Tudor Cheshire

Another full day - it started with us saying that it is going to be relaxing and not charging about all over the place - well we didn't charge all over the place but relaxing - no.

Started out with a walk along the Peak District cycle track at Waterhouse. Speaking with some guys last evening and they were going for a ride - they returned about three hours later!

We stopped for supplies at a new supermarket in Leek - very interesting the design of the building and the planned layout of the car park. There were something like 40 spaces designated for the disable and another 20 species for parents with small children.

Car park design - sign of the times!

Up the road further was a village of Biddulph where the most amazing garden was on display. This had been part of an old family with a large estate and the garden was designed to complement the house (which by the way, now are very expensive apartments). Beautiful gardens with many interesting twists and turns.

Biddulph Gardens

A short drive up the road was the most interesting Tudor manor house at Congleton. When passing through Congleton we drove through the streets lined with hundreds of the villagers who were getting ready for a parade of the returning unit of the British Army from Afghanistan. It was amazing to see the Union Jack being waved to celebrate the return of this unit who apparently consisted of young men and women from this area. Would we do this in Australia?

Street crowd to welcome home local battalion from Afghanistan.

Lunch at Little Moreton Hall followed by a tour of this 16th century Tudor house. The house defies laws of engineering - it perhaps should have tumbled many years ago. The tour guide was most interesting, particularly in relation to the grand table in the great hall. This was the original table from 1524 - made of oak beams which would have taken 500 years to grow. The table in Tudor times was called the board. This was where The Lord of the manor held his meetings - the boardroom, it was here where the family played games - boardgames, when laying cards cards needed to be held above the table - aboveboard, when moved to the side of the room for cups it became - the cupboard, when moved to the side for other gatherings it became - the sideboard, all worlds we frequently use to this day.