Back to "Orderley End"...

Yes, I know it should be 'Audley End' but it sounds lovely the way Pickle pronounces it.

We were only at Audley End a couple of weeks ago, but Picklesister especially wanted to return at the weekend as Queen Victoria was due to visit the house.

Here she is walking in the grounds with her lady in waiting.

There were lots of lovely costumes on display!!

As well as a very quick look around the house, running past 'the died, stuffed up animals' , Pickle and I went on a fairy hunt with this charming scientist fellow, who did not believe in fairies. Silly man. The contraption on his head was a scientific device to check the area for 'unnatural beings'.

We did find fairies though. See.

Audley End House

Another visit to an English Heritage Property (thanks to Tesco Clubcard) but not a castle this time!! It is Audley End House and Gardens.

Situated just outside Saffron Walden, this stunning house was adapted from Abbey buildings between 1603 and 1614. It has been extended and adapted on many occasions since then.

A kitchen, laundry, pantry and a dairy
have all been recreated.

One of our favourite features was the 'cloud hedge' which apparently takes 1 gardener 12 days to 'carve' the patterns into the hedge, giving it this stunning 3D effect. It was originally planted to hide the service wing as the 'servants' were not to be seen.

In the kitchen gardens the Elephant Garlic has grown so tall, the tops can only be reached by ladder (probably!)

A view of the front of the house, the Urn is in memory of Polish Soldiers who fought in WW2 and trained nearby.

Pickle and Picklesister had such a good time we are going back at Bank Holiday when Queen Victoria herself is making an appearance.

Honestly!