Bob Lillie's Travels

Sunday, 6 May 2018

Saltash May Fair

Yesterday, Saltash enjoyed the annual May Fair with many interesting stalls along the main street and in two adjacent parks. The weather was fine and there were lot's of people.

During the day we met up with our friends, Eve and Alan, as well as my nephew, Jonny, his partner Louise and their two children, Isabella and Joseph - whom I met for the first time.

Eve and Alan

Jonny, Isabella, Louise and Joseph

A Cosmic Egg

We visited Buckland Abbey which was home to two Elizabethan Sea Dogs, Sir Frances Drake and Sir Richard Grenville, to see a Cosmic Egg - An artwork by Andrew Logan installed in the medieval Great Barn at Buckled Abbey.

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/buckland-abbey/features/the-cosmic-egg
https://www.theplymouthdaily.co.uk/news/entertainment-reviews-local-news/cosmic-egg-display-buckland-abbey

The Spring flowers and the blossom were evident.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckland_Abbey

Francis_Drake - wikipedia

Richard_Grenville - Wikipedia

Saturday, 5 May 2018

I arrived at Heathrow at the crack of dawn on the first of May after a very relaxing flight with Royal Brunei Airlines, and, after picking up my mother and a Honda Jazz from the car rentals, we proceeded on our way down to Cornwall. It was 3 degrees at Heathrow when I landed!

Our first stop was Great Chalfield Manor, a house that dates back to the 15th Century, near Melksham in Wiltshire.

Great Chalfeld Manor

The moat

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Chalfield_Manor

The Stables

In the Gardens

The next day we carried on to Saltash via a village called East Lyng which was home to my mothers family in the 19th Century. It was also near the Isle of Athelney where King Alfred the Great supposedly burnt the cakes! We were looking for the grave of my Mum's great great grandfather, John Phillips, but we couldn't find it!

The memorial to the monastery on the Isle of Athelney which was founded by King Alfred the Great

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athelney

East Lyng Church

https://www.britainexpress.com/counties/somerset/churches/east-lyng.htm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_St_Bartholomew,_Lyng

Sunday, 30 July 2017

Boconnoc Steam Fair

Boconnoc Steam Fair is an annual event held in the grounds of Boconnoc House not far from Lostwithiel in Cornwall. It is great celebration of the steam traction engines of the past century and is also a celebration of vintage vehicles and other vintage and veteran devices. There are also many stalls selling all sorts of goods.

Boconnoc House dates back to the 18th Century and was the home of the Pitt Family who produced two 18th century Prime Ministers of Britain - William Pitt the Elder and the Younger.

More information can be found via the following links:

Boconnoc - Wikipedia
Boconnoc - history
Boconnoc Steam Fair 2017

And details of a previous visit to Boconnoc in 2011 can be found via this link:

A Visit to Boconnoc 2011