T stands for Tea set

Last week on our way back from Wiltshire we stopped off couple of times. First stop was Old Sarum as you saw last week, then we drove quite a way before stopping again.
I have nothing against Motorway services (although some are better than others!) but we always like to get off the motorway and find somewhere to eat and hopefully a National Trust property!

We found that Croome was quite close to the motorway, unfortunately via winding lanes which made the detour slightly more than expected!
We did however find a gem of a place and intend going back there soon - we could make the trip in a day!

We knew our stay couldn't be for long so after a baked potato for our lunch in an old RAF canteen we headed for the house.

We were in luck as there was a little shuttle vehicle to take us there!

The house has a had varied history - from stately home to school to Hare Krishna retreat and was very nearly ruined by developers before the National Trust stepped in! 
All this means that the rooms are also varied! 
The ceiling in this room though was fabulous….

 …and so was this wall covering..

…and as I am here to join Bleubeard and Elizabeth for T Stands for Tuesday...

..I will show you one of the fabulous china cabinets -I am not a tea drinker but I would certainly love to take my preferred coffee from this lovely china!

One of the most beautiful installations I have ever seen anywhere was in one of the rooms...

...the Croome Plum Lines - a tribute to women and the 9th Countess of Croome who encouraged a jam factory in nearby Pershore to send plum jam to the troops (at least I think that's it!)

Each of the twigs was made from book paper with poems about the women printed on them. You can also see plum stones scattered around.

 The front of the table with jam making equipment on it...

…and from behind the table.
Around the walls were the story of how the jam making came about along with Pershore's first Womens Institute.

I'm sorry this isn't clearer - the room was quite dark and I didn't want to spoil the atmosphere with a flash!

On our way out we noticed another rather strange chair sculpture!
We hopped onto the shuttle and went back up the hill past the church.

As well as the house Croome also houses RAF Defford's museum! During World War II it was a secret base for testing radar, and the first automatic approach and landing took place here!
The grounds were also Capability Brown's first ever landscaping design - the land was farm land for a while and the NT is using original plans to restore the features! 
We didn't have time to look at either of these this time so hope to go in Spring!

While I am here I though you might like to see my latest entry for Art Journal Journey - Valerie has a great theme - Light and Darkness.

This is a page I made (I think) in 2011

 I had a 'thing' about candles at the time!
This is a page I did earlier today..

…and is my entry for AJJ

Thanks for looking, Chris