Today the rain has cleared and we are back with the beautiful Autumn days again so Mum and I went to have coffee with an old friend.

She lives at Swallowfield Park.

Built in 1689, and designed by architect William Talman, a student of Sir Christopher Wren, Swallowfield Park is the classic example of an English stately home.

We had a lovely time being shown around.  This is the front hall.

The horse statues are bronze replicas of the Chevaux de Marly by Guillaume Coustou the Elder in Paris.

We were shown a very well stocked and comfortable library.

There was even an “invisible” door.  Very Harry Potter!

The sitting room was perfect, complete with a good grand piano and ancestors.

These fire “dogs” are actually dragons and allegedly originally from Brighton Pavilion.  This may be myth rather than actual fact.

They are very special (and highly coveted by me, and my mother!)

The original front doorway was moved many years ago.

The view outside was complete with a pretty water feature.

Then along to the Servants’ Quarters.

Outside to a stunning brickwork stableblock.

The octagonal dovecote is from the mid-18^th century.

The gardens are carefully landscaped and were laid out around the house within the estate.

We walked along to the walled gardens complete with fruit trees.

Swallowfield Park is a beautiful house set in the quintessential English countryside.

A perfect Sunday morning.