A Host of Golden Daffodils

'I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.'

William Wordsworth

This was the lovely Spring scene at the entrance to Holdenby House in Northamptonshire.  The house only opens to the public three times a year, and so I followed the tip of one of the guides (Polly H) and turned up today to see it.  If you look at the mono shot in the extras you might think it looks familiar, it was used for the 2011 BBC adaptation of Great Expectations, with Gillian Anderson as Miss Haversham. It took 4 days and many people to transform it into the decaying Statis House, home of Miss Haversham.  The gravel in the driveway was removed and covered with soil and weeds. The windows were sprayed to give the impression of the build up of years of dirt and dead ivy bushes were hung over windows and across the front of the building.  

The original Tudor Palace was the biggest and grandest house in England. After years of decay a smaller house was restored in the 1870s. The rear of the house is shown as an extra.  I've also included a picture taken through the door of the nearby church.

An interesting day and well worth a visit.