Early autumn is the perfect time to wander round the National Trust estates, taking in the crisp air and the rich colours. Defying the pessimistic weather forecast, we headed off to Baddesley Clinton, situated between Birmingham and Warwick.

Over the moat, through the archway …

… to find ourselves in a manicured courtyard in front of an impressive black and white house … We loved the topiary in the shape of acorns!

According to the leaflet, “much of the house you see today was built by Henry Ferrers, a lawyer, diarist and antiquarian, in the late 1500s … The house was a sanctuary not only for the family, but also for persecuted Catholics who were hidden from priest hunters in its secret hiding places during the 1590s.” It was the Ferrers family home for 500 years until 1940, and their story is conveyed to visitors as they make their way from room to room, following in the footsteps of so much history and drama.

It goes without saying that we found knitting inspiration too! In each room, the volunteers had left a crocheted white rose, an historically fitting trail for children to follow to help maintain their interest and attention … and wow, just look at that leaded glass!

Outside, the dahlia borders were bursting with vibrant colour inspiration, as one colour block artfully blended into the next …

Wonderful autumn colours to brighten an overcast (but thankfully dry) October sky!

Colour, shape, texture … So much inspiration. What has made you think of knitting while you’ve been out and about this week? I’d love to hear about!

🙂