Commandary

A bit of a day off today and we visited the newly restored Commandery in Worcester.  Fascinating place.  Originally founded about a thousand years ago as a (monastic) hospital.  The dissolution of the monasteries resulted in it becoming a private house in the Tudor period interrupted briefly to become the Royalist base at the end of the civil war.  

A couple of to-be American presidents (Adams & Jefferson) popped in for a while.

In Victorian times it was a school for blind boys, finally becoming a printing factory in the 1950's.

Lots of fascinating rooms as each of these periods is covered. The topology is fascinating in itself - I complain about not being able to find my spec's in the Dell House but I'd not be sure of ever finding all the rooms again at the Commandery. 

Highly recommended.

This shot is of the 'painted chamber' - painted in the 15thC and uncovered only in the 1930's.

Not sure exactly what method of 'inspiration' is being illustrated here though...