Harewood House opens out at the back onto a large, gravelled terrace with formal beds and statuary. It has wonderful views over 'Capability' Brown's sweeping landscape - seemingly natural and yet meticulously planned - and down to the lake. Even on such a dull day there was interest and colour to be found.
There are various small statues of cherubic figures, though these two weren't behaving in a very cherubic way. What a horrid little thug!
I'm fascinated by this little arbour of trees, in neat lines and pruned tightly to grow straight up, surrounded by a tightly clipped box hedge. There's something quite magical about it, even in late autumn.
On the field below the current 18th century house, they have begun to excavate the previous country house that stood on this estate. (In the photo below, you can see a sandy patch to the left that is part of these excavations.) Gawthorpe Hall was a 13th century manor house and was only pulled down after the sizeable estate was bought by the Lascelles family in 1738. They built Harewood House, which was completed in 1771 and then Gawthorpe was demolished, turfed over and effectively disappeared. The University of York started an archeological dig in 2009 and the house's foundations have gradually been uncovered. The project continues and many interesting artefacts have been discovered. (See more HERE)
Some fascinating things! The little fenced in trees and the thuggish cherub particularly.
ReplyDeleteThose cherubs remind me somehow of when I was about 12 years old and our school played rugby against King's College Choir School. Who would have thought those angelic-voiced choirboys could be such vicious little ruffians?
ReplyDeleteGreat to see variety of greens and greys, and many different textures! Those thug cherubs are so funny!
ReplyDeleteYet another beautiful place in your area.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful grounds.
ReplyDeleteA beautiful house and grounds. Interesting to read they are digging up the original house.
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