Easter Week in North Devon Day 2

Woolley Lodge has magnificent wrought iron gates . . .

. . . topped with herons facing each other, grasping a snake in its beak, the Chichester family emblem. 

Our cottage Woolley Lodge was part of a mid-nineteenth century scheme to build a grand entrance to the Chichester family's country pile Arlington Court. The Chichester's had been important gentry in Devon since the 14th century. Their previous 18th century house was not well built and needed replacement. The present house was built in the early 1820s, and soon after, Sir John began construction of his grand entrance, the iron gates at the elegant Woolley Lodge gate house would open to a scenic avenue with a graceful bridge over the man-made water feature. At his death in 1851, the project was still uncompleted, and when his son and heir began spending their diminishing fortune on other pet projects . . .

. . . including this avenue of monkey puzzle trees, the plan was never realised.

Arlington Court is a boxy Neo-Classical design, a popular style of the Regency period.  There are Victorian additions to increase its size and prestige befitting the late 19th century standards of conspicuous consumption. 

There are large gardens, but nothing very exceptional. Another  Chichester heron marks
the entrance to the Victorian Garden.

A large walled kitchen garden is planted, but the seedlings are just emerging.

The perennial border is just starting to add new growth, and the trees are not fully in leaf.

The parish church is across the lawn from the house . . . 

. . . where paths lead to walks around the estate.

The guide pamphlet mentions the climate is ideal for growing vast species of lichens.

Our walk on a gorgeous afternoon of sunshine and blue sky took us along the low rise of Woolley Woods.