Escapes and Photography

Wednesday, 30 April 2014

Classic Cars at Charlecote Park

Sunday I walked through the gates of Charlecote Park to be greeted by a row of beautiful classic cars.

This blog won't have much writing in it as there is not much I know about these cars other than I really like them. I had a request for this blog from a car lover so I will do the best I can. I am not going to tell you which car is which as I would probably get it wrong but I will give you a short history. If anyone does know the names? Please feel free to comment at the bottom of this page and I will amend my blog at a future date.

Most of the cars at Charlecote Park this Sunday were made by Morris Motors.

Morris Motors began in 1912 when a bicycle manufacturer William Morris, moved on to the next popular type of transport, the car. By 1913 he was opening his first factory in Cowley, Oxford. His first car was to be a two seater called the 'Bullnose' who's engine was built in Coventry at the old White and Poppe factory.

In 1914 William added a Coupe and a van to the collection but White and Poppe of Coventry could not keep up with demands and for this reason, William started to import what he needed from a company called 'Continental' who were based in Detroit, America.

This one I do know, It is Morris's 'one ton truck' built in 1938

You ask yourselves...How did I know the name of the truck and not all the cars....well, this is why. It was written on the back and I just happen to take a photo of it.

The first World War did not stop production and by 1915 a larger car was made called the 'Morris Cowley',
After the War, the engine once again was to be made in Coventry but this time through the French Company 'Hotchkiss' who had their factory there. These engines made in Coventry would go into the new basic 'Morris Cowley' and the more up-market range of the 'Morris Oxford'.

Morris Motors reputation grew for building high quality motors but also trying to keep the cost down as much as possible for customers and by 1924 the company became the top selling in Britain, even over taking that of Ford.

The view from the top of the Gatehouse at Charlecote Park

The view from the Gatehouse is beautiful and a 'must do' if you visit.

You won't be disappointed.

After doing so well, William wanted to buy up all his supplier's businesses and by 1923 the French company 'Hotchkiss' in Coventry became 'Morris Engines'
One of the very popular cars built, was the more sporty 'MG' which was so popular it had a factory of it's own built in Abingdon, Oxfordshire. I can remember my brother's best friend having a small green MG in the 1980's and travelling down to Devon to see me. They had arrived in the middle of the night and not wanting to wake me, slept in the car. Well all I can say is that neither of them are short men and they spent the next day moaning about how much they hurt! Strange the things you remember but the inside of that car is so tiny.

For those who came on Sunday, you will know it was a very wet day and this next picture says it all. I had to add it. So British 'Nothing will stop us'.

Between the showers.

The well known 'Morris Minor' entered the market in 1928. The 847cc engine was built in the newly bought
Wolseley Motors.
Over the years the company name changed as companies do and by 1968 it became 'Leyland Motors' where both my Grandfather and my Uncle worked in Coventry. My Grandfather until his retirement.

The view as you walked through the gates of Charlecote Park. I heard there were supposed to be many more cars but with the rain and many of these old cars having no roofs, not all could attend.

There was still a glorious display of vehicle's. Even a couple of VW's were there. Now both of these I do know as they take be back to the 1980's when I lived in Croyde in Devon and the 'VW Campers' would arrive every weekend and during the holiday season full of people wanting to surf the waves. Then of course there was the Beetle which everyone knows. I found it strange but also quite nice that they were in the line up of classic cars. I guess they are classics to the younger generations.

The beautiful VW Beetle. My Aunt and one of my good friends from Croyde had one of these but they were both light blue. I like the bright colours but not the modern beetles so much.

I have to say that I love these old cars. I often wish I could go back in time for one day to different times in History to see how things really were. I can just imagine these driving up and down the roads.

A little check before leaving.

I will leave you with some photos of some of the other cars that were able to attend. It really was lovely to see them all.

All these cars remind me of a few years ago when Chitty chitty bang bang came to Charlecote Park.

I just happen to be going home at the same time as all these beautiful cars started to move so it was nice to get some shots of them driving up the back drive.

I hope you enjoyed this blog. It was something very different for me but I know there are many car lovers out there so I had to share. As I said before, feel free to leave comments and names of some of the cars and I will add them to this blog. Thank you again for taking the time to read this.

Photos Copyright Jana Eastwood

Wednesday, 16 April 2014

New life,new arrivals and beautiful colours at Charlecote Park

Spring is such an amazing time of the year and one of my favourite times. Plants that have looked dead all Winter are starting to come alive again, there is blossom on the fruit trees, beautiful colours of the Spring flowers and new life being born.

It's like everything is awakening after a deep sleep and it is so beautiful. I guess the Prince found his sleeping beauty and awoke her :)

You can't miss the spring flowers, they are everywhere and the beautiful weather we are having this week makes everything look so much brighter and much more cheerful. We could not have asked for better weather for the Easter holidays. I hope it lasts.

I love Spring, you really can smell it in the air. Sometimes I will just stand in the middle of the countryside and just breathe...... A deep breath in, clean spring air, you can't beat it. Everything is so fresh from the air to the plants, even the grass growing beneath your feet. Have you ever noticed how Spring's green is a different green to that you see in the Summer? If not, take a photo of somewhere you go regularly now and then again towards the end of Summer and compare the difference yourself.

The lovely tulips in front of the house.

The back of the house near the river looks beautiful with all the different coloured tulips.

Lots of different wildlife around if you look.

The garden near the stables also looks beautiful. I love the red tulips.

The next two photos are of the same tulip a few days apart.

The tulips in front of the little Summer house.

My Mother enjoying the view.

It's not just the plants that are awakening, there is also new animal life and volunteering at Charlecote Park has allowed me to get a little bit closer to these events which I am loving. The little new Jacob lambs are beautiful and I could sit there for ages watching them stumble onto their long legs.

Watching them yesterday reminded me of a person on stilts in the way they walk. When they are first born, they are all legs. If you have seen a newborn lamb, you will know what I mean. I love watching them try to sit back down again, it is so awkwardly done but so cute at the same time.

How cute are these new born lambs?

A mothers love.

I think the lamb on the right in the picture below was more interested in what I was doing. This one was a little mischievous. It was playing hide and seek with it's mother too. I caught that on video :)

Look at the little lamb on the right, still learning how to use his legs.

Nature can be so beautiful.

The next two photos I think are so sweet. I call them 'Lamb hugs'

I know they say support a babies head but support it on you new born sibling :)

They are all just so cute.

Here I have to say how hard the staff at Charlecote are working. There is so much going on at the moment within the park grounds and to be honest I don't think I have seen them stop for more than 5 minutes at a time. Having the access I do and seeing them all working around the Estate, I had to mention this.
With lambing and other events going on, it is often a juggling act but they just get on with it, no complaints nothing and even when they are shattered, they can still manage to smile and keep their great sense of humour.
Here is a photo Lisa took inside the lambing area of Adam the ranger. I love it and think it's so funny. This is life and people should laugh more.

People don't see all the work that goes on behind the scenes. I myself only see a very small amount but I have to say I admire their dedication to their work. They really do an amazing job. Hats off to them as they say.

I spotted the Bees getting checked yesterday. So much going on this week and I have only seen a small amount of it.

Cutting the new growing grass

This week at Charlecote has been a busy week and it's only Wednesday today. Lambing started at the weekend, then there was The Big Tree Climb on Monday which everyone loved and then yesterday saw the new arrival of these beautiful 2 month old spotted pigs. They are Oxford Sandy and Black Pigs. I was allowed in the pen with them and just sat on the ground watching them explored their new home. It was lovely to watch.