The Court

Ten days ago, back to Hampton Court Palace for our second visit of the summer last week. Our previous visit, noticed at reference 1, having been slightly disturbed by the affair of the Queen's reading room.

An easy run from Epsom, in the course of which we noticed that the Marquis of Granby at the Isles of Scilly roundabout was boarded up. A place I have been vaguely thinking of trying for lunch for ages, but it seems that I have left it too late. And while I think of it, still no movement at what was the Wetherspoons at the junction of the A3 and Hook Road. Blighted by site or blocked by the heritage gang making unreasonable demands, or at least, unprofitable demands? Listed chimneys, in the way of Battersea Power Station, where they had to demolish then rebuild them?

Wilding of the front lawn looking well on our arrival.

As were the hydrangeas bordering the rose garden, on the way to the Tilt Yard cafeteria. Quite different format from the informal, woodland setting of those at the Ventnor Botanic Garden, some of which were snapped at reference 2.

Followed up by fine nasturtiums and chard, only slightly marred by the tiresomely long-life outdoor art. Never managed to do much with nasturtiums myself, despite liking them and despite having the occasional go with them on the allotment.

Some rather splendid pots, with my being particularly struck by the Eucomis bicolour in the middle. Google Images, fed a cropped version of the snap above, adding the common name of pineapple lily, from southern Africa. See reference 3. Maybe we should try to give it a go.

We did give a chocolate brownie from the Tilt Yard cafeteria a go, and one of them was quite enough for two. Bit heavy going for my taste: bit too much like a cake version of a Mars Bar.

A heritage hothouse, with some rather tired looking vegetables being sold in the margins. From the days when both labour and coal were cheap. I wonder how long it is since it was used? What was it used for? The supply of fancy flowers to decorate the grace and favour flats?

The east terrace was looking well, including the border which runs under the tennis court. While one of the fancy beds is snapped above.

Had a good time in the Cumberland gallery, small but not much visited, and the Canaletto sequence of the Grand Canal. The lower tier were just at the right height for the rollator, so I could indulge myself sitting down. I also took in the Gainsborough nymphs, not very well reproduced at reference 4. Quite possibly the same as the image above from the Royal Collection trust, turned up by Google Images.

Interestingly, while the image turned up by Google Images using the image at reference 4 in pole position was the right one, the others offered were mostly paintings of the same genre, but different ones, some very different. I did not get a whole lot of different reproductions of the right picture.

Thought to take lunch in the Tilt Yard, but taking a look found it rather full and rather noisy, the ceiling seeming to amplify the voices of children - and decided to wander across to the Mute Swan across the road, where we have done well enough in the past. Fairly full on this occasion, but they found us a table inside and downstairs - rather than exiling us to the dining room upstairs, which would have been a bit quiet.

We learned that it was not part of the Mitre Hotel operation, although they would probably like it to be. And I was reminded that despite the branding, mute swans are not black at all. Common or garden white swans. All this while the Dorking Brewery - which I had not heard of before - was delivering to the Mitre Hotel.

My started involved more cheese than I was expecting, but it was rather good just the same.

Braised shoulder of lamb also good, and someone had gone so far as to include a bit of shoulder bone. I would only say that if I was to have it again, I would ask for the yellow goo - probably some kind of squash - to be replaced with extra greens - which last were good, but one could have done with more of them.

Rather let down by their lemon meringue tart. I suspected that the meringue had been squeezed out of a tube and touched up under the grill. Not the real thing at all. BH took most of the sorbet which I find a bit sweet. On the other hand, they did have Calvados and they did have quite a good wine list, had we been in a more alcoholic mood.

Service was good and was probably provided by students rather than school leavers. We had been before and I dare say we will go again.

The odd blackberry from the prime corner site by the station, for which there is now planning permission, but where there is still no action.

Passed a cyclist on the way home who preferred to clutter up the carriageway rather than use the cycle track provided. One of the many. I know when I cycled more than I do now, I was not keen on cycle tracks, which were usually a lot less convenient than the carriageway - but I did switch in the end. Public spirit ruled!

References

Reference 1: https://psmv5.blogspot.com/2024/06/festival.html.

Reference 2: https://psmv5.blogspot.com/2024/08/botanics.html.

Reference 3: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eucomis_bicolor.

Reference 4: https://psmv3.blogspot.com/2016/02/diana.html.