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08/31/14   August in UK

Visiting Kew Gardens

Kew Gardens is the world's largest collection of living plants with more than 30,000 different varieties.   Its herbarium is the largest in the world with over seven million preserved plant specimens.  The Kew Gardens site was formally started in 1759 on 300 acres, although the layout and construction of the gardens and royal residence began in 1299 with King Edward I and continued with King Henry V, King Henry VII and Mary Tudor.



Richard with carnivorous plants at Princess of Wales Conservatory



View of the Palm House (built in 1848)



In the south-east corner of Kew Gardens stands the Great Pagoda (erected in 1762).   During WW II holes were cut in each floor to allow for drop-testing of model bombs.





Gatton Park

Gatton Park is the core 260 acres of the Gatton estate and is made up of lovingly restored gardens and parkland.   The manor's history can be traced to the Domesday Book of 1086

We walked here from our apartment and enjoyed a lovely Sunday afternoon



Scenery at Gatton Park is breath-taking!



"Gatton Town Hall", on Gatton Park estate, is a folly erected in 1765: it takes the form of an open Doric temple.  The manor of Gatton had the privilege granted in 1451 of sending two members to Parliament – the same as the surrounding large cities.   This “rotten borough” priviledge was finally removed during parliamentary reforms in 1832.  In front of it stands a large urn bearing a Latin inscription, which includes the line "Salus populi Suprema Lex Esto": "Let the well-being of the people be the supreme law".



St Andrews church in Gatton Park is dedicated to St Andrew, and, prior to the early 19th century, was a late medieval building revealing evidence of early-Norman origins (original construction 1084 AD).   It was heavily remodeled in the "Gothic" style in the 1830’s by Frederick John Monson, 5th Baron Monson, essentially as his private chapel and a showcase for his collections.   The remodeling was done with parts of other churches from across Europe - imported woodwork, pulpit and altar from Nuremberg, carved doors came from Rouen, presbytery stalls from a disestablished monastery in Ghent, altar rails from Tongeren; stained glass and carved canopies came from Aarschot, and Gothic screen at the West end from an unidentified English church, where it had been dismantled and was about to be burnt.






Other August Activities

We recently participated in a week long retreat with colleagues – a wonderful time of team activities and fellowship.



Celebrating Suzanna’s birthday



After nearly 2 years in UK, we finally had an opportunity to dress up.   However this time it was for the funeral of the mother of a friend.



We had a wonderful evening of “Falafals and Fifties” with many of our American and British friends of similar age.   Falafals are a Lebanese food and we enjoyed remembering and singing songs from the 1950’s.



A family of foxes live on the grounds around the English manor where we work.






To see more photos, find us on Facebook (Richard-Suzanna Hanham)!

Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.

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