It's not too bad after all..

MapleDurham House

We were all set for an afternoon walk alongside River Thames, at Reading on Sunday. I had even brought a rug for us to enjoy sitting down on the greens and reading novels. Unfortunately it drizzled and drizzled. There has been a need to change to Plan B : Sipping hot coffee at the Oracle. There wasn't much to do in the outdoor world, really. Especially when it's Sunday and the clock read almost half past 4. And the course of our drive has somewhat lead us out of the city, an onto an A road leading to an unknown destination. Boy, I blamed the one-way traffic. As we drove along the A road, far ahead we had seen a sign in brown. In the UK, a sign in brown locates you to various interesting places such as castles, seashores, historical venues, stately homes, etc (any places that would promise a good outing).

It reads "MapleDurham House and Watermill"

As we have always been driven by impulse, I proposed DH to let's-have-a-look. We have always been fond of historical places and stately homes, anyway so to drive up to the place and inspect seemed like that's nothing to loose. BTW, LO is really fond of castles too. This one would not be any different.

Turned left into a narrow road, leading to a beautiful scenery with good view of the woods and country-style boarding schools. Although it was drizzling tiny drops, the scenery was breathtakingly beautiful, something I would miss about leaving UK. Its scenes of nature. If it wasn't for the drops on the windshield, I would probably have snapped a few photos myself. A good token for reminiscing 3-4 years down the road.

After driving past a few numbers of large farming lands, cottages and meadows, we finally arrived to MapleDurham House and we were the last visitors to be given entrance just before closure. LO was so excited that she hopped and said out loud,

"It's cassel , mummy look! I like it !!"
*pointing out to the huge building ahead of us*

I do not want to bore you the details, but it was worthwhile, considering that they accept last entrees at 5pm.

The building was purchased by Richard Blount in the 17th century and whom had refined and extended it over a span of 20 years. According to the guide, he has royal blood although I wasn't sure to which descendant (their websites says of Normandy and someone in line was a companion to William the Conqueror) , I am not usually into intricate details anyway. However, what fascinated me was that the Blounts had and always have been residing in the house from then up to this present day (current owner has the surname Eayston because his great-grandmother who had heired the property lost her surname by marriage to an Eayston). Oh yes, one Blount historically got famous for being killed by his own sentry during the Civil War.

We weren't allowed to snap photos of the indoor, but suffice to say it was impressive (you could however have a look at its flight of stairs at www.mapledurham.co.uk/history.htm). Some parts of the house have been preserved, including personal belongings and furnitures. In the stately room there lies a big steel chest which looked really worn off, used by one of its descendant during expeditions around the world. There were steel nails strutted ontop, forming the year '1752'. The clasps rusted well and the leather trims faded into what seemed like 'kain buruk'. Hollywood filmed "The Eagle has landed" here and the guide claimed the state room was in it.

There were other ornaments that worth looking at and think wow, it has been sitting there for almost 200-300 years old. Family potraits, libraries, old maps, furnitures, Persian tapestries with illustrative weavings and Latin descriptions, wooden steps, all are marvelous. Including the red satin pillow Queen Victoria had knelt on during coronation in the 19th century.

The ground was huge with neatly trimmed hedges and the far-off sight see you herds of dairy cows on the next piece of land. The stable was sufficely huge with what I assumed would have been the stable-boy's residence. And as we walked up the trail, there were a row of cottages, which again would have been the servants' residences.

Before we left the house I know I just had to ask whether the house is haunted and whether apparitions had or have been witnessed.You see I am a huge fan of "Most Haunted" by LivingTV (also aired by ftn), a show that investigates into haunted stately homes, castles, ruins and historical places for spiritual presence ie ghosts. I haven't seen the episode with this house, even they have investigated it here so I knew I had just to ask, for the sake of curiosity.

The guide who looked old enough to be my grandmother politely says No, not haunted. Well even if there are ghosts around here, they are all good ones for I haven't been disturbed. But however later added Well, you do feel eerie at times especially when it is dark, rainy and gloomy outside. Seemed to add the idea that there is actually sightings but politely denies that it is haunted.

However a glean over the internet revealed:-
The mansion is haunted by the ghost of a servant who was killed by his master in a fit of temper,the murderer is also seen dragging the corpse across the floor.

Stable

River Thames

Opposite a small church located behind the stable was a watermill. It looked really old and if you carefully see at the rear a small part of it seemed to have stumbled, probably by old age. I wasn't surprised by the maintenance bit as it is solely a family business and not under English Heritage. Nevertheless, I could imagine that it'd be a perfect spot for an artist.

Family Water Mill

Continuum of the reservoir by the watermill, is the River Thames. I am not sure wheather it is but DH believes so. So I guess if you take a trail adventure on a barge, it'll certainly lead you to central London.

Au revoir..

It was certainly not bad at all for an outing on a rainy Sunday afternoon. Later we eventually reached the Oracle and had a snack and coffee at McD and had a brief visit to Haagen-Dazs.