The Manor, Hemingford Grey — Attraction in Huntingdonshire

My 9-year-old daughter and I visited The Manor at Hemmingford Grey in 2003 as a highlight of a week-long London visit. We took the train, then a bus, to the village of thatched-roof houses and then a short walk to the Manor. It looked exactly as I'd always imagined having read and re-read the magical children's books, "The Children of Green Knowe" written by its previous owner, Lucy Boston and illustrated by her son. Our gracious hostess for touring the house was Lucy's daughter-in-law who still owns this ancient Norman manor, and keeps its marvelous topiary garden (that comes alive, in one of the books). The child's bedroom at the top story is kept just as it was described in the books, with many keepsakes that figure prominently in the stories, in which children slip in and out of ancient times and adventures. The stories belong on the shelf with Narnia, Oz, and Harry Potter -- the house and grounds have a timeless quality even if you haven't read the books but do read some before you go! Lucy Boston also collected and made quilts and much of her collection also is preserved and displayed at the house. At the edge of the garden runs a quiet river with swans drifting past the hanging willows. Lunching on its bank, my daughter and I felt we had slipped into another world, one more peaceful and closer to magic than our everyday lives. It was a respite from the bustle of London and a...

Gardener, quilter, author and a woman so early to university (Oxford...her brothers were at Cambridge and didn't want her at 'their' university) that she was only allowed to attend lectures with no hope of acquiring a degree...Lucy Boston...and it is her beautiful garden, quilts and literary, artistic and social legacy that live on in the competent hands of her remarkble daughter-in-law...who will probably be the one to show you around the house.

Another aspect of this refreshing experience is real contact with the 12th C origins of the manor house...it's there in plain sight...loads of it...as are examples of building alterations and 'renovations' over the centuries!! Our tour leader was appropriately scathing of some of the, "...dreadfully untidy work of the Elizabethan builders"...ours is not the only era that can mindlessly damage.

The quilts are outstanding.

Lovely to access the river through the garden gate...the stuff of dreams...but all enough to wake up even the most somnolent...

The house is believed to have been built around 1160 but could go back as far as 1130, it is also believed to be one of the oldest continuously inhabited houses in Britain. A lot of the original house remain despite changes over the last nine centuries. In the 18th century it was home to the "Beautiful Miss Gunning" sisters, Maria and Elizabeth who had a reputation of being two of the most beautiful women in Europe. The poet William Cowper described them as being "two nymphs adorned with every grace". The house is famous for being the home of Lucy M Boston who published books for children and adults but all after the age of 60. Greene Knowe was a six book children's fantasy series and the best known of her works. She was also known for her patchworks which you can still see today. The house and gardens are both open but it is still a private home so you would need to check there opening times but I would highly...