My sojourn south was slightly spoilt by the fact my neuralgia flared up and I was unable to speak (peace for many) or eat (great diet)! Luckily I had some medication at Jake's and now it is easing. I managed to drink a G & T out of one of those below!!
Unfortunately it took Jake a while to realise that to speak was agony - she kept asking questions! - but after thrusting a piece of paper explaining that I could only cope with yes / no questions she understood. Luckily the medication is starting to work and I could actually start to talk a little before the pain crept in. Able to eat some dinner last night!
Yesterday was a lovely sunny, although chilly, day and so we went to Witley Court - an Italianate country house ruin set in formal gardens. We ventured into the church first - it was so unlike any church you expect to see in England and was the first Baroque church in Britain.
It was built between 1732 and 1735 by the Foley family. The mention of the Foley family felt a bit spooky as I was in Foley house at St Mary's! The ceilings were painted by Antonio Bellucci. The Windows are probably the finest examples of early 18th century enamelled glass. The cherub is actually a picture of one of the Foley children who had hydrocephalus - this rain in the Foley side of the family.
We then went on a tour of the actual house. The tour guide was very informative and gave us a run down of all the happenings! It all to do with money and 'showing off' basically! It was a place for 'house parties' for the fashionable society - the Prince of Wales, later to become Edward VII was a frequent visitor! Unfortunately a fire started in 1937 and it was unable to be saved. Since then an owner stripped it of everything, including the lead roof, and this is now in the care of English Heritage.
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