Monthly Archives: July 2015

Our North Wales Break, Part 2: Gardens (or Size Isn’t Everything)

Posted on July 29, 2015 by Francis Pryor

A good holiday should make you think. I’ve never really been very set on the idea of using your holiday to ‘escape’ – but from what? From your normal daily life? If the answer to that is yes, then I’d … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening | Tagged Arley Hall, bodnant, fuchsias, gardens, Gwen Raverat, Hell’s Mouth, Hemerocallis, Honora Keating, Penrhyn Castle, Plas-yn-Rhiw, Porth Neigwl, roses | Leave a comment

Our North Wales Break, Part 1: Buildings (and sheep)

Posted on July 25, 2015 by Francis Pryor

Maisie and I have decided that we’re not great ones for long holidays. We prefer to take three or four day breaks instead, and this year we decided to visit north Wales. Maisie was keen to see the well-known garden … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Landscape | Tagged Arley Hall, Caernarfon Castle, Clynnog Fawr, Conwy, Conwy Castle, cruck barn, Lleyn Peninsula, lleyn sheep, Penrhyn Castle, Plas Dinas, Plas Mawr, sheep, St. Beuno, Wales | Leave a comment

Goodbye To All That

Posted on July 7, 2015 by Francis Pryor

Somehow the title of Robert Graves’ 1929 autobiographical masterpiece seems strangely relevant. Does it express regret, or inevitability – or a bit of each? I suspect the latter. And that’s how I feel, too, when it comes to the demise … Continue reading →