Silver birch

Travelled over to Waltham Abbey to visit friends Al and Liz. An earlier than usual arrival so that we could make the journey to the National Trust property at Angelsey Abbey near Cambridge.

An interesting place, owned by two brothers who bought the place in the 1920s with the help of their very wealthy American mother. At the time it was a ruin, they spent considerable sums of money repairing, renovating and extending the building parts of which, over time, had been an Augustine Priory (13c) and a Jacobean Farmhouse (17c) although one a little of each was still visible. The bought the place owing to its proximity to Newmarket as the were both hunting, fishing, shooting and horse racing types.

There were extensive grounds, which seemed not to have much structure but were very pleasant. It was along the Winter Trail that we came across this stand of Silver Birch which I thought would make a good submission for Mono Monday until I discovered the theme for this week was Weather. No chance there then. All the same, thanks to Nickimags888 for hosting.

There is a working watermill on the estate, we knew it was going to be closed as it said so on the app. However, it also said that it was open Mondays on Bank Holidays and School Holidays so we wondered why it was closed today.

As I said, it was an interesting place, but difficult to fill in the story of the people who bought it and its history. We had to ask one of the guides. This, to a greater of lesser extent, is true of many properties we visit. It's a shame as I like to know the story as it adds so much to a visit.