West Green House

Last Saturday I managed to track down a copy of February's World of Interiors (at a motorway services of all places). I wanted to see the piece about Lord (Alistair) McAlpine's garden in Italy. A fascinating man of wide interests, impeccable taste, and an avid collector etc, etc. I never met him but did take some photographs of West Green House in Hampshire for decorators Colefax and Fowler. Lord McAlpine had rented West Green House from the National Trust from 1976 to 1990.

West Green House is a 17th century mansion built by General Hawley.  He led the cavalry charge at the Battle of Culloden in 1746. Lord McAlpine  created a  garden of great panache, a classical triumphal arch has an obelisk on top dedicated to "the first lady Prime Minister of Britain". She was a close personal friend and frequent visitor to West Green House. The house was damaged by an I.R.A. bomb three weeks after Lord McAlpine had left the house at the expiry of his lease.

Driving home later that evening on Saturday I heard on the radio that Lord McAlpine had died. Rather a curious coincidence and very sad.

Oval cushions, painted by George Oakes on an

18th century seat in the drawing Room.

The Garden Dining Room

Kellie Castle Garden

Walled gardens, which originated in Renaissance Italy found particular favour in  Scotland for the protection they afforded in a harsh climate.The garden at Kellie is a traditional Scottish walled garden, with fruit trees, flowers and vegetables all grown together. The early seventeenth-century network of paths are lined with box hedges. The flowers are planted in the informal cottage-garden style, while the vegetables are grown in neatly tended rows.

When the Lorimer family discovered Kellie in the 1870's the garden was an overgrown wilderness. They planted the central grass walkway  and bisected it with a path lined with Rosa Mundi hedges. They placed the sundial at the intersection, an armilliary sphere that shows the movement of the celestial bodies.

In 1900 the Lorimer's added the summer house to the garden. A curious bird like creature perches on the roof,  stone signature of their architect son,Sir Robert Lorimer.

When the National Trust for Scotland took over Kellie in the 1970's they put their own inimitable stamp on the garden; it has to be said, to great effect. At the beginning of August,  after the roses have gone over, such is the skill of the gardeners at Kellie it remained utterly enchanting.

Hew Lorimer, the celebrated Scottish sculptor, and his wife Mary were the last members of the family to live at Kellie. Hew's studio is preserved at the end of the stable block.

House of the Binns - Binns Tower

 We can see the tower from our kitchen window. It is a beautiful and uplifting embellishment to the landscape. In the Gothick style, it was built in 1826, on the hill above his house by Sir James Dalyell 5th Bt.,the result of an after dinner wager. Who could come up with the most pointless and witty way of spending £100. Sir James won with his proposal of building the tower on top of his hill to overlook the neighbours' estate. The Hope family was newly rich having made a fortune from banking. Any jibe at their expense was appreciated by the old established families of the district. In the event Sir James spent only £29.10s on its' construction. Tradition has it, that the hill is where the Picts made their last stand against the Romans.

Falkland Palace - The Real Tennis Court

The Real or (Royal) Tennis Court was built in 1539 for James V and is the oldest in Britain. James's daughter, Mary Queen of Scots is said to have shocked courtiers by playing in breeches. The court never had a roof. A long way to Wimbledon, but not far to Dunblane. Alec Salmond did not disappoint during  coverage of Andy Murray's victory. In the Royal Box, he whipped out a big Saltire from Mrs Salmond's handbag, and waved it behind David Cameron, seated in front of him. As quickly as the image appeared it was gone, but not before the whole of Scotland and the Home Counties had seen it. The next day the Prime Minister retaliated by inviting Murray to a greeting on the doorstep of Number 10. 1-0 to Salmond.