September put to bed. Such a great summer with back-to-back weddings and staycations. No hitches, or none we care to mention.  It’s been a blast and we’ve loved it all, from rock n’ roll to dreamy weddings, family reunions to naughty hen parties. We are very pleased with our new office in the old billiard room opposite Butley Abbey Farmhouse, now up and running. The Farmhouse is pretty much booked up until Christmas; the Priory still has some free days. It’s very cosy and atmospheric in the autumn and winter: log fires in the Great Hall, Drawing Room and the exquisite Pilgrims bar.  We have big plans for the grounds and garden, landscaping and replanting. 

Autumn to do, musings and wish list

Priory – inside

Sumptuous new sofas, cream or grey? Umm….impractical colour…. nothing else quite works with our white interiors. Tricky. Need to be light in weight for moving in and out of the Great Hall.

Embroidered towelling dressing gowns for wedding guests. Ordered.

Outside:

Priory garden, new terrace – under the shady Portuguese laurel. Urgent. Replace bell gate (underway).

New turf for the back of the garden behind the metal cherry and rose arch. Garden seats for back corners of garden, wrought iron? (Use existing one from front of Priory?).

East kitchen garden – wrought iron (or rattan – more comfortable, leaning towards rattan).

Four large and beautiful terracotta pots (or move existing round terracotta pots to kitchen area and replace terrace pots). Need to go to Italy with truck! Plant them up for the Autumn – winter pansies?

Need to change plants 3/4 annually

Front of priory

60 Hidcote lavender plants for gravel.  

Replace Lutyens bench top of grass walk, which has been eaten by ants.

Two new 3-seater benches for gravel.

Butley Abbey Farmhouse

Outside Rattan corner sofas and table set.

Fire pit (ordered). Where best to place it?  

Repair wall opposite farmhouse and replant flowerbed. Lavender, Verbena and white Gaura, swirling butterflies – they like our sandy soil. New garden gate beyond rose garden.

Replant fruit orchard (bearing in mind it would be the perfect location for a swimming pool…..). Plant more specimen trees in the garden: magnolia’s galore, amelanchier, Judas tree, forest pansy, prunus, strawberry tree, mulberry, weeping purple acer – spring and autumn colour. More fun than shopping for clothes.

Inside farmhouse – pretty perfect, touch up some bathroom paint.

 Butley Priory Office

Pots for outside new Butley Priory office. Sorted. Blue pots with dusky pink hydrangeas, shades of the Caribbean next to our green doors.

Meadow behind Priory – landscaped, Brian and Adrian in hot demand; we are waiting patiently.  New trees: oak, copper beech, cherry, crab apple and Jacquemonti silver birch.  Estate metal tree guards to keep the munch jack at bay. Ancient Priory arch and flint walls repaired and ivy stripped off. Clear monks’ fishpond area of debris, plant more willows.

BP office sign – urgent! Office blinds (west facing, sunlight blinding) and extra large rug (ordered). Move the piano from the Priory to the office? Staff want larger fridge.

We are going to be busy.