Mottisfont

So my friends planned to take me to Mottisfont, but asked if I had been to this National Trust property before. I said I had but assured them it didn't matter. I hadn't - confusing it with Montacute. Well they both begin with M and are in the West Country. Easy mistake....

Anyway, Mottisfont is one of those houses more interesting for its history than its current treasures, not least as very little of the house's old furniture survives. Although it does host a number of 20th century paintings by well known artists like Lowry (well, one very small uncharacteristic Lowry), Bell, Nicholson and especially Hill.

But it is a very interesting house, having started life as an Augustinian priory (most evident underneath the house in the cellars) become an enormous Tudor mansion and then half of that was sadly demolished in the 18th century to produce the house that exists today. It had a twentieth century flourish with a revamp when owned by a society hostess in the Thirties. So it has had a colourful life, and you can appreciate the layers.

While the interiors look very grand, they are largely excellent paint effects in the 1930s in a neo-classical style, not a lavish use of marble.

An interesting little sliver of the old priory exposed here

The stables (now the tea room) are particularly impressive. From days when hunting was the top leisure pursuit and horses were grandly housed.

The kitchen gardens are also impressive, from days where you were truly green and grew your vegetables on site.

Tim and Lorna relaxing in the rose garden while I click away on the camera.

There s a little bit of the River Test that has been artificially brought alongside the property, partly to bring a water supply but probably mostly to power a mill in past centuries, but which now offers a pleasant walk in the grounds. And good fishing for trout.

Brown trout. Fish underwater don't photograph easily...

Little remnants of Augustinian priory under the main rooms in the house.