Change of direction.

Sunday 9th October 2016 - Hanbury Church, near Droitwich Spa.

Our overnight location may have given you a clue about the 'change of direction'.  We had looked at the weather forecast for the next few days and decided that East Anglia looked overcast and showery whilst the middle west of England looked brighter and drier.  By 9am we were on the road travelling west.  Who says we can't make a decision!

We passed Cambridge and Northampton but didn't stop till we got to Royal Leamimgton Spa.  I had never been and was quite impressed.  It had the appearance of affluence, especially compared to Not so Great Yarmouth!  The river Leam and its park areas were nice and all the shopping streets were bustling on a pleasant Sunday afternoon and the people only had ten fingers and toes!

The Royal Pump and Spa was now a library and museum.  The museum was free and very interesting.  It told the story of the towns era of affluence during the 1820's to1850's when royalty frequented the town and took the 'medicinal' waters.  The town lost popularity when mass tourism started to favour seaside resorts like Great Yarmouth.

Interesting story about the boxer Randolf Turpin (from Leamington) who defeated Sugar Ray Robinson in 1951.  Don't know if the hat had anything to do with anything but I couldn't resist trying it on.

We managed a cream tea at a vintage tea shop.

We had no definitive destination planned but thought we would wild camp somewhere near Worcester or Droitwich Spa.  We wanted to visit Hanbury Hall tomorrow near Droitwich Spa.It's another Vernon hall and just happens to be owned by the National Trust.  Around 5pm we found the Hall and then set out to find a place to wild camp.  Lo and behold, we saw a sign for Hanbury Church, we drove up and found a nice car park, no restrictions and.....even better....no evensong tonight.

We will have a look in the church tomorrow and the hall and see if we can unearth any more Vernon facts.....I know you want to know!