Back in time...

Someplace I (did or should have) mentioned that the real focus of our tour was not food, but to visit places in England that were important to the Calvert family and Lords Baltimore who founded St. Mary’s City and the colony of Maryland.  So after that first breakfast in Salisbury we set out for the small town of Tisbury and its church which contains the tomb of Anne Arundell.  She was the wife of Cecil Calvert, son of the original Lord Baltimore (George Calvert) who obtained the charter for the colony in Maryland.  Strangely enough, neither of them ever visited it.

Anyway, Tisbury Church was a pretty place

Being a lady of high rank, Anne was entombed inside the church, in a place of honor, to the right of the altar (Dr. Miller is seen taking a picture of it)

It was a lovely marker with loving words.. 

Note the crest of the Calvert and Arundell families indicating the marriage.  Cecil never remarried and apparently had a great reverence for his wife.  When we arrived at the church their morning service was in progress, and after that was when we were able to view the site.  Several of the parishioners stayed around to chat with us, and in fact they invited us to the nearby hall for tea.  Lovely people.

Continuing in Arundell territory we next visited the 14^th century Waldour Castle, home of the Arundell's since the mid 16^th century.  It was destroyed in the English civil war, and has an interesting (and nasty) history, but we won’t go through it here, it’s confusing.. but most of the structure still stands in mute witness to history

 

Here we were joined by a current Arundell,

 

 

who explained the history and invited us inside.  It is hard for us to imagine life in such a structure, on such a grand scale.

Anyway, to time jump a bit we visited the current so-called New Waldour Castle, more of a manor house than castle, but they are restoring a beautiful Catholic chapel

Following that we adjourned to the current home of the Arundells, Hook Manor which was built in the 17^th century and occupied by Cecil and Anne (Arundell) Calvert. 

(I think the jeep belongs to Cecil)

We had a lovely luncheon (with wine) of sandwiches

 

 

and toured the interior of the home.  An interesting story was that when renovations were taking place, they removed a false ceiling in a parlor room and discovered a wonderful plaster ceiling.  And on impressed on the ceiling they found

Initials of Cecil Calvert and Anne Arundell, plus in each of the four corners were reliefs of ships

Which are believed to be the Ark and the Dove that brought the colonists to the New World.  After a pleasant lunch our hosts were presented with bottles of Maryland wine (including one from grapes from Jubilee Farm)

 

 

We also thanked the original lady of the house

 

Then back on the bus to the return to Salisbury, and dinner on our own which better wait for the next edition.. 

DFD

 

Extra:  in England, the name "Arundell" is not as we pronounce it:  "A-run-dul"; but more properly "aaron - dell"..