Halford and Strafford upon Avon

We left Devon and began our journey North.  As we were travelling along the motorway, between Bristol and Stratford-Upon-Avon, we noticed three police cars sitting on the left hand side of the road.  Just before we reached them, they suddenly pulled out onto the road and each car took a lane.  They slowed right down and hand signals were coming from one of the cars, directing us to stay back.            

After travelling slowly for some 5 minutes, suddenly another car, apparently an unmarked police car, flashed passed us, with three more police cars following.  The first three cars took off after the grey one, with the second lot of cars taking the same position in the lanes as the first.

Then two of them also sped off, leaving just one car.  This one continued to slowly drive in the middle lane, with a neon light flashing in the back window: DO NOT OVERTAKE.

 About five minutes later, it too drove off into the distance and that was the end of that!

Shortly after our excitement  we arrived in Halford and, with some effort, eventually found William and Jane at The Old Manor House.

Allan is pointing to our bedroom window 

The back of the house

  The thatched cottages were beautiful and very quaint.              This one was right outside our bedroom window.

The Old Manor House is among a cluster of quaint cottages. The lanes the cottages are built on wander around in the cutest way, explaining our difficulty in finding  our way. It took several phone calls to Willaim before we found him.   The Old Manor House is   very old and rustic; the floors  very wonky and uneven.  We walked uphill from the bed to the window! The doorways were very low and the toilet had an unusual collection of  items, including a teapot....

 We have discovered some interesting things while here in England.  This little scene was found in a most unique place.

And this little gem - what do you think it is, or perhaps what is it used for?  A clue - we found it in the toilet...
As you can guess, we were very taken with the toilet....

While we were staying in Halford, we met several other guests.  One stand out was Bob, an 86 American from California.  He introduced himself to Allan saying, "Hi, my name is Barb".  Allan asked him to repeat that, which he did.  Then William, our host, came in and said to Allan, "Have you met Bob?"  To which Allan said, "No William, his name isn't Bob, it's Barb."  Then the penny dropped for Allan.....  He was obviously struggling with the American accent!

We planned to spend two days in Halford, driving into  Stratford upon Avon  to visit  Shakespeare territory, along with several thousand other tourists.

Stratford  is beautiful with the River Avon flowing through town.  Barge boats can be seen on the river with people living in many of them.

We took a cruise on one

 while  swans floated by majestically

and the ducks waddle around 

We found  interesting willow  sculptures in the gardens in the centre of town.

                                 

Stratford-upon-Avon's clock tower 

and the Swan Theatre

Hall's Croft

has a beautiful walled garden 

This is where Shakespeare's daughter Susanna and her husband Dr. John Hall  lived.  Dr Hall was a highly respected and compassionate doctor who treated rich and poor, Catholic and Protestant,  alike.  He  preferred to use herbs and plants, animal extracts, gemstones and rocks as treatment for his patients. The garden has been replanted with many of the herbs mentioned in Hall's medical journals.  After his death in 1657, his case notes were published and became a popular textbook  for many doctors of that period.

Dr Halls' Epitaph 

Here is sited Hall, most renowned in the medical art.

Awaiting the happy joys of the Kingdom of God. 

Such were his merits that he deserved to outlive Nestor in years 

But indiscriminate time snatches away everyone on earth.

So that nothing may be lacking in his tomb,

His most faithful wife is here,

And he has her,  his companion in life, now also in death. 

 Shakespeare's Birthplace

Today, Shakespeare has no descendants.   He is remembered for his written works and  this year there have been many celebrations of Shakespeare's life and works because it is 400 years since he died.  Many impromptu performances of his works are stages throughout the town on any given day, which makes for a very entertaining visit. 

Some of the performers available to entertain the crowds. The musician (that's him with his instrument over his shoulder)  sang a sonnet for us.

The models in the house are made of cardboard and scrunched brown paper - very effective      

                   The human statues in the street keep the historical theme alive, exemplifying many of Shakespeare's characters 

The streetscape is beautiful 

This is the Mecure  Hotel 

 Some of the lovely homes 

Tudor buildings are the norm in Stratford.