right on our doorstep

So, today we went to Witley Court. We drive past it every day, have done for 8 years, and this is the first time we've actually visited. It's amazing.

It was a grand country house until 1937 when there was a catastrophic fire that pretty much destroyed the house (family legend has it that my Gran can remember coming out to look at the smouldering remains a couple of days later - grim tourism from Bournville). The surviving artefacts were auctioned, and the house was left to ruin until recently when English Heritage shored up the brickwork and made it safe to wander around. They also refurbished the magnificent fountains.

This probably doesn't show of the majestic nature of the fountains and the building, but I like the rainbow effect in the sunlight.