This week’s excursion to the south starts with a train to Waterloo, then the ‘Guildford not express’ through Wimbledon (not The Championships although they have just started), Surbiton and various villages. After we collect our hire car from Guildford we set off for Leith Hill Place along winding lanes and through dark green forest overhanging the narrow roads.

Thanks to the heads up from the English Folk Dance and Song Society at Cecil Sharp House (who I follow on Facebook) for the news that Ralph Vaughan William’s family home is a recent National Trust featured estate. Note the fact there is no separate article in Wikipedia for the house – just a redirection to Leith Hill, so perhaps there is an opening for a Wikimedian in Residence to work in this great place.

It is an amazing privilege to be playing Down Ampney from RVW’s English Hymnal at the piano in his drawing room.

The Vaughan Williams soundscape starts with too much talking in the sections about his early life, but the final rooms rely on his music and snippets from letters and is very moving. Particularly so while looking out over the beautiful landscape while listening. I make a mental note to look out for his stone in The Abbey when we get there next weekend. The tour finishes with cheese scones for lunch from the kitchen.

After some more driving we arrive at Sissinghurst Castle Farmhouse in time for a late afternoon tea on the lawn and a quick orientation of the garden and first glimpse of the White Garden during late opening.

Then we walk into The Milk House in Sissinghurst village for lovely dinner and home dodging the bunnies running across our path.