2021 promised to be another memorable year for the family, however the prevailing 'plague' conditions have put a stopper on our plans for international travel. Scaling back our celebrations we organised a break in Warwickshire as a convenient 'mid-point' for the family to meet, and for us to revisit parts of the "Heart of England" which we have not seen since our student days.


The Girls brought their stand-up paddleboards and we spent a couple of happy days around Stratford Upon Avon, and even on the water itself. Some might say the highlight was getting the 'old man' afloat, and I must confess to being quite blown away by just how beautiful the River Avon is (normally I reserve such plaudits for the River Dart back home in Devon!).

By way of a rest day, when the Girls left, we stayed local and visited Stoneleigh Abbey. Originally a humble Cistercian Monastery which, following the dissolution of the monasteries, was taken over by Sir Thomas Leigh, and converted into a Grand Estate. Sir Thomas Leigh subsequently 'offered hospitality' to King Charles I, and was awarded a Barony for his trouble (quite the gratuity, thank you very much!).

In 1806 Stoneleigh passsed to the Reverend Thomas Leigh who invited Jane Austen to stay and it is believed that Stoneleigh Abbey was the inspiration for Sotherton Court in Mansfield Park.


Much of the landscaping, including the re-direction of the River Avon to create a 'mirror lake' in front of the house, was completed under the direction of Humphrey Repton.

We had originally considered basing this celebration aboard a narrow boat and cruising the waterways of the area. For various reasons, that didn't happen, however, determined not to miss out entirely, we spent the day exploring on the Grand Union Canal including the flight of Hatton Locks, enjoying lunch in the sunshine at a fine canalside pub and rounding out the day with a visit to the neighbouring estates of Baddesley Clinton and Packwood House.

Following a fleeting visit for a celebratory dinner, we felt that we needed to revisit the county town and explore further.


We enter Warwick via a bridge over the River Avon. The well preserved bulk of the medieval castle sits magnificently on the bank of the river, putting me in mind of Arundel Castle on the banks of the River Arun near my childhood home in West Sussex.

The preservation of Warwick Castle is largely due to it being in the hands of Parliamentarian forces during the English Civil War. Although briefly besieged by Royalist forces, it was relieved and escaped serious damage. Today the castle is largely run as a 'theme park' and holiday venue.