|
Posted: 17th July, 2008
NE Associates Trip to Berwick & Manderston
Tuesday morning 15th July saw 96 North East Associates congregate at our usual coach pickup point just outside Central Station, Newcastle, to await the arrival of our two coaches to take us north, firstly for a short stop off in the border town of Berwick and then on across the border to Manderston.
Looking out to sea from BerwickThe coffee shops of Berwick observed a sudden increase in business as many of our group seized the opportunity for a caffeine boost. Others of the group, took a stroll along the Berwick walls extensively re-built during the reign of Elizabeth I and which are still well preserved today. A short shower of rain caused us some of us to don our waterproofs or raise umbrellas but this was soon past and the weather evolved into a mainly bright warm dry day.
Back onto the coach, now to Manderston
Our coaches picked us up from Berwick at the appointed hour and took us on the short drive to Manderston where one coach proceeded to the House where two tour guides awaited while the other coach stopped at the stables where lunch was to be served in the tea room.
George and Judy enjoy the gardens
The original house, built around 1790 was first extended in 1871, then at the turn of the century, Sir James Millar commissioned the architect John Kinross to completely remodel the house with no expense spared. The work was completed in 1905 and to celebrate a ball was held in November. Sir James had little time to enjoy the refurbishment as he died less than 3 months later of pneumonia.
Lunch in the stables tea room
The house has been subsequently handed down the family line to the current owner Lord Palmer. Does the name Palmer ring any bells? Think of biscuits. Yes this is the Palmer half of Huntley & Palmer, the well known biscuit company and included in the house is a small museum of Huntley & Palmer biscuit tins. The current Lord Palmer is still looking for more - so if you have an original H&P biscuit tin stashed away somewhere, possible holding your store of nails or something similar, you could think about offering it to the museum.
Colin & Anne cool off by the pond
13:45 was swap over time, when those who had lunched on arrival, went to the house for their tour while those on the first tour queued hungrily at the stable tea rooms while it was prepared for their lunch. It was worth the wait as a very tasty chicken dish was served, followed by a mouth watering meringue based desert
.
After lunch for the later group and the house tour for second tour groups, there was some time to stroll around the 56 acres of gardens including a water lily covered lake. Only too soon it was time to congregate once more alongside the stables block where our coaches were to collect us for the journey home. We arrived back at our original starting point, Newcastle Central Station just before 7:00pm after an enjoyable but quite tiring day.
Links:
http://www.manderston.co.uk/
http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/duns/manderston/index.html
« Back to News
|
