Day Four, May 18 - Who's your great-granddaddy now?

Colin is super early today but we are ready for him. The attractions in Britain don’t usually open until 11 so even if you have some distance to travel there is no point in leaving at the crack of dawn…a concept that is difficult for Tom to accept.

We are hitting one of the items on my wish list – a visit to Farleigh Hungerford, my 18^th great-grandfather and grandmother’s castle. Colin is using his Garmin today. It was hopeless in Reading so I say a little prayer that today will be a better day for Garmie and Colin’s partnership. 

Success! We find the castle but are about 20 minutes early so we take a drive. Tom and I have been fascinated by the fields filled with intensely yellow flowers. The days have been a little gloomy and the cheerful yellow flowers are a very welcome sight. Colin used to be a farmer so he knows all about Rape Seed plants. We stop by a field, get out so I can take pictures and Colin hops the fence to pick a stem for Tom to study…I told you…like My Favorite Martian…We drive back to the castle through the impossibly small town of Farleigh-Hungerford – literally 3 houses – and arrive at the castle just as they are taking down the chain.

The Hungerfords bought the property in 1369 and built the castle. Walter Hungerford enlarged the castle in the 15^th century by adding the outer court which enclosed the Parish church. Walter was a very successful guy – 1^st Baron Hungerford, Knight of the Garter, member House of Commons and became Speaker, Admiral, peer, High Sheriff of Wiltshire, executor of Henry V’s will. He married Catharine Peverell first (my ancestor) and when Catharine died, Eleanor Berkely.

We thoroughly enjoy wandering around the grounds and Tom does a great job on the very uneven surface.  The text boards are well done and are informative. We learn about later Hungerfords – scandal wives locked up in towers, fortunes lost, raids by the government, titles lost.

Next stop Salisbury Cathedral! Walter and Catharine are buried there!  They are buried by the main altar. Very cool.

 Back to Bath and a quick change. Colin takes me to the American Museum in Bath then returns to pick up Tom.  I tour Claverton Manor, a part of the museum containing rooms decorated with American decorative arts, to see painting by Michael Hunt, Winterthur licensee. There is a brief reception at 5:30 and then at 6 I speak about Winterthur to a group of 80 people. It seems to go well.

Back to the Royal Crescent for dinner with Rosemary and Michael Hunt. Great fun! Time for bed…