Late Edition...Sulgrave Manor and Banbury

 Check the early edition for our morning surprise.  Once it started to warm up a bit the snow melted pretty quick so we decided to go on with our plans even though we were leaving later than we had planned.  For the second time our plans were changed when Kay made a wrong turn on one of the circles which took us on the M4 going north instead.  There was no exit for 10 miles and when we did finally get to the exit it was closed for road work.  We took advantage anyway since we would now not be in Sulgrave in time for the 12 PM tour and drove by Warwick Castle and through Warwick.  We then got back on the M4 headed south.   We arrived at Sulgrave about 12:30 and the next tour was at 2.  We bought the tickets and walked around the gift shop then decided to have lunch in their shop called the Buttery.  After we ate we bundled up and walked around the grounds and took photos.  For those of you who like us had never heard of this place, it is the birthplace of George Washington's ancestors.  The Delta flight attendant we spoke with on our flight over told us about it and said it was worth a visit.  It is dually owned by both the British and US governments and is the only place here you will see the British and American flag flown together...very cool.  The history was interesting and as our historian guide told us Sulgrave is not promoted in the UK tours nor in the US.  If we had not heard about it from our flight attendant, we wouldn't have known about it either.  It is only open on weekends and the property is rented out for weddings and other functions.  There was a wedding scheduled there this afternoon at 4 and the guests were already having champagne in the chilly courtyard when we were leaving.  Kay will give you the details on the house I'm sure but this house was built by George's 5th great grandfather who was a very well to do sheep farmer.  The grounds are very pretty and the gardens represent gifts of plants and herbs that have been exchanged over the years between the Brits and Americans.

 

 

British Flag is on the left and American Flag on the right

 

After leaving there we headed to Banbury because Kay wanted to see the cross.  Wee found it as well as the Sculpture of the Lady on the White Horse and took some photos and headed back home.  We stopped at a church in Tredington which is just a couple miles from Ilmington.  Kay was able to get the big heavy medieval looking door open and we peaked inside.  We originally stopped because we had passed it before and we were drawn to the steeple which you can see from a good distance away.  The ropes for the bell tower are actually in an area in the back of the church.  I have never seen any like that before.  Most of the churches we have seen have all been built between the 13th and 16th century and it is pretty amazing they are still used today.  When we came out to head home it seemed it had dropped another 10 degrees and the wind had kicked up..yikes it was cold.

The wedding guests..quite a variety of outfits!

We passed the two riders leaving Sulgrave but I only caught one

Banbury Cross

Ropes for bells are behind baptismal font

We came home and fixed some dinner and I'm writing while Kay is trying to get in a short walk since it has been raining off and on since we arrived home.  Tonight we will plan out our last week here.  It is hard to believe that we have been here two weeks already....well done us!