A marvellous day

Yesterday, for the first time in ages, it was cloudy. All of that changed today. However, the warmth we’ve had for the last week has all gone. It’s like the clouds came over and sucked the heat away before taking it somewhere more deserving. So, instead of the 23º we’ve been gradually getting used to, today the high was to be 13º. That’s a bit of a difference. Though, I’m not complaining. I MUCH prefer the 13º.

We decided to go to Winchester for lunch, seeing as the only NGS garden open within 320 miles of us is there today. Slight exaggeration but it seemed like the perfect excuse to go to Winchester, really.

Mirinda checks out the bulbs

We had a lovely stroll through the town park, checking out the flowers – mostly tulips and daffs but a whole host of lovely colours.

A sea of flowers

Lunch was had on the pavement outside Maison Blanc at the bottom of High Street. No Dad, on a table. Eggs Benedict and Florentine. Delicious. We then took a stroll up the high street which was full of small stalls selling antiques from all manner of dealers. Mirinda almost bought a dog cart but then, conveniently, forgot about it.

We gradually made our way to the garden which was rather small but full of plants and one half of a semi-detached house in a back street. They are a bit close to the railway for my taste but otherwise the garden was quite nice.

Bet this looks good in summer

Of course, being spring, it’s mostly just bulbs coming up but we would seriously like to go back later in the year. They have a lot of roses that must really be something when they’re all out.

They also have a very clever rill. It runs up the centre of their drive. The garage is at one end with the car in it so the wheels pass either side of the rill on the way in and out. A clever idea in a small garden.

Presumably the pots were just put there for today

Just beyond the house we came across the mysterious St Faith’s Mede, a building that, I think, dates from the early 19th century. While it should be symmetrical, interestingly, it isn’t.

St Faith's Mede

So far, I have found out that:

• It was up for sale a while ago at a guide price of £1,250,000.00
• It was owned by a Thomas Drake until he died in 1908
• In 1887 General Sir Arthur Mitford Becher, K.C.B., lived there – he wrote a ghost story based in India which frightened the ladies at supper parties

I seriously wish I could find out some more…but it has defeated me. That and the fact that I’m only willing to devote about ten minutes to searching.

The best thing about the building is the little painted sign on the right hand side of the front wall. I’m sure you can’t read it from the full size photo so I’ll just include a blow up of it here:

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Leaving the elusive St Faith’s Mede behind us, we had a lovely, long stroll along the narrow streets that lead down to the river Itchen. The crowds grew more dense as we neared the rushing river. As we walked along the river, there was barely breathing room. And a lot of ducks were being well fed by the visitors. They must love Sundays. The ducks, I mean.

Families feeding the ducks white, processed bread

Back at home we thoroughly enjoyed the tarts we bought to have after dinner but couldn’t wait to eat. We never visit Winchester without stopping in at the Bridge Patisserie on the way back to the car park. It makes the BEST pastries and tarts in South East England and is, therefore, impossible to resist.