Who's there?

The mansion in Stroud's Stratford Park, spookily overshadowed by the tree in front. It's now part of the Museum in the Park, and no longer boarded up, as it was so distressingly on my sister TMLHereandThere's first visit to Stroud in the 1990s.

From a local website: ·
"Stratford Mansion (Grade II listed): Situated in the centre of Stratford Park, Stratford Park Mansion originates from the 17th Century. It was altered by a local clothier, Giles Gardiner, in 1674, then significantly re-modelled by its owner Nathaniel Winchcombe in the late 18th Century to form a neo-Classical country house. It is thought that the remodelling was undertaken by the well-known architect, Anthony Keck. In recent years the house has been further altered and refurbished with the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund to create a new home for the District’s Museum Service, called the Museum in the Park. An extension was added as part of these works.

· The Walled Garden (unlisted): Attached to the Mansion is typical of those found at many large houses or farmhouses throughout England, being used to feed the family, and also as a symbol of status for the clothier who owned the building. It is one of a limited number that survive in the Stroud area. The Walls of the Garden are listed Grade II".

I had a meeting at college at 3pm, so stayed at work until after 2, then took myself to Tesco's to get some lunch, which I ate in the park, right by the tree where I took this shot. It had rained heavily, but the ground where I sat was still dry.

We are very fortunate to have, in a town the size of Stroud, such a green and pleasant park, with its own lake, pond, arboretum and miniature railway (now operated intermittently). There's also a museum, a cafe attached to the Leisure centre, two playgrounds, a bowling greeen, a skate park, tennis courts, a bandstand, and the local frisbee golf guys have portable targets that they bring along regularly.

Back at home, I ate supper and suppressed the urge to fall asleep. I have another meeting to set off for, in five minutes' time. Best get my head down early tonight, I think.