A little weekend in Tiverton, Devon

After a while living in the UK, I am just starting to explore the English country side. Yes, there is curiosity beyond Shoreditch and Dalston ;). That's how I found myself dipping my feet in the cold sea of a Devon beach some time in August (that weekend when the summer suddenly flew away).

What a pretty place !! Villages, cottages nearby rivers and seas, historical castle (check out my post on the extraordinary Knighthayes Court), cream tea, and more.

Having a car is indispensable in this part on the country, if you want to go from one village to another, to a beach, to a tea room, to a coast, to a light house. We had the British musicals album going loud in our speakers, singing along the narrow and winding road of Devon. It was so lay-back and joyful, I loved it.

We drove to Exmoor national park, where the hills are bare, with small heath bushes, and wild horses !! The wind was blowing hard, due to this wanna-be hurricane that stopped us to go sailing. I felt I could be in a Charlotte Bronte novel. 

hair-seaweed, I love the colors.

Shade of Grey.

We went to the Cheristow Lavender tea rooms. As you can guess, they were crazy about lavender there. Everything was purple, even the wall of the house, which is not the best color.  But the scones were delicious, organic, and no too lavender tasty.

 Knighthayes Court !!!!

The most oldest bridges of ever !! So bucolic !  The water is really low at this part of the river, and the road is going from each part of it. You can actually cross it, if you're equipped with a 4x4, which we weren't. So no JamesBond-like adventure moment for us !

Knightshayes Court, Devon.

During a lovely weekend in Devon, my friends and I pay an express visit to a curious castle. As my friend said, "you must see it, the wallpaper are so extraordinary". Taking pictures being forbidden, and having my mind so focused on all the little details that this house has to offer to the eyes, I didn't thought of taking cheeky pictures with my phone. So you'll have the small one that google images has to offer.
 Knightshayes is a Victorian court house designed by William Burges, who was linked with the Pre-raphalites and William Morris's crew,  for the Heathcoat-Amory family. The later made their fortune in the Lace trade. The house was commissioned by Sir John Heathcote-Amory in 1867 and the foundation stone laid in 1869. Build in a Gothic revival style, the relation between Burges and his client being not successful, the decoration was finish by John Dibblee Crace. The couple having no children, the house was given to the National Trust. The inside decoration is very unusual for such a big house. Each room has it's own story and wallpaper with animals, and tangled flowers that recall the Art and Crafts movement. The furniture are heavy and well curved, all the details, and daily objects are added in each room, hats, gloves, top hat, etc. 

I loved it !!! It's so worth it, the garden is so nice.  The billiard room, is so amazing too, the stones on the ceiling are carved in animals that represent the 7 Deadly Sins. 

There is so many details to notice in this house, I really want to go back, and have times to really look at everything more closely.

Joyce Wethered, the lady of the house used to be a famous golf champion alongside her brother, the greatest British woman player of all time, so they say. A room is dedicated to her, and to golf. 
The couple didn't really bother to give the house to their relations, well it's good so we can see it !

John Heathcoat-Amory and Joyce Wethered.

Joyce swinging (look at that calf !)

A roll of film finally developped