William Morris Tour Part One

I am sorry I've been off the radar for a while but this past week I was having problems with my little laptop while guiding a tour here in Adelaide. Today is Sunday and I am back home to the big computer and like many we have just experienced (and still are!), the coldest and strongest weather system for the year. The south east of Australia has been hit hard and we are reading of snow where there has never been snow, there have been delayed flights at airports and lots of damage from gale force winds. Here at home we had the worst of it on Thursday and what a shame it was for all our guests on our seventh William Morris in Adelaide tour. But we soldiered on and the group were fabulous, always smiling and joking throughout the challenging conditions. Very sadly Carrick Hill was closed for this August tour (for refurbishing and will be well into next year), and with the Art Gallery no longer getting things out of storage we had to make up for it in other ways. So I will share a few highlights starting with some images from the Morris room at the Art Gallery.......

 We wandered through the city to see the only Morris & Co stained glass windows in the world to be installed in a building that isn't a church and I almost forgot to take our group to the historic wing of the state library......

 With Carrick Hill closed I had to come up with another plan and we weren't disappointed in my choice of Anlaby Station. It was an hour and a half drive through the flat plains north of Adelaide but the weather was kind as some of the journey is on unsealed roads. Anlaby is celebrating 180 years this year and is the oldest merino stud station in Australia still producing beautiful wool that you can buy as a luxurious blanket edged in William Morris embroidered silk. Because the owners live in the house there is a no photo policy inside but let me tell you this Arts & Crafts style house is up with many that I have seen in the UK and part of the refurbishment includes William Morris furnishings. The winter gardens while not yet in bloom were still stunning and they comprise of 10 acres originally designed by a British expert who worked at Kew Gardens. We are definitely going back to see the gardens in full bloom........

 Lunch was in the Clydesdale horse pavilion and what a great setting this would be for a wedding reception....

 You'd be forgiven if you thought you were in the UK but this Manor House is on the property and available as Bed and Breakfast accommodation along with a couple of cottages.......

 I do love this species when one isn't sure what it is!!........

 We were told this apple storage building maintains its temperature throughout the year and that is some feat seeing as we can experience less than 10C in Winter and above 42C in Summer. Apparently the building is made up of very rare French terracotta tiles.......

 and this is a cork tree........

 One can only imagine the splendour of the gardens in glorious colour. More of our Morris tour to follow.......