On Pen Lleyn the gateway to the south is Pwllheli, the north, Bangor. The topography of the UK is unforgiving as we move from one promontory to another, we must travel northeast, then west: from Bangor to Carlisle, to Dumfries, switch from train to bus, to Castle Douglas, then another bus to Lauriston and Lauriston Hall.
We are spared the last bus as Annie has come upon a Hall resident just leaving town who squeezes us and our luggage in.
Phil and Annie lived 17 years at this intentional community, based in a former hospital (1940-1971), a trusteeship for the heirs of the merchant who made it home from 1893-1902, and before that, various members of the Laurie family back to an antique Lord in the 1200's. The base of the high tower, fallen and reconstructed, is the oldest part of the complex. We first went on a walk along Kennick Burn to Woodhall Loch to shake out our day in travel. Annie spent many an hour rowing and sailing on the loch, not to mention swimming. The Community property includes several hundred feet of frontage, and several thousand feet of the burn (creek?).
There are three spiral stairs in the building complex. The tallest (center) climbs the high tower, and we rise to view the unused
(well, one of the Hall youngsters has returned to camp here) top room. Rosie, our host, is happy to show us the top room: she lives in the equally spacious bottom room. During the last years of one of the owners, he sequestered himself here, fed, bathed and cared for by a single servant. The view from the tiny balcony, reached only by ladder shows the garden and its wall, and in the circle, the cottage half where Annie and Phil lived with their daughters Molly and Rosie.
Phil and Annie lived 17 years at this intentional community, based in a former hospital (1940-1971), a trusteeship for the heirs of the merchant who made it home from 1893-1902, and before that, various members of the Laurie family back to an antique Lord in the 1200's. The base of the high tower, fallen and reconstructed, is the oldest part of the complex. We first went on a walk along Kennick Burn to Woodhall Loch to shake out our day in travel. Annie spent many an hour rowing and sailing on the loch, not to mention swimming. The Community property includes several hundred feet of frontage, and several thousand feet of the burn (creek?).
(well, one of the Hall youngsters has returned to camp here) top room. Rosie, our host, is happy to show us the top room: she lives in the equally spacious bottom room. During the last years of one of the owners, he sequestered himself here, fed, bathed and cared for by a single servant. The view from the tiny balcony, reached only by ladder shows the garden and its wall, and in the circle, the cottage half where Annie and Phil lived with their daughters Molly and Rosie. 
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.