Sweetbriar Dreams

So where shall we go on our journey today?

Saturday 5 November 2016

From Little Acorns - A Trip to Greenwich, London

And so November begins.  The trees are now almost luminous with their dying leaves giving out all the sunshine that they have received during the summer months.  The delicious rusts and reds are an absolute joy to my eyes and heart, along with collecting the autumn bounty from the crispy floor.



I hope you enjoyed the Capture and Share moments nearly each day in October.  I LOVE, Love, love the Autumn as you know and it gave me a chance to just be with my camera and not worry too much about the words.  Thank you all so much for visiting, your comments and emails, I have really enjoyed reading them and hearing about your own autumn/fall.

So, to start off November and back to a "normal" blog post for me (don't forget to click on the links for more info), it has to be... wait for it...

L O N D O N

I had a specific task.  I wanted to get one of my 50 B4 50 list items - an acorn from Greenwich Park in memory of my Grandad (his story is here and also in my header bar) and also to grow these into oak trees that originate from my beloved Greenwich.

Guess what?

I got a few!!!!


With the wonderful backdrop of the Queen's House and the Royal Naval College, there is no doubt where these have come from.  I am so incredibly happy to have these in my possession and they will be a very protected part of my garden (in pots of course until we find our forever home).


But let's not just converse about acorns.  How about taking a look at the newly renovated Queens House?  Are you sitting comfortably dear readers?  Is the tea warm and the cake all ready?... then let me begin...

The Queen's House was designed by Inigo Jones in 1616 at the request of King James I who needed a suitable apology after swearing at his wife, Queen Anne of Denmark,  after she accidentally killed one of his dogs on a hunt.  Sadly she didn't live to see the finished building and it was left to Queen Henrietta (Charles I's wife) to finish this wonderful piece of architecture (not personally of course).


The Queens House has been shut for the last fourteen months while renovations took place.  It's been hard for me to keep away and I've been worrying what changes would have been made but I can happily say that I was more than pleasantly surprised with the works that we saw.


The tulip staircase has always been an incredible sight, and lots of memories for me walking up these with my Grandad who always told me about the ghost that haunts it.  It was the first of its kind, a self supporting, geometric spiral stair. (Update - If you watch Now You See Me 2, the end had me in tears of happiness as they descend from the Tulip Staircase).


Richard Wright,  a Turner Prize artist has designed the beautiful gold flecks on the ceiling.  I wasn't sure at first, but with the sun catching the paintwork, it was magical.


I loved the way this reflected on the walls too drawing your eye to the view outside.


And what a view of the Royal Naval College.  Charles I's wife, Queen Henrietta, insisted that the Royal Naval College was built in two halves so that her view of the Thames was uninterrupted.  The gap between the two domes is exactly the width of the Queen's House.




Beneath us, the beautiful hall with its geometric design.


And here he is... Inigo Jones, who also designed the Banqueting House, Whitehall and Covent Garden Square.


Looking up, as I do, you couldn't fail to notice the beautiful, intricate ceilings above our heads.  The designs were exquisite.


The Queen's House has also secured this famous painting of Queen Elizabeth I.  The Armada Portrait of Queen Elizabeth I was bought for £7.4 million.  It was painted in the 1500's and was owned by Sir Francis Drake himself.



We sought out  The Somerset House Conference which was painted in 1604.  I visit this painting every time I come to the Queen's House and so I was glad that it was still here,



Outside the leaves are falling... so happy!  This shot is perfect to me - autumn leaves and Greenwich in the background with the Docklands beyond.


Walking along Greenwich Park's tree avenues in comfortable autumn sunshine was just perfect.  Still in leaf but the colours starting to catch the rusts and yellows.



Our journey then went from the Queens House and a pleasant lunch at The Gate Clock, a short ride on the Thames Clipper and then a walk to St Paul's Cathedral, on to the Museum of London to hear my Grandad in the exhibition again and then off to the pub - The Old Bell Tavern, in Fleet Street where Sir Christopher Wren's stonemasons used to have a drink or two.  A great day with fantastic company where time just passes far too quickly.  Don't you just cherish having friends like that? 


Sunset was upon us and St Paul's Cathedral looked absolutely stunning.


The autumn sunset giving off a golden glow that was making the rush hour stampede just stop for a moment.


But, it was time to get back to Kings Cross and the journey back home.  It is always hard to tear myself away from this place, but I'll be back soon!

And so today we're off to get sparklers, marshmallows and sausages for what will be quite a noisy evening...

Remember, Remember the 5th of November - if you are celebrating Guy Fawkes Night this evening, be safe!


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44 comments:

  1. Wow - fantastic photos and great commentary. I love to read about far-away (to me) places and hope someday I'm able to visit your beloved London. Thanks for taking us along on your latest adventure.

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    1. We'll have to arrange a little tour when you do get over here. Until then, enjoy your hikes and keep sharing :D x

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  2. What a gorgeous tulip staircase! Love your photos. Still hot here. Not hardly any leaves turning. So strange for November.
    Brenda

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    1. It will happen Brenda, and very quickly. We have just had stronger winds and the leaves are falling everywhere. xx

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  3. Hello, gorgeous images and a lovely visit to London. I especially love the first acorn image and the staircase! Happy Saturday, enjoy your weekend!

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    1. Thanks Eileen, hope you are taking many photos of the birds migrating! x

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  4. That staircase is stunning and it's somewhere I have never visited so must rectify that. Lovely images.

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    1. Thank you Gina, Greenwich is a wonderful place to visit, especially if you don't like the London crowds x

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  5. Beautiful photographs.. I felt nostalgic after reading the post.. we visited Greenwich back in July...

    Please visit: http://from-a-girls-mind.blogspot.com

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    1. Thanks Krishna, it's an amazing place isn't it?! Take care x

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  6. Thrilled to hear that you managed to get your acorn from Greenwich. You certainly took us on a wonderful tour, beautiful photos.

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    1. Thank you, let's hope they germinate otherwise I'll be back next year :D x

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  7. You really must have had the perfect day starting with collecting the acorns from Greenwich as a memory to your granddad, I loved that story. Then the Queen´s House, I´m amazed about that stunning staircase which you captured so very beautiful in your photos. This post is a source of inspiration for me, I have been several times in London but not in Greenwich. I made a note of your tour even including the names of the lunch address and pub for a next visit to London, you never know. Thank you for sharing you great photographs and beautiful words.

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    1. Thank you for your lovely comment! If you go to my header bar and click on Greenwich you will see past posts that give more details, but please don't hesitate to email me if you want more information. You will LOVE it! xx

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  8. Beautiful photos of your beloved Greenwich. I loved the Queen's House when we visited - such a long time ago now - that staircase is wonderful. So glad you were able to find some acorns to plant in pots to start them off, they will hold such precious memories for you:)

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    1. Thanks Rosie. The house has many new features but it was nice to see the old still there to spark off happy memories. Take care xx

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  9. The beauty of these photos is almost overwhelming, Chel.
    Since a family member is living in London at the moment, I might be able to visit this incredible city... but I feel almost anxious: where to start?! Perhaps I will ask you to post "Top 10 must-see places in London for people who love gardening, books, baroque music and old churches". :)
    Thank you for visiting today. I am so very happy with my Journalling Bible and I wanted to let everybody know about them.
    Have a lovely Sunday! xx

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    1. What a lovely comment Sara, thank you. Greenwich is a good place to start as it isn't crowded and you have wide open spaces to explore. From Greenwich you can get the Thames Clipper for about £5 with a travel card and you can drop off further down the Thames and towards the more touristy places. Your idea of my top 10 is something that I will concentrate on and post once I have shortlisting them. Let me think about it :D Have a wonderful Sunday x

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  10. Oh Chel this is a post full of sweet beauty. That staircase alone is stunning. Love the little acorns too.
    Happy Sunday.
    Hugs,
    Kris

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    1. Thanks Kris, the tulip staircase is incredible! Let's hope the acorns germinate :D Take care x

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  11. Hi Chel, thought of you and all my UK family and friends last evening celebrating Guy Fawkes - hope it was a fun time!
    I love visiting Greenwich but have never been inside the Queens House - thanks for sharing interiors, and those gorgeous paintings! The gardens are so beautiful at Greenwich. Hope your acorns do well. Acorns here are over the top prolific this year - masses of them, ankle deep everywhere in our garden - but they are smaller than other years - and we have to shovel them up and fill barrels to dispose of them before they pop up next spring as a forest of tiny trees!!! Could be a sign of a harsh Winter.

    Love the St. Paul's pic with the sun - and your new header is lovely along with the sidebar pic of you.

    We'll be in the UK in Dec. but not London this time - more on this trip later! However, I will be able to buy my veggie Oxos and a few other much-loved British items, and that, as you understand, will make me happy, haha!

    Enjoy Autumn with your family - like you, it's my most favorite season too.
    Warm hugs - Mary

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    1. What a shame you won't be in London, we really must meet one year. Glad you will be able to stock up though and hopefully you will be able to get your cheese paper too!! Have a wonderful week x

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  12. Beautiful pictures ! It has been a long time I haven't been to Greenwhich. In London I stop each year when I go to my friends in Eastbourne. My son lived for 10 years in London in the 90, so I knew it quite well. But since the Olymocic Games it has changed so much each year, that sometimes I don't know where I am, lol !

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    1. I agree with you, since the Olympic Games and even beforehand, the Docklands and Greenwich have changed quite a bit and the transport links have changed, but it is so lovely to have plenty of space to walk around in without the hustle and bustle of the more touristy areas. Hopefully it won't be too long before you are back x

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  13. I have a love of acorns as well. I collect them from all sorts of places. You certainly got some beautiful pictures.

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    1. Thank you. I've planted all the ones from Greenwich now, but have a few from other places to just decorate the house for autumn. Have a good week x

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  14. I admire your oak tree plan for your Grandad. I have "planted" several trees for my Dad through the Woodland Trust's forest scheme. But I've not actually got my hands dirty. I hope you find somewhere wonderful to plant them permanently.

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    1. I'm just hoping that at least one of them germinates! Fingers crossed. Take care.

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  15. Hello Chel, once again you have taken such beautiful photos. I love that staircase! I hope you have a wonderful week.
    Julie

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    1. Thanks Julie. The staircase is gorgeous and I am always aware of the possibility of a ghostly apparition :D xx

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  16. Fabulous photos Chel. I so enjoyed visiting the UK during your summer this year. The history is so amazing. I want to come back to see more perhaps an autumnal trip next time.
    Best of luck with the acorns what a great thing to do.

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    1. London in the autumn is a magical time, especially the golden hour when the sun just gives its last light. Enjoy!

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  17. Fantastic photos! I always enjoy reading your posts and when you mention memories with your granddad.
    Carla

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    1. Thanks Carla, he left me so many on paper and in my memories x

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  18. What a treat for the eyes..and the words accompanying the photos are wonderful, too. Just a beautiful country, isn't it? Also my grandfather's birthplace. I hope your acorns grow and become beautiful trees. xo Diana

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    1. You're very kind Diana. Britain in the autumn is gorgeous and I really do hope the acorns germinate xx

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  19. Chel,

    This is like a firsthand view of London with a beautiful commentary and your lovely photos. I think I've said it before, England is at the top of my Bucket List when we finally go abroad (someday soon, I hope!).

    Thank you for sharing your autumn love with us!

    Jane

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    1. Well, when you come over here my lovely, make sure you tell me and I'll give you a tour :D x

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  20. OMG - your photos are absolutely stunning! Wishing you a great week!

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  21. Thank you for taking us along!
    Blessings from Harvest Lane Cottage in Missouri USA.
    Laura

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  22. Beautiful photos of Greenwich and the Queen's House (that tulip staircase!) and
    such intriguing commentary. Doesn't autumn just add to the drama of it all? Love the carpet of golden leaves on the green grass and the scenery in the distance.

    Wishing you a wonderful week ahead,
    Poppy

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  23. {{sigh}} What loveliness, my friend! I so enjoyed the journey thanks to your stunning photos.

    Thinking of you, dear Chel. Love and hugs!

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Thank you so much for visiting, I love reading your comments and will answer either by email or on the blog. You can also email me privately in my side bar. Have a great day x

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