October 2nd Thursday

 Thursday 2nd October - outing to Castle Acre and West Acre.

After a slightly late start on my part at least, Ronda, neighbour Penny and I went on an adventure to Castle Acre and perhaps a new cafe to try, I am helping Ronda with her market research whilst here. Cafe was closed for a holiday so we went walking around the castle prior to the intake of coffee for those that needed it!


A pretty impressive view to come across after walking through a bit of scrub, the sun was trying to shine into our eyes so looks a bit dark but it was rather stunning especially with the countryside in the background. The castle was originally built by William de Warrenne who fought with William I at the Norman Conquest in 1066 and was granted land in Norfolk. Started as a family home but eventually his descendants turned it into a fortress, It was lived in until the early 14th century. 





Was a grey start to the day, but warm and the sun tried to come through, the countryside was glorious, the leaves still very green. This will give you an idea of the thickness of the flint walls, some of the pieces are really interesting with a range of colours, flint is revered here like schist is in Central Otago.


Walked past some charming little cottages and through the hedgerow to find the ruins of the Priory.




It is a huge ruin, of a Cluniac monastery founded in 1090 by the Warenne family and dissolved in 1537 by none other than Henry VIII. Cluniac system was founded within the Benedictine system founded at Cluny Abbey in France. Similar to the Cistercians they wanted to get back to the traditional monastic life, encouraging art and caring for the poor. 
The ruins are quite extensive and relatively intact compared to other ruins I have seen, we walked around it but didn’t go in the grounds - as running short of time but it would be worth a visit. 


So that was Castle Acre 


Next stop West Acre, it is a village, but we went to a nursery set in a walled garden of a rather large house. There was also a cafe where we had hot drinks and scones with jam and cream.

Along with the usual lines of plants for sale, there were perennial borders with most of the plants in site, as well as specimen trees set out in a lawn, And a kitchen garden with raspberries which Dee sampled for quality testing, it was all very pretty and lovely to walk around, and see lots of plants that we don’t seem to get in NZ









Bit of a day for a gardener, was a nice to round off the day after the ruins. There were some lovely big trees next to the car park it amazes me to see the trees everywhere in England! A quick stop at Great Massingham on the way home to take a photo over the duck pond. That was Thursday done and dusted!








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