Ang Goes To Anglesey

No, not the Welsh place, but Anglesey Abbey, the NT property in Cambridgeshire. It has been on my wish list for years. I put it on my 70s list back in April. When Bob said on Tuesday morning "have you got a lot to do today?" I realised it was the only day this week without commitments [other than housework. Which doesn't count] "Can we go to Anglesey Abbey?" I suggested [he thought it was in Wales so was reluctant at first ]

It took about an hour to reach this National Trust property. We arrived just before 11am and drank coffee in the car [yes, we thriftily took our own flask, and Tunnocks wafers!] There was plenty going on, the welcome guy enthused about the bookshop, the restaurant, the little café, the gardens [especially the dahlia garden and the cyclamen walk] the house, and the special autumn exhibition about men's tailoring... Suffice it to say we were there till gone 3pm. 
Founded as "Hospital of St Mary"  in 1135 by Henry 1, converted in C13 to an Augustinian Priory, in 1536, Henry VIII dissolved priory and gave it to a lawyer. He took much of the roof and bricks to build nearby Madingley Hall, leaving the Abbey to decay. [careless chap] Owned by a couple of other men, then acquired by the Downing Family . They were founders of the Cambridge College, and the Street in London was named after the one who acquired New York from the Dutch. Then an MP, and a Vicar owned it.

Huttleston Rogers Broughton, was the eldest son of a Very Wealthy Englishman [Urban Hanley Broughton] and his American wife [Cara Leland Rogers] Cara's grandad was one of the 25 richest men in US history]  HRB bought the property in 1922, along with his brother Henry. Huttleston and Henry agreed that the first to marry would sell his share of the house to the other. Henry married in 1926. So for over 40 years this guy lived in the property and bought an incredible amount of art and statuary and sumptuous furnishings. His father, Urban, had been an MP and philanthropist - he it was who purchased Runnymead in 1929, where the Magna Carta was signed, and gave it to the nation [to stop builders developing the site] For this he was awarded a peerage, but died before it was conferred- so the title passed to Huddleston- who became Lord Fairhaven. He lived at the Abbey till his death in 1966, and bequeathed the property to the NT, with the request that it be maintained as it was when he lived there in the 1960s
His servants called him 'Lordy' he was a shy man, but always generous and friendly towards his staff. He was fond of shooting parties, good food, and fashionable clothes [as well as art, and books and fancy furniture] The NT did a lot of research, speaking to former staff. They spoke well of their boss [although there were those servants who said his mother was a formidable woman and he was something of as "Mummy's Boy"] 

We walked from the Visitor Centre to the house, arriving just before noon, which meant we were there to see the Pagoda Clock chiming 12. It plays tunes, has twirling automata, and is generally an amazing spectacle. You should be able to watch the video HERE.

There was so much to see and to learn. I shall put more pictures on tomorrow's post. I was very conscious of how much easier it is to take in all the details when one is not looking after 2 lively little boys, and carrying a backpack with a potty and spare clothing. Watching two young mums with their pre-schoolers, I am not sure AA is the most child friendly NT property. But it is absolutely fascinating.