Jo’s Monday walk : Rufford Abbey and Country Park

Rufford Abbey in Nottinghamshire looks very inviting on a warm Summer’s day.  Nestled on the edge of Sherwood Forest, in Robin Hood territory, the abbey dates back to 12th July, 1147. Founded by Gilbert de Gant, it was populated with Cistercian monks from Rievaulx Abbey in Yorkshire, a place that I know well.  They were known as ‘white monks’ because their habits were made from undyed wool, and they lived an austere life of prayer and hard work.

When my daughter suggested that I would love these abbey ruins, now part of a large country estate, I was more than happy to accompany her. She always makes excellent company.  Why don’t you come with us?

Did any of you ever hear of a heliochronometer?  That’s what Lisa was studying in the rose garden.  According to a complicated explanation in Wikipedia, it is a precision sundial first devised by Philip Hahn around 1763.  We struggled to set it, rather unsuccesfully.

Only the west wing of the abbey remains.  The rest was demolished in the 1670s, following the Abolition of the Monasteries.  The pink-tinged stone has a delicacy I love.  A country house replaced the abbey, alleged to be haunted, most appropriately by a skull-bearing monk.

The formal gardens have a lovely hint of playfulness, entrancing to children large and small. Had it not been so hot we could have navigated the fortune maze for much longer.  Spinning the wheel to choose our destiny.  The metal gates and sculptures were intricate and beautiful.

Shade was a valuable commodity, with Lisa fluttering her fan and wishing she’d brought the delightfully dilapidated parasol I’d managed to poke another hole in the previous day. Accidentally, of course.

The Oil Patch Warrior, a sculpture by Jay O’Meilia, a Navy artist in World War II, commemorates American oil workers who drilled over 3 million barrels of oil in the heart of Nottinghamshire, between 1943 and 1945.  He is one of many varied and interesting pieces throughout the grounds.

Hidden in the depths of leafy shade we find an immense ice house.  Sadly, the ice is long departed.  Hoping to catch a breeze over by the lake, or maybe even an icecream, we saunter down through the trees.

There’s a small cafe, but it’s melting hot inside, so we opt for that icecream- tangy lemon for Lisa, pistachio and almond for me.  Lovely!  The path winds on around the lake and we follow it back to the start.

Time to twirl that imaginary parasol homewards.  All good things come to an end, and it was beautiful while it lasted.  I hope you enjoyed it too.  Rufford Abbey is now managed by English Heritage, and full details of how to get there are on their website.

That’s my couple of days in Nottingham accounted for.  Thank you for your company, and for the many and varied walks I’ve received this week.  Join me any time.  You’ll be most welcome. Details are on my Jo’s Monday walk page.  Time to put the kettle on now and settle in for a good read.

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I was delighted to be introduced last week to Theresa, by Becky.  Another birder, of course!

Little Orme Level 1

For a glimpse of breathtaking beauty, you often can’t beat Drake :

Nowhere highland

One I missed from last week!  Please have a catch up with Denzil :

The Valley of the Hermeton

A beer by the Spree and/or a bit of wall?  Nice choice from Debbie :

Walking the Wall

A look at a place Jackie knows well- street art and stairs! :

Bonjour Montreal!

A bit of sadness with Woolly :

Jo’s-Monday-Walk-Wk25

But Geoff stays determinedly cheerful :

Cake not Hate – a walk and some thoughts

Meg gently meanders, looking in crevices, twice!

Two wordless walks

While Jude is mildly disenchanted with walking in Truro.  Can anyone help?

Truro – the UK’s most southerly city

Lady Lee offers a superb look at another of those places I’ve always wanted to visit :

Our Malta experience

A good friend has been to the falls at Plitvice and Krka.  They look magnificent!  Here’s proof positive from Paula :

Transience of Water

Do you know Ting?  She’d love to escort you around these beautiful gardens :

Exploring RHS Gardens, Wisley in Surrey

Becky just knew I’d love this post!  Distinctive boats, canals, sunshine… can’t go wrong!

Exploring the many canals of Aveiro

While Carol takes me somewhere very familiar indeed.  I do like a Shambles!

A Walk Around York

You might need a bit of stamina for this long walk, with Eunice :

Ambling round Anglezarke

I am enamoured with Savannah.  Take a look at Cady Luck’s post and you will be too!

Jo’s Monday Walk : Savannah, Georgia

Sssh, but the sun still seems to be shining a little bit up here, and I’m off out for a walk.  Catch you all soon.  Have a great week!

109 comments

  2. Lisa is very pretty, Jo! and what a pleasure to join a Mother and Daughter walk. such a lovely place and interesting sculptures! i could’ve joined for ice cream, too! have a great week and thank you! 🙂

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  3. Never heard of the place and looking at the map it is just down the road from Clumber Park where I spent a lot of weekends in as a small child. Looks a delightful place for a stroll and I love all those sculptures. Lisa looking glamorous as usual, but surely must have been very hot in black! She should have worn something pale and floaty… but I do like the colour of her hair. If only I had ever dared to be so bold. Still cloudy and humid here, but I am going stir crazy. Might pop up the hill in a bit 😉

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    1. On the rare occasions that we’ve driven down to Nottingham we’ve passed it and I had no idea what was beyond those gates, either. Lisa was going straight to work so had to be appropriately dressed, and unless she’s in costume she really doesn’t do colours. 🙂 🙂
      We had quite a sedate country park walk this moning, with swans and cygnets. Would have suited you nicely, m’dear. 🙂 Still trying to rescue my home from the onslaught of all James’ stuff, and we’re back to Leeds tomorrow.

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  4. Thnaks, Jo, for that interesting tour! Much better to follow you from the cool of my ofice [with air-conditioning] than it must have been for you! 😉 I found it highly interesting that once oil was produced in Notts! Like Texas up there, ain’t it?! 😉
    Have a great week,
    Pit

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  9. I really must get out more! I feel ashamed not to have posted something on Carisbrooke Castle, must try to rectify that.

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  18. You still have Lisa with you, clever Jo. And isn’t she beautiful with that red hair and her fan and her grace? Even without her parasol! I want to know whose skull the monk was carrying. My favourite is the pointy arch looking through a square window to green – all that lovely stonework. But as usual as soon as I nominate a favourite, I think of another candidate. Monday hugs,with packing presaged.

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  19. Immediately I saw Lisa with the fan I thought she needs a parasol . . .. .so glad she has one even if Mum has been poking holes in it!!
    Thanks for the link up as always Jo, think Aveiro is made for you. Hope you have a lovely Monday planned x

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