. B&B from £221 (rothaymanor.co.uk).

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