Inside voices please

Today saw our return to Wightwick Manor unfortunately the day was very cold and overcast so we were pleased we had taken the opportunity to photograph it on Saturday. The train was an uneventful trip which was a nice change and meant we could catch the bus to the Manor. We boarded the bus with a chap who was on his way to the next village for his standard Wednesday drinks and he chatted with us to our stop and made sure we got out at the correct spot. A bracing walk up to the Manor - 2 degrees - and we decided to do the 11 o'clock tour as general admission didn't start till 12. Just for a change we were easily 20 years younger than anyone else on the tour. Our guide was no Lillian and talked about some odd aspects of the house. He waxed lyrical about the fact they have the 2nd largest collection of Pre Raphs and then pretty much ignored them in each room. The house is stunning but has a very comfortable feel we could happily move in! At 12 the tour abruptly finished almost mid room so we were left to free flow through the house. At this point our guide chatted to us for the first time and discovered we were there mainly for the Pre Raphs. Unfortunately free flow has a very foreign meaning so what actually happens is a volunteer follows you round the room telling you things not quite what we were hoping. The house lived up to expectations Burne Jones Love Amongst the Ruins was a total highlight as they have the oil version.

After an long trip round the house a cup of tea was desperately needed. Post this was the gallery in the old Malt house which features part of the De Morgan foundation collection featuring ceramic work by William and painting by his wife Evelyn. Was great to finally see some of her work. We then headed back into the house for a final look round where once again the volunteers were over zealous. One of them was very good and shared our passion but the man who took our tour chatted loudly with another volunteer while we were still in the same room -'they are Pre Raphaelite nuts like this is a bad thing??? After the final walk through we caught the bus back to the Station and found the same chap from the morning on it he couldn't believe we had spent so much time there.