Lewtrenchard Manor & Church - Fancy Lunch in the home of Famous Composer Sabine Baring-Gould

[@bobbyxhilone9224]

Such a very, VERY interesting video, Dara!! Wow. You put it together so well (as you always do!), even slipping in "Onward Christian Soldiers" as some of the background music. Nice touch! Your voice is always so nicely "modulated" in the background too, doing your comments, and hopefully this offsets so much of our bad American reputation as a bunch of loud-mouths. You and Ian give us a much better rep. It was interesting, during your comments as well as the vicar's, how often the terms priest, parson, vicar, and reverend were sort of used interchangeably. And lastly, I had to inwardly smile when, at the end, you pointed out that the older husband outlived the much-younger wife -- and I thought yeah, well, after having 15 kids, maybe she was just a bit more weary than he was!! Thanks again for a wonderful Friday visit, Dara.

[@mauricecasey5556]

As a Brit I would say you don't have a bad reputation at all, we ignore the load mouths and look for the treasure of which there is plenty. ;-)

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Thanks for your kind words. This video was a BEAR to put together... took so much longer than usual. So I appreciate any praise more than you know! Yes, I work so hard at not being a loud-mouthed American KZbinr when I'm in public. Because in private I am pretty high volume! haha Yes, I learned SO MUCH that day about vicars. You can use the words priest or parson for the vicar... and their "title" is Reverend (you'll not he corrected me when I called Sabine Baring-Gould "Mr."). Rev. Conway was the most lovely and kind and friendly man. We sat and talked for a very long time, and even helped him prepare for services the next day! As for the Baring-Goulds... what fascinating people! I didn't want to turn the video into a documentary about them, but they are quite amazing. She had 15 children, only one died, but then it appears she kind of "adopted" another daughter from one of the servants. And because her husband was off writing 1240 published works, writing and translating hymns, transcribing folk songs, doing archeological digs and being a VICAR... I'm not sure he was much help with all those kiddos! I guess that is what the staff did! Plus they refurbished the house... all those beautiful paintings of the virtues I believe came from his work. And one of his daughters painted the "screen" (the panel wall full of intricate carvings and paintings) in the church nextdoor. Anyway, thanks for watching and leaving your lovely comment! Love you!

[@cogidubnus1953]

@@MagentaOtterTravels For what it's worth I feel this is one of the very best videos you've put together...in turn interesting, haunting, fascinating, very revealing of the great affection you clearly feel for the location and it's people...and yes this very cynical old Englishman did feel the tears pricking at the very end. Thank you. Dave

[@ians3586]

Agree, I think she did a great job. She's definitely passionate about the subject matter. It would have been a bit more "haunting" if we'd known to include the story from @Lorraine Quinn.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@mauricecasey5556 very kind of you to say!

[@88KeystoCure]

Amazing that Sabine did all that! Composing beautiful music AND raising 15 children!!! YOu did such a great job explaining and showing the history and art work of this place!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Thanks for watching! Yes, SBG was a fascinating man. Did you notice the old piano?

[@ruthgoebel723]

What an interesting video! I have learned something about Rev. Baring-Gould. Onward Christian Soldiers is one of my favorite hymns and it was so nice to see his home. How special to get to talk to the estate vicar! Oh, I cannot forget that delicious food you told us about.......!!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Isn't it fun to learn about the life of someone who wrote a hymn we are so familiar with? So fascinating to find out about his life and explore his lovely home and church. ❤ And yes, I loved the food... the restaurant is amazing there!

[@michael_177]

incredible videos. im always amazed how much i still learn each day about my own country?! So much history

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

So sweet of you to say! We absolutely loved making this video. The people at Lewtrenchard were wonderful, from the staff that allowed us to do drone photography to the vicar who kindly sat and spoke to us for an hour! 💕

[@TravelTourTaste]

Hello my friend hope you are well. Sorry we haven't been able to visit you for a while we were in Bulgaria then Malta were we got stuck due to Covid and flights we're cancelled. But great to catch up with you again. Loving the history of the place. Amazing footage, gentle music that works. This is so professionally done. Thanks so much for taking us along with you on this adventure. Stay safe and catch up again real soon God bless you both.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Thanks so much! Stay safe and be well 💕

[@susanriddle8114]

Wow! So much beautiful footage and interesting facts!! Thank you for putting all that together and sharing it!! I loved every bit of it!!❤️🌟😘

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Thanks, friend! This video was a labour of love, for sure!

[@The_Brit_Girls]

Wonderful drone footage! You and Ian look so "posh!" Definitely at home there! The architecture is so detailed and gorgeous and the gardens are stunning. Ooh, the inside is absolutely stunning too! Such a beautiful English country house. Wow - the food is so beautifully presented! The Hound of The Baskervilles is my favorite Sherlock Holmes story! Meticulously researched and beautifully presented!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Thanks so much! I think we both had VERY complex editing jobs this week!😉

[@Brillbrits]

Fascinating & gorgeous!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Thanks so much for watching! This video was certainly a labour of love! ❤

[@MadameMinima]

The only words appropriated to this manor are GORGEOUS, STUNNING AND AMAZING!!! You have been so lucky to have lunch there and I envy you. And what a courteous vicar, for having taken the time to answer your questions and being filmed. Did you promise him some chocolate too??

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Haha, no chocolate was promised! The vicar was incredibly kind and friendly. We talked to him for a long time, and even helped him prepare for services the next day! The lunch was amazing. The last time I was there I had spring pea risotto, and I loved that too!

[@MadameMinima]

@@MagentaOtterTravels Oh that sounds yummy too!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@MadameMinima it was 😋

[@RichardWells1]

Great drone footage! Superb interview with the parish priest, and such interesting background! Excellent editing. Thank you! :-)

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Thank you so much! Ian did a great job with the drone piloting on that one! The editing and research just about killed me on this video, but I did think it was all so interesting!!! I loved the vicar, he was such a kind man. And it was fascinating to learn all the history and connections behind that lovely house where we went only because it was pretty and had nice food ;-)

[@ianjohnboy]

oh just wanted to say i watched again your cheese shop vlog,with cheese wizard isaak,again today,was great to note that you returned at a later time with ian to sample stuff too,you both do so much for the uk in promoting it,i salute you both and looking forward to more of your adventures.

[@ians3586]

That was an interesting experience. The smell of that shop was overpowering at first but began to grow on me once we were there for awhile. Still, I'm not quite the cheesehead Dara is.

[@ianjohnboy]

@@ians3586 lol i bet it was ,its a shame dara took poorly after buying all the cheeseboard cheese and crackers for your family and friends afternoon tasting,im not a great cheese fan i maybe have 5 that i like and they basically your everday cheeses lol

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Thanks so much! Very kind of you to say ☺️

[@ianjohnboy]

@@MagentaOtterTravels your more than welcome.

[@wencireone]

It was well worth your extra editing skills 👏🙂👍

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

THANK YOU!!! It's nice to have the long days and late nights appreciated ;-)

[@sueannemetz1285]

I can’t wait to watch this!!!!

[@archiebald4717]

Lovely video. Beef cheeks are also excellent, they make a wonderful and low cost stew. For a very small country, the UK has so much to offer.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Yes for sure! We come every summer and spend months exploring... still seems like we've barely scratched the surface!

[@mauricecasey5556]

Peaceful video to start the weekend, thank you. ;-)

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Thanks so much, Maurice! I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@JohnandCaraRetiredTravellers]

What a beautiful video! I love your narration, I felt as if I was watching the history channel! Excellent job!! New subscribers here! 😊

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Welcome, new friends! Honestly, I felt like I was editing a history channel documentary when I did this video! It was a bear! I’m glad all my videos don’t require so much research!! 😳😬

[@FunandBudget]

Wow...that drone footage makes it look so unreal.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

You need to use your drone, friend! Ian did an awesome job capturing views of the places we went 💕

[@MissAnglophilia]

What a stunning place!!! Paradise on earth! You look lovely in that dress! (I've got a magenta dress in my collection, I should have given it to you before your journey!) ;)

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

We had so much fun visiting there! Haha, the dress photo was from 2 years ago. Thank you, but there is NO WAY I would fit into one of your dresses. Perhaps you should wear the magenta dress and a lovely hat when we go to tea in England together one day!! #collab

[@gillianhill4757]

That’s a really lovely video!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Thank you so much! I appreciate you watching and commenting!

[@jfergs.3302]

Fascinating, so much history in such a little, and relatively out of the way place. And another great day out for yourselves. The house, grounds, meal, and the church all looked beautiful. I loved the Conan Doyle connection too, I'm a huge Sherlock Holmes fan. It's been too long since I was down that way. I usually stay more over East Devon way, but you're definitely inspiring me to see more of the other side of the county. Cheers.

[@ians3586]

Devon really is a county that has it all. Later in this trip we spent several days on the North Devon coast (Exmoor), an area we hadn't really explored before and it was the highlight of our trip. We really enjoy finding gems that are off the beaten path.

[@jfergs.3302]

@@ians3586 Aye, there's something for everyone in Devon. Looking forward to the next installment.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

LOL... if you go, tell 'em "Magenta Otter" sent you! haha Yes, I enjoyed the Sherlock Holmes connection too! So much history and interesting details!

[@jfergs.3302]

@@MagentaOtterTravels And, if you've not been, there's still the east. Exmouth, Budleigh Salterton (Hilary Mantel has a little place here, where she wrote her historic Wolf Hall trilogy), Sidmouth, and a very small fishing village called Beer. Differing in sizes, but all with a lot of charm.

[@ians3586]

@@jfergs.3302 I do know that area well. My grandparents lived in Colyford for many years and Sidmouth is one of our favourite towns. On the other side of the Coly Valley is the Rousdon (barely in Dorset) estate where we stayed at one of the best B&B's we've ever experienced. Unfortunately it's no longer a going concern. Despite visiting the area many times, I know there's still a lot we haven't seen.

[@wencireone]

I've often been past the area on the A30 going to Launceston and even been to the near by Dingles Fairground Heritage Centre, but never knew about Lewtrenchard. 🔎🌍👍

[@ians3586]

It's funny. The more you dig the more you find. I didn't realize, until last night, that there's yet another manor house a stone's throw away called Coombe Trenchard. It's a beautiful arts and crafts house that is used as a wedding venue and was owned by friends of the Baring-Goulds.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

It's a gem tucked away in that little village ❤

[@wencireone]

@@ians3586 so many places to go, so little time to do them👍

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@wencireone that is why we come to the UK every year... even though I know many friends who think that's crazy!

[@wencireone]

@@MagentaOtterTravels you're not crazy, everyone likes somewhere, why not the UK, you no where I would go if I had the money 👍

[@NewCastleIndiana]

My first pig cheek exposure. Which drone do you have?

[@ians3586]

DJI Mavic Air that I bought second hand off of eBay. Great for the price but definitely has it's limitations. It has been a lot of fun to fly.

[@tonywilkinson6895]

Hello again Dara and Ian ,as a squaddie in 1983 I spent time in okehampton battle camp.Because I was younger I paid no interest of such places,thanks.👍🏻

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

But now you are older and wiser and would hopefully appreciate a visit! haha

[@BakkerfeelingAdventures]

After reading your comment, i had to see this one! 😄Knowing now the work that went into it i will see it from another perspective. 👍

[@BakkerfeelingAdventures]

What a beautiful place! ❤️ Really nice. Beautiful floor to at the entry too, never seen such thing before. Of course the magenta flowers needed to be recorded! 😄

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

You know how hard it is behind the scenes! ;-)

[@BakkerfeelingAdventures]

Interesting food, really nicely presented too. Nice side info. 👍15 children? No thanks! 😅 Beautiful tour though, really nicely done. 😄

[@BakkerfeelingAdventures]

Love the story tell too. Very nicely done and complete vlog, awesome place, beautiful footage and well edited. 😉👍❤️

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@BakkerfeelingAdventures Thanks so much!

[@glastonbury4304]

Love the way you whisper when in the gardens as if you're in a library 😂😂....so funny

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

And churches! Yes, it is crazy. I subconciously try to not be a loud, tall American KZbinr (how obnoxious is that?!) and start whispering when I'm around other people! haha

[@glastonbury4304]

@@MagentaOtterTravels I think on the whole Americans being loud is s bit of a myth, ever been on holiday with a group of Germans, boy are they loud, also the British are pretty loud, especially on Spanish Beaches 🤣🤣

[@ImaneDesigner]

peaceful, lovely video

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Thanks Imane!😘

[@joepollard9476]

I was very interested in Baring-Gould. At some point he was vicar of Horbury, a small town in West Yorkshire (a few minutes drive from our house). On the town name sign is the inscription, Horbury, home of Onward Christian Soldiers. In recent years there was also a street named Sabine Baring-Gould Way.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

That’s very curious.. West Yorkshire is a good distance from Devon! Apparently he received his training in West Yorkshire and met his future wife in the area… and was curate in Horbury. How interesting!

[@Andy_U]

Hiya. I would have gotten the name of the house right if I'd said, but I believe you knew that. Has the Manor seen this video, has Visit Devon, has whoever it is in America that organises trips to the UK? I've said it before, you should show your stuff to the proper people and maybe make some 'dosh'! Your productions (for that's what they are) are so good (a British understatement). Stay safe. All the best to you.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

I knew you had the right place in mind! ;-) Glad you enjoyed the video! I am working on making sure the vicar sees this (he took my business card, but hasn't emailed me yet. The Manor said they were subscribing, so hopefully they will see it! I will email them and ensure. And YES, I am going to work on reaching out to some Devon organisations about my collection of videos to share them! Thanks for the support and advice!

[@ians3586]

Being a tour guide for people coming over from the US would be my dream job. We acted as tour guides for friends in 2018 and 2019 and we were supposed to do it again on this 2020 trip but, of course, circumstances made it not possible.

[@Andy_U]

@@ians3586 - If not using your vids to promote others, perhaps MOT could become another Rabbie's Tours, for example? Or are you thinking bigger? Lol.

[@ians3586]

@@Andy_U I don't think Rabbie's Tours has anything to worry about when it comes to competition. Lol.

[@chrisaskin6144]

The Rhubarb Triangle referred to on those jars, is an area in West Yorkshire roughly between Wakefield, Morley and Rothwell. Growers in that area - of which there are now only a handful - are famed for growing "forced" rhubarb. It's called forced rhubarb because it is tricked into growing 'out of season'. They do so by growing it in long sheds, which are virtually pitch black save for the odd candle. If you remain totally quiet, you can even hear it growing - you can hear the occasional strange squeak or groaning sound. Rhubarb is actually a vegetable even though its normally stewed with sugar and becomes quite mushy. A rhubarb crumble with custard is one of life's pleasures. As a child back in the 60s, my mother used to make cones out of greaseproof paper, put some sugar in the bottom, cut a rhubarb stalk in three and give one each to me and my two sisters, we'd dip the end in sugar and bite it off. Sometimes the sugar would be mixed with some Cadbury's cocoa powder. Nostalgia.....

[@ians3586]

Wow. I'd love to be in one of those sheds hearing the rhubarb grow. I would imagine they do grow quite fast since the plants seem to get quite large.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Oh my word!!!! That is an amazing tale... you can HEAR the rhubarb growing?!?! Does it squeak like an otter? I DEARLY LOVE rhubarb crumble... was disappointed to not get any on our trip in September. In 2021 we are definitely going to Yorkshire, and I shall now look out for rhubarb whilst I'm there. Yum! Growing up in Illinois, we had rhubarb in our back garden. I would eat the raw stalks dipped in sugar too (no Cadbury's I'm afraid)! We also always talked about how the leaves were poisonous, haha! Thanks for the walk down memory lane, Chris!

[@chrisaskin6144]

@@MagentaOtterTravels If you eat too much rhubarb it can lead to getting kidney stones. Apparently rhubarb is high in oxalic acid which contributes to getting kidney stones - which supposedly are very painful. You know what they say - everything in moderation.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@chrisaskin6144 The fact that rhubarb is so severely sour certainly kept me from eating too terribly much of it! 😆

[@TravelTourTaste]

Would love to visit there one day, not too far from us, we are in Dorset. Xx

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

The village of Trent is in Dorset! If you watch that part of the video, you’ll know what I’m talking about😉

[@ianpark1805]

What a great video! I knew of the Rev. Baring-Gould and his exploits, not least because of his composing ‘Onward Christian soldiers’ and having the Christian name ‘Sabine’, not a common name even in his time I would have thought! I think I read about him in a collection of essays by John Betjeman (but don’t quote me, I need to check!).

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

He was a rather eccentric man, but I am astonished at all the things he accomplished in his life! Any one of them (1200+ published works, transcribing all the folk songs, writing two well-loved hymns, translating Christmas hymns, refurbishing a 200 year old house into a place of grandeur, conducting archeological digs, parenting 15 CHILDREN!)... would have been an impressive legacy!! Let us know if you learn anything else fascinating about him 😉

[@ianpark1805]

@@MagentaOtterTravels I shall consult with Betjeman - never a bad idea!

[@glastonbury4304]

Wonderful video 💕

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Thanks for sticking through it! It is a longer video, but it's one of my favourites because I learned so much from that friendly vicar AND I loved discovering the history of the house we had fallen in love with years before AND Ian's drone footage was so lovely!

[@chrisward8323]

Onward christian solders was one of the hymns we sang at school in morning assembly. Mind you it was 50 years ago

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Yes, it's a classic! Good song for the morning... very energetic!

[@ians3586]

It's actually still current for us. We sing it pretty regularly in church.... well that is when we used to meet in church.

[@jillhobson6128]

@@MagentaOtterTravels You obviously won't know "Lloyd George Knew My Father" sung to the tune of "Onward Christian Soldiers" !

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@jillhobson6128 haha no I don’t know that one!

[@jillhobson6128]

@@MagentaOtterTravels Lloyd George knew my father, Father knew Lloyd George, Lloyd George knew my father, Father knew Lloyd George etc! Lloyd George was a Liberal Prime minister from 1916

[@wencireone]

Did you get to look around the bed rooms ?, they look very nice on website 👍

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

No, we didn't. We went for a one hour lunch and spent 5 hours on the estate/church grounds! LOL

[@ians3586]

Unfortunately not. It was outside our budget on this trip but hopefully someday a stay there will make it on our itinerary.

[@maryandrews4097]

You might be amused to hear these anecdotes about Baring Gould. Apparently, one day on encountering one of his daughters on the stairs at Lewtrenchard, he asked her who she was!! She replied, "I am yours Papa". Having 14 children and, given the remoteness of Victorian fathers from the everyday lives of their offspring, I suppose this is forgiveable. One of the reasons that he was such a prolific writer was, although relatively well off, he needed the income; he spent an enormous amount in restoring his house and church. It also meant that his children had to pretty much fend for themselves when it came to higher education and a career. My mother was taken to a garden fete at Lewtrenchard by her aunt with whom she lived as a child and could remember the Rev. Baring-Gould. Unfortunately, as part of the entertainment, there was a hobby horse (?from Padstow), these rather strange folk icons can behave in a rather threatening manner and my mother, at the best of times, a nervous child, was petrified and created quite a scene and was hauled off home with a very disgruntled aunt in disgrace. I have been to two wedding receptions at Lewtrenchard, one in the private dining room and one in the ballroom. Both were lovely occasions.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Thank you so much for your comment! It is lovely to hear from someone who knows Lewtrenchard so well! Your poor mum... and aunt! haha How lucky you are to have been to wedding receptions at the house. I'd love to have one of my sons get married there! Funny that he made loads of money from writing. My mum was a published author and she barely made any money... even though she had award winning books. Times were different back then! But I'm sad to hear that he was not a more attentive father. I know times were VERY different when it came to parenting and the role of fathers. I'm happy that is one thing that has changed ;-) Cheers! XX Dara

[@britainonabudget]

I’m in love 😍

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

With whom?! I hope not the vicar... he's happily married to a doctor who works for the NHS (bless her heart)!

[@britainonabudget]

@@MagentaOtterTravels Haha! No, the house!

[@wencireone]

@@britainonabudget your going to have to raise your budget for this treat 🙂👍

[@britainonabudget]

@@wencireone Haha! Exactly! When I win the lottery and can change my channel name to Britain with Bags of Money 😆😆😆

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

😂😂😂@@britainonabudget OK, that channel name made me LOL out loud (Monk reference, in case you didn't know.... frequently quoted in our home).

[@wencireone]

I would hope most people have heard 'Onward Christian Soldiers' 🙏👍

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

I definitely had!

[@ians3586]

It's definitely well known here in the US.

[@ruthgoebel723]

It was my favorite when I was little and I still love it!

[@lizbignell7813]

That is a very elegant dress in the beginning, Dara. Didn’t they have it in magenta?

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Haha, good observation! That photo was from 2 years ago... before I had a MOT KZbin channel and had to be "on brand" all the time! But actually, I wore a navy shirt to this lunch... one of the two shirts I brought on the trip that was NOT magenta! LOL

[@cogidubnus1953]

@@MagentaOtterTravels Good lady, pray stray "off brand" whenever it pleases you...I'm sure Ian won't mind me remarking that your particular radiance shines through whatever you choose!

[@wencireone]

Oddly enough on there website there is a review by an Ian, coincidental or not🤔

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Well, Ian is a common name in the UK... I think Ian probably has reviewed Lewtrenchard on TripAdvisor, but I don't think their website?

[@ians3586]

I had no idea. I did do a TripAdvisor review a couple of years ago but didn't know that had made it to their website. I'll have to take a look.

[@jjsmallpiece9234]

Looks like the original Cluedo manor house.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Oh yeah! It certainly would be a very fun house for a murder mystery party!

[@glastonbury4304]

Ever watched Father Ted 😂😂

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

No, but I've scene Father Brown... AND I visited the village where it was filmed this summer! AND interviewed the village idiot (his lable, not mine!)... video forthcoming ;-)

[@glastonbury4304]

@@MagentaOtterTravels Father Ted was written for British TV , however it's about 3 Irish Priests that have been sent an island and very funny ☺️

[@weston6860]

rhubarb rhubarb

[@ianjohnboy]

im suprised ya mam n dad like rhubarb,well maybe not so much ya dad ,i thought most americans had never heard or seen rhubarb let alone eat it lol,anyhow great family, great vid,all the best from uk.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

I love your "proof of viewing" comments! LOL

[@ians3586]

I actually prefer my rhubarb as an addition to something else, like rhubarb-apple or rhubarb-blackberry. I think rhubarb rhubarb would be a little overpowering.

[@ianjohnboy]

@@ians3586 lol you could be right ian lol,i do enjoy making a nice rhubarb crumble from time to time with devonshire custard of course.

[@ians3586]

@@ianjohnboy good except I'd want it with devonshire cream and, of course, some sort of berry combination to tone down the rhubarb.