Our nice day out. - Part 1

We had a lovely day out yesterday. Hubbs took me to Rippon Lea - a lovely historical homestead near us. I have never been to Rippon Lea before but always wanted to go.

It was just the escape I needed. The mansion was very different - quite austentatious. I never would have been able to live in it, the way it was decorated.

The house and grounds were given to the national trust in the early 1970's.

This is the front of the building. The conservatory with it's prize winning orchids is located to the left of the picture. This is the back of the building - It is the entry to the ballroom. This area is popular with weddings these days. The ballroom and the white building to the right are leased out to a company that holds wedding receptions there.

This is one of the corridors inside the house. I found the house so dark and dreary. Not to mention that the photo is dark because they don't allow flash photography inside the building - apparently it ages the wallpaper 3-5 years every time there is a flash. The wallpaper had swirly flowers all over it - which were hand painted over the original wallpaper some years ago. Kinda place you would expect to see ghosts hanging around huh.

This is the pool area that the last owner added to the building. It used to be where the original ballroom was but she hated the building and pulled it down in favor of the pool area.

Walking through the hallways I thought this picture was really lovely - being of an angel and all - It was a good 8 foot high. As we didn't have much time, I snapped a picture of it, and had a better look at it when we got home. It was only then I realised it was quite a gruesome picture. Is it just me or does this look like the angel of death coming to collect another one?
(if you click on the picture it will enlarge so you can get a good look at it).