7th May 2010. We joined the National Trust, in order to visit some of the incredible range of historic sites, houses and other properties they administer for the good of the nation, and of its population. Located on the Bridgnorth road, a few miles from my home town of Wolverhampton, it must be one of the most recent buildings in the National Trust, for it was only built circa 1887 and extended a few years later. There is an extensive outcrop of sandstone that runs across this part of the Midlands, and the shot above, which runs up one side of the Wightwick Manor site, is a bit of it.

Essentially, this magnificent house (and its grounds) is a late 19th century re-creation of something hundreds of years older, though it occupies the site of a genuine ancient manor house, parts of which were sympathetically preserved. It was built by Theodore Mander, a prosperous paint manufacturer who became, almost inevitably, an important person in politics; but who alas, died only in middle age.

It is ornamented within by many treasures from the mid- and late 19th Century, including paintings by the Pre-Raphaelites and their followers; wallpapers and carpets by William Morris; tiles & ceramics by William de Morgan, and most recently, a whole bulding housing part of the William and Evelyn de Morgan Foundation Collection. But find out much more at: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-wightwickmanor . This house has a remarkable atmosphere: warm, friendly, welcoming, relaxed. I dare say much of this is due to the dedicated volunteers who conduct us around it and so carefully explain & answer our questions; but I also think that this really is a ‘good spirit’ place in its own right. It’s one of my favourite NT properties, and have taken several visitors there, all of whom have adored the place.