The weekend of the 20th June, I took a couple of hours off to take the children to see a wonderful, magical garden belonging to good friends of my Mum and Dad. (To see why it's taken me this long to post about it, see what we've been up to on the business blog! Work, work, work!)
Spindle Cottage in Binegar on the Mendip Hills, is truly a creation of love, magical imagination and superbly skilled craftsmanship. Every nook and cranny hides quirky secrets and wonders to discover! The gardens are just beautiful...
For each of their Grandchildren, Alban has built play houses, but not just any playhouses....Here is Tom's Lodge, needless to say my children LOVED these houses...
And here is Charlotte's Post Office...
And Ruth's Cottage...
There's even a little house for the bins and recycling...
And other houses in unexpected places...
To the left in this picture is the Garderobe, complete with flag and crenellations, so even calls of nature become interesting!
Ponds and wishing wells...
And Elswyth's favourite - one of the Mouse Houses, how I would have loved this as a child...
And of course here are the creators of this little haven, Angela and Alban... Thankyou both for a really enjoyable afternoon! And especially from the children!
If you are interested in finding out more about Spindle Cottage or to book a break there, please go to www.spindlecottage.co.uk !Back soon,
Carrie... :)
How amazing!! I had a little cottage playhouse when I was a child.. it was sweet, but not quite THIS sweet! I LOVE the mouse house... precious.
ReplyDeleteAnd your shop looks great! If I lived closer, I'd bring my framing to you.... oh well!
I want to escape to this place. What a magical, whimsical place to take both children and your inner child. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI wish I could find sufficient words to describe my wonder whilst reading your blog - I think Oooooohhhhhhh, doesn't quite cover it! What a simply magical place for Angela and Alban's grandchildren to visit and play in!
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a child my parents took me to visit a stately home which had a mouse house very similar to the one you've photographed here carved into a magnificent wooden staircase - seeing these photographs has made me wish to goodness I could remember where it was now!
What an extraordinary place and what lucky children! Queen Victoria and Prince Albert also built fantasy play houses almost but not quite as nice.
ReplyDeleteI wish someone would build me a little post office at the bottom of my garden!
Like I said, I'm jealous! And frustrated: can't get the hit counter onto my blog at all. Help!
ReplyDeletethank you for posting this, i had seen an article about Alban & his incredible creations in a country living magazine, then lost it and couldn't remember details, so am overjoyed to discover this. i especially loved the wee mouse house, my girls would have loved that when they were small.
ReplyDeleteGosh, I want to live there, too!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a magical place to visit. Oh that mouse house is simply adorable :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing x
hi carre, thanks for visiting. now i'm looking through your enchanting blogs...:)
ReplyDeleteWat a wonderful place, you have a good blog, Oh and thanks for comming to my place.
ReplyDeleteso sweet. Our dad built us a playhouse - we loved it. He would have been inspired by these. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteOur dad built a playhouse for us. We loved it and spent many hours playing house, school, postoffice, etc. Unfortunately, it's gone now, but memories last forever.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing.