Sun, Oct 4 Hall Place and Gardens

Another sunny warm day.  Who's complaining.

Brian's friend Elizabeth, who he has known since university days, and another Canadian friend, Sarah, from Toronto, picked us up about 11:30 AM and we drove to Bexley in south London to Hall Place and Gardens .

Elizabeth negotiated the roads very well, taking the Woolwich Ferry (free), which is quite small and doesn't take that many cars.  We happened to approach when there wasn't a lineup, and drove right onto the ferry going over.  Coming back, we had to wait a few minutes.

Hall Palace is a former stately home beside the River Cray on the outskirts of Crayford, southeast of Bexleyheath. It is a tudor home with fabulous gardens, including a topiary. There isn't any furniture in the building, but there are many information signs that give interesting information about life during tudor times.  It's written in a short, easy to understand way.

The original tudor home was built in 1537 for a rich merchant and the former Lord Mayor of London, and through the centuries it was renovated and an addition added.  For most of the 19th and 20th centuries it was rented out.  In World War II was was used by the military to intercept signals from the German Air Force.

Had to have lunch, of course.  Quiche

Sarah from Ontario, retired, traveler.  Had just spent a month in Paris staying in a friend's apartment.

Brian and I had beef pie which was okay, not great. Gravy was good.

Elizabeth, our chauffeur, and the person who came up with the idea of visiting this site

 
To Brian's about 4:30, we all had tea and watched the hour-long professional video made of Brian and Joe's Viking Cruise trip to Russia.

Brian has a cold, and isn't feeling all that well, so wanted to rest during the evening, and I got online to work on this blog.  It's supposed to rain tomorrow.  Too bad.  I want to walk around Soho.  Maybe it'll be a National Art Gallery day.  Leaving in 2 days.