Cawthorne

Cawthorne Village is near to Cannon Hall and it's here that we drove to next.  The Spencer-Stanhopes of Cannon Hall as landowners in the area had close links with the village and the parish church of All Saints.  Whilst the family sat and had refreshments in the garden of the village pub I went to see if the church was open.  Walter Spencer Stanhope and his younger brother, the Pre-Raphaelite artist, John Roddam, paid for the refurbishment of the church and I knew that the interior is believed to be interesting in style and the stained glass windows very beautiful. Unfortunately, the church is only open for services and on Saturdays for visitors to look around. However, a walk in the churchyard and the streets around the church proved to be interesting.

Fountain House and Fountain Cottage

The stone drinking fountain.  The stone water basin

 is planted up with bedding plants. 

A picturesque village which we'll return to another time.

There's an Open Gardens event in the village in June.

old tombstones 

Fragments of some ancient stones with crosses have been set

 into the wall of the small building by the entrance gate. 

This new memorial is to remember the boys, young men and two adult workers who lost their lives in a tragic local colliery mining accident on 23rd May 1821. They were buried in the churchyard in an unmarked grave site. The memorial stone was recently erected and a service of blessing has just taken place.

The steps of this entrance leads down into the valley and there are views of the surrounding countryside towards Cannon Hall estate.  On the left is the Saxon Cross. Pieces of the Saxon Cross were assembled and erected here.

The family mausoleum of the Spencer-Stanhopes was built in memory of Sir Walter Thomas William Spencer Stanhope (1827-1911) and was designed by himself and probably his artist brother, John Roddam, in advance of family demises. Earlier Spencer-Stanhopes are buried in the church vault.

Back to the family sitting and waiting on the garden patio

of the pub.

A roast dinner in the oven and a birthday cake were waiting back home.

Thank you once again for your birthday wishes.

A walk in Cannon Hall grounds

It's three years since our last visit to Cannon Hall is a country house and museum near Barnsley, South Yorkshire which originally was the home of the Spencer family and later the Spencer-Stanhopes.  The museum, parkland and gardens are now owned and operated by Barnsley Borough Council. The parkland was landscaped in the 18th century and nearer to the house there's a Georgian walled garden, glasshouses rebuilt in the Victorian era and pleasure grounds, follies and many mature plants and trees.

We went there again yesterday afternoon, this time with our daughter, grandson and granddaughter and managed to find an entrance into the grounds where we could park near to the house and we went on a stroll through an area of woodland that leads to a pond. The rhododendrons and azaleas were out which made the walk at this time of the year very enjoyable. 

Cannon Hall - the south facade and terrace

The herbaceous borders - many plants are yet to flower.

The remains of the 18th century Pinery which was a greenhouse

especially built to grow pineapples and other exotic fruit.

entrance to the walled kitchen garden

the herb garden

gooseberry hedges

plants for sale - mostly tomatoes

the rhododendron walk

The area around the pond is called Fairyland. It was created by one of the owners of the house and designed in the romantic manner with stones and arches taken from old ruins.

A mill stone and a seat where vistas across the parkland can be enjoyed.  Visitors can walk across to the lakes that are currently being restored.

We walked back towards the house, the gift and farm shops.

After our visit to Cannon Hall we drove to the village of Cawthorne which is also closely associated with the Spencer-Stanhope family.