Big Yellow Crane’s little brother arrives

Photo: Brown family collection

Stabilising scaffolding on one of the chimneys. Photo credit: Su Hurrell

It’s been a hive of activity this week at Betley Court. The Big Yellow Crane has been replaced by a slightly less big yellow crane and an orange digger. This time they parked up in the courtyard at the front of the house. It was great fun stopping traffic to maneuver them in. Oh, the power vested by the wearing of hi-viz and a hard hat!

Slightly less big yellow crane, towering over Betley Court. Photo credit: Nigel Brown

The slightly less big crane was brought in to take down three more internal walls towards the front of the house. Whilst its depressing to see more walls coming down, it’s the first step to building them up again, and absolutely necessary. Some of the charred remains of massive oak beams have been removed too. They were hanging from walls, having been burnt through in the middle. Not only was there the threat that they fall without warning, but the strain of them pulling on the walls might also make things worse.

Orange digger, outside on the forecourt. Photo credit: Nigel Brown

Elsewhere, the garden is slowing down for winter. The light levels change down in the woods as all the deciduous trees lose their leaves. I came across some photos dating from the 1970’s, when the Browns bought Betley Court. As luck would have it, one family photo album we’d borrowed from Betley Court survived the fire simply because we hadn’t remembered to return it. It was made by the Professor’s mother-in-law, Annie Bowyer, from photos sent to her by her daughter, Freda. Images were from family celebrations and holidays, gummed onto the sugar paper pages with infinite care, along with newspaper articles and greetings cards. On one page there are a trio of black and white photographs, possibly from an estate agent’s brochure, with a newspaper clipping of the advertisement of the sale of Betley Court.

The borders looking nice and orderly. Photographer unknown, Brown family collection

The three photos show how the garden looked forty years ago. Perhaps surprisingly, as the house had been vacant for thirteen years by 1978, they show neatly mowed lawns and maintained borders.

View of the house from the south facing lawns, neatly mown. Photographer unknown, c. 1979.                                        Brown family collection

The story goes that even although the Squire, and following his passing his widow no longer lived at the Court, they continued to employ their Head Gardener, Percy Muliner to keep everything tidy. I know little about him, although I understand he opened a small market garden in a disused quarry just along Main Road (some bungalows occupy the site now). Mr Muliner is buried in the graveyard at St Margaret’s Church in the village.

Betley Court, when the Browns bought it. Note the absence of railing! This image pre-dates the Brown's restoration of the railings, removed during World War Two for the war effort. Unknown photographer c. 1979. Brown family collection.

Its lovely to have one photo album left, and we are lucky that Annie Bowyer took such care to curate these images for us. What a brilliant piece of luck!

All best wishes

Ladybird Su