8/28/2019 Moreton Family House

8/28/2019 Woore with Kate and Russ

Today, Kate and Russ and I went to the Black and White House, home of the  Moreton Family.  It is definitely a wonky, half-timber manor house built about 1504 by William Moreton.  Various family members added on to the house until about 1610.  There is a moat around the house because they thought it would help stabilize the building, but the moat did not help.   Perhaps, it was just a status symbol.  The Moreton Family was very proud of their wealth and flaunted it with the extensive use of glass and by adding on to the building.    After owning the house for 450 years, the family transferred ownership to the National Trust.

The reason the building is so wonky is the weight of the stones on the roof and it is built on soft ground.  Family members tried to shore up the buildings and the National Trust has worked to improve stability.  The top level is the wonkiest, because the top story was not built on the walls below.  The narrow jutting part to the left of the entrance is an attached outhouse with the waste dropping into the moat.  Perhaps that is why they drank beer, it was safer than the water.

After this house, we went to a phone store and discovered that my phone which was not working yesterday was working today.  I can make unlimited calls and send texts in Europe and I have lots of data.  We had a lovely visit with Kate’s sister Janet and her husband Brian and enjoyed a great dinner at a local pub.  Kate helped me make some decisions about tours that I needed to select and fine tuned my plan to get to Highclere Castle.  It was a rainy day, but very enjoyable.  Heading to Liverpool tomorrow. 

The top level is the wonkiest, because the top story was not built on the walls below.  The narrow jutting part to the left of the entrance is an attached outhouse with the waste dropping into the moat.  Perhaps that is why they drank beer, it was safer than the water...

 

Manicured gardens behind the house.



Note the thickness of the stones.


After this house, we went to a phone store and discovered that my phone which was not working yesterday was working today.  I can make unlimited calls and send texts in Europe and I have lots of data.

We had a lovely visit with Kate’s sister Janet and her husband Brian and enjoyed a great dinner at a local pub.  Kate helped me make some decisions about tours that I needed to select and fine tuned my plan to get to Highclere Castle.  It was a rainy day, but very enjoyable.  Heading to Liverpool tomorrow. 

Carvings near the entrance to impress the guests.

Original wood panels.

This is not carved stone.  It is delicate lime plaster strengthened with animal hair and created on a wooden frame.

Drink the beer, the water could kill you.  The manor had its own brewery.  Men, women and children all drank beer.

Some members of the house were very superstitious.  Over 200 burn marks throughout the house indicate they were trying to keep the evil spirits out.

 
This was my lunch at the house, soup and a huge serving of bread.


The Courtyard in the center of the house.

This was a rare find during the remodeling, original wallpaper.  Around the top is a Bible story.