Belton House

OK, so I said that last weekend's trip to Cornwall would "almost surely be our last outing into the English countryside of this year." I said, "almost." One more little trip. This afternoon was sunny and reasonably warm, after a week of cold, wet, nasty weather (you may have watched the Queen's Jubilee taking place in the rain). We couldn't resist.

Cricket game on the lawn in front of Belton House

So, after attending church one last time at St. Peter's in the city centre, and bidding farewell to some of those in that congregation who have been so welcoming to us this year, we decided to take in one last National Trust site.

Carvings in the entry hall

Belton House is an estate just outside of Grantham, Lincolnshire, about 30 miles east of Nottingham. The house was built in the 1680s and kept in the family until the 1980s, so it is extremely well-preserved. The gardens comprise some 1300 acres.

More carving in the main salon

We're sorry we didn't find it sooner, because some of our students would have loved to visit here. But there are so many gems like this across Britain that people hardly mention them. And to tell the truth, they all do start to look a bit the same after a while.

Just a small part of the gardens

But Belton stands out for exceptional carvings in the decor, and for the preservation of various rooms from various periods in the house's history.

One of several unusual tombs in the family church

It was a great discovery and a lovely afternoon. Now, back to packing.