Horsey Windpump

This is Horsey Windpump,

a wind powered drainage pump, now a National Trust property,
by Horsey Mere on the Norfolk Broads.
Right by where we moored up for the night.

I haven't been to many windpumps

but with memories of Camberwick Green and Windy Miller,

I naively assumed that all mills milled flour.

However I should have put two and two together,

we saw a lot of water

and not much wheat.

To explain what this windpump did,
once powered by wind, now powered by diesel,
"an often easily understood analogy
is that of the pump pumping water off a bathroom floor up into the bath
and out through the plug hole into the sea."
Here's the thing,
many rivers of the Norfolk Broads are higher than the surrounding land.

Easily understood analogy or not,
the work of the windpump was vital.

Horsey Windpump was a wind powered drainage pump

until it was put out of action by a lightning strike in 1943.

This was during the Second World War

and it was left unrepaired due to a shortage of timber.

They would have needed Scandinavian Pine for the vertical shaft,

 and Hornbeam for any wooden teeth on the cogwheels.

The broads and rivers take this water out to sea,
providing holiday makers over the years with fabulous places to play

and to moor up for the night.

 As with all good National Trust properties, there's the obligatory tea shop. 

The smallest National Trust tea shop that I've ever been to,

with the kindest proprietor.

Moored up with no bread for our lunch,

she picked me up a loaf from the co-op, on her way to work.

Whilst you're there,

a less-than-a-mile walk to takes you to the coast.

Where you may/will (depending on the time of year)

be rewarded with seals.

For more information and some photos of the windpump with sails still attached,

click here.

If Camberwick Green means nothing to you?

Meet Windy Miller, here. 

Dr Johnson's House

You get off the train at City Thameslink,

have a coffee at a well known coffee chain,

walk past shiny glass offices, high rise buildings and ubiquitous shops.

At one point it seems like you could be in any anonymous modern metropolis.

Except you're not, you're in the City of London,

London's financial and business centre,

where small (in comparison to the huge buildings that surround them)
pieces of history survive.

With the help of a scrappy photocopied map

and a smart phone that neither of you really know how to use,

you eventually find yourself here,

Gough Square,

the home of Dr Johnson.

 Dr Samuel Johnson was a truly sociable fellow,

entertaining 'clergy, politicians, preachers, actors, forgers and even murderers'.

Visitors are still welcome.

It is a beautifully preserved 18th century home.

Spread over four floors.

Samuel Johnson, for fear of being alone, after his wife had died,

surrounded himself with a wide circle of friends and acquaintances.

Friends came in person

and now remain in perpetuity on his Withdrawing Room walls.

 The Withdrawing Room, used by women,

who withdrew from the company of men after mealtimes.

Dr Johnson's house may be quiet now but it is said in his biography,

"how uncomfortable (Johnson's) home was made

by the perpetual jarring of those whom he charitably accommodated under his roof". (Boswell)

With so many visitors,

you wonder how Dr Johnson had time to write that dictionary of his.

A poor man of ill health, he wrote out of necessity.

A group of book sellers commissioned Johnson to write
a Dictionary Of The English Language,

which was published in 1755.

It was an instant best seller at £4 10 Shillings

and was the dictionary to turn to for over 100 years.

It was published in two volumes

and a facsimilie is available in the house for visitors to read today.

He had a bit of fun with some (most) definitions,

including over 110,000 quotes from English Literature.

Apparently the verb 'to put' has over 100 variations of meaning.

I wish I'd looked it up at the time.

He included plenty of wit too.

When questioned about some of his definitions, he replied,

"I must have my sport".

Here's a little of 'his sport'.

Available at the cheaper price of 35 pence in the gift shop, on a postcard.

Tea keeps me amused.
Am I idle?

With Dr Johnson long gone,

his desire to have his house full of people continued.

It was used as a community centre

by the Auxiliary Fire Service in the Second World War.

Right in the heart of London, very handy for popping in for a cuppa and a chat.

Or an impromptu music night.

As a thankyou for the hospitality shown,

the house was presented with this workshop scene

made from blitzed wood from Woolwich Arsenal.

After spending a little time in this tranquil 300 year old house,
you can begin to forget where you are,

until you look out of the window.

Straight into 21st century office block windows.

Then back to a 18th century window.

Imagine being the subject of stained glass?

Not tired, we've yet to fulfil one of Dr Johnson's most famous sayings.

We've had a great time, exploring a tiny piece of the City of London.

And there's still more to see.

Dr Johnson's House is part of 'London Shh'

A group of Small Historic Houses in London.

"A collection of nine of the city's hidden-gems;

small historic houses which tell the stories of fascinating and famous former residents."

Details on London Shh's website here.

And more info on Dr Johnson's House website here.

Chambord: "House!"

On holiday in France we went to see Chambord

a beautiful yet absolutely huge chateau,

a royal palace,
the largest in the Loire Valley.

Chambord wasn't intended as a permanent residence,

Francoise the first only spent a few weeks a year here.

Some holiday home!

Consequently all the furnishings were temporary,

kings and queens of France, didn't travel lightly,

they brought everything with them.

Imagine carting all this stuff around and then unpacking,

hanging curtains,

and draping walls.

They really really didn't travel lightly.

My family is not that familiar with the kings and queens of France,
but helpfully their paintings are labelled.
We've heard of Marie Antoinette,
her reputation precedes her.

Wondering what kings and queens of france got up to
for those few weeks a year in their country residence,
we spotted a few clues in their taste for home decor.
This research is evidenced based,
we have no specialist knowledge of French history,
it's just based on what we saw.

Hunting

stag, 

and wild boar,

with ferocious looking hounds.

On the ground floor,
everywhere you look, 

quarry is being savagely attacked by dogs,

in oils and bronze.  

These foxes got off lightly

they look relatively unscathed.

However upstairs,

 more 'genteel' entertainment is on display.

The "National Board Game".

I say 'genteel', we obviously don't know how competitive Marie Antoinette was.
Mind you, I might have let her win, more often than not!

We recognised this game.

We loved the idea of Marie Antoinette playing bingo.
A far cry from a bingo night in the village hall.

How do you say "legs eleven" in French?

"House!"

Even Marie Antoinette's dog was more 'genteel' in appearance.

That demure face and yellow ribbon,
surely no threat to the wild boar.

Hunting and board games not for us,
we had a great time...

...playing hide 'n' seek in the fireplaces,

...reminded of Dickensian alleyways on the roof terrace,
auditioning for 'Oliver'.

...and marvelling at how this 'upstairs' stone parquet flooring,
'bounced slightly as visitors moved around the room.

Was it going to fall down?

Surely with this magnificent ceiling below, it couldn't.

I couldn't end this blog post  without showing you Chambord's famous
double helix staircase.
Two spiral staircases that intertwine over three floors
yet never meet.

Kind of simple,
but complicated,
especially as they go in the same direction.

It was said to have been designed by Leonardo da Vinci.
There's no proof though.

If you're in the area,
do pop in.
Chambord's details are on the website here.