Two days after getting back from France (7th June) I went on a trip with friends from my church book club, to the house which the book 'The Children of Green Knowe' by Lucy M.Boston, is based on. It's the oldest house in Britain which has continuously been inhabited - the oldest parts built in the 1100's.
We read the book a little while ago, and it was nice enough, but seeing the house, with all the features talked about in the book, really made it come alive, and I loved being there.
Lucy M. Boston's daughter-in-law lives in the house now, and she showed us around it. I'm listening to her here.
Lucy M. Boston was also a quilter. She didn't make these quilts being used as curtains - they are much older, but we got to see lots of her beautiful quilts.
This was my favourite room in the house. In the 2nd World War airmen used to come up here once a week and listen to music on this giant gramophone. We even got to listen to one of the original records.
Up in the attic is the room just like is described in the book - with the window left open a crack for birds to come and perch in the bird cage, and the chest with the ghost children's toys in etc.
There is even the statue of Saint Christopher with the Christ child, in the garden, which features in the book.
The Manor, Hemingford Grey, or 'Green Knowe'
Some of our book club girlies.
The gardens were beautiful too, and the most fragant I have been in...
After the tour, we were just left to wander the house and gardens as we wanted. I also bought my own copy of the book, and Diana Boston signed it and wrote for the children in it. A wonderful trip, finished with Jo dropping me off at Harry and Tom's school just in time to collect them!
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