Newstead Abbey in Summer 2015

I visited this place at the start of spring (but haven't got round to posting because of exams and what-not) so finally here it is! Though I wasn't quick to post I'd be quick to say this was one of the best old places *loose term for historic stuff* I've been to in ages…since Pembroke Castle. The common thread between the two is that you can really explore; at Pembroke nothing was roped off so you could climb towers and fall back down to your hearts content and Newstead because the grounds were so vast and it was empty and the passage to the lake and..perhaps I'm just bias because it was the home of my problematic fave. Anyway, I realized I haven't done a 'four favorites' in ages so I thought I'd whop one of those out too.

One

The old abbey and newer English country house combine to create a building of magnificently unique architecture. The priory of St. Mary of Newstead, a house of Augustinian Canons, was founded by King Henry II of England in around 1170. Around 400 years later, after the dissolution of the monasteries, Sir John Byron of Colwick in Nottinghamshire was granted the abbey by Henry VIII and started its conversion into a country house. The title and Newstead Abbey was passed to George Gordon in 1798, the famous poet, who became the 6th Baron Byron.

Two

This leads onto my second point, which has to be the presence of the most famous resident to call the abbey home. Byron's work on the estate was mainly decorative rather than structural so rain and damp destroyed his changes within a few years however parts still remain such as his bed, taken from his time at university, seen in the bottom right of the photos. To the left there is the epitaph to his beloved dog, Boatswain, who died of rabies in 1808 and the inscription has become one of his best-known works. Other objects include many portraits throughout the house and a replica of the famous skull cup.

Three

This brings me onto the interior in general. It has an interesting mishmash of styles and influences created by its many owners and their influences - from the medieval chapel to the seventeenth century Chinoiserie.

Four

Finally onto the estates grounds, and here the weather and photos does perhaps not do them justice. With only one hour to explore the outside before closing time we rushed through everything from lakes, to landscaped rose courtyards and oriental gardens. The most magnificent part was walking though a small archway to be surprised by a large lake which was apparently dredged in the late eighteenth century to reveal treasures thrown in to save them during the dissolution. Towards the end of the day it was beautifully eerie to wander the grounds past the lake whilst being chased by swans and running after peacocks for selfies.

I also filmed some random clips and shoved them together, focusing mainly on details and features that caught my eye. All in all I'd give it 10 whacky poets out of 10.