Summer of 2003
Like many summers before, our family wanted to spend some vacation days together - this time we decided on England. Early in the year, we searched the Net for a large house (11 persons) with a swimming pool. We didn't find many such places in England. But one seemed quite right for us:
Old Bridge, South Petherton, Somerset
The Blake family home page described their beautiful old house and the neighbourhood in such an enthusiastic way that we decided to rent it. Luckily there was a two week period available, June 28–July 12.
So planning started - studying maps, getting organised, travels, and research on what to do and see during the vacation. And finding out what to expect in the region and surroundings. A lot of this was accomplished on the Internet, of course.
South Petherton
The village of South Petherton was small, but had every shop that we could wish for: fish, vegetables and fruits, a butcher, a delicatessen, and a coop with all kinds of food and drink.
Old Bridge Manor House
  | Being architects, we also measured the house to outline the floor plans. |
We all loved having a pool, and the kids stayed in the water for hours.
We had lovely fresh eggs from the Blake hens. The South Petherton butcher's sausages were delicious. And the AGA was a miracle!
Sightseeing - Eden Project
Of course we also went sightseeing: there were really many things to explore: old castles, beautiful gardens, idyllic little towns... One day we went to the Eden Project. Some enormous plastic domes with tropical climates, to enable plants from all over the world to grow there. We walked around, up and down, for many hours. No wonder that we became tired!
Lyme Regis
One day two car-loads started for the beach at Lyme Regis. The party was successful, and returned with a number of odd pieces of stone.
Some more sightseeing - see separate page.
Sightseeing
While staying at Old Bridge we went sightseeing to some of the great historical and horticultural monuments in Somerset, Devon, Dorset, Wiltshire, and Kent on the way back. Here are some of the sights.
Produced by VAL in September 2003