Dare you enter the fairy ring?
Hello m' wishing ribbons,
My Cornish bird neighbour told me no one used to dare trespass on the old Enys Estate for fear of being shot. One cold December, whilst walking round the edge of the woods, heavily pregnant and skint, she pulled off a thick pine branch, seeing its potential as an alternate Christmas tree. This she attempted to drag back home, but would drop it each time she heard a car approaching.
When her midwife passed by chance and repeatedly insisted to give her a lift, she felt she had no option other than openly admit the woody heist. At this point, I can't remember whether the midwife helped with the smuggled operation or looked the other way. The former would make for a funnier story: the image of a midwife in old fashioned uniform and a heavily pregnant woman shadily bundling half a pine tree into a tiny car.
Luckily, these days the Enys Estate opens its gates and warmly welcomes us naughty commoner folk. The gardens are said to be the oldest in Cornwall. 'Enys' comes from the celtic word for circle / island / clearing in the forest. The family have been here since 1272 (the year Edward 'Longshanks' the 1st became king of England). This summer there's a trail of wicker fairies and creatures to follow, and a wishing tree to seek out.
Fairy Maypole, Enys Gardens
According to celtic folklore, any human who enters a fairy ring will be forced to dance with the creatures until they go mad or collapse with exhaustion.
... but beware, you are being watched too! and the fairy folk might just come down and land -
There are other creatures to be wary of too -
The handsome, rot ridden house that stands here today was completed by 1836. It is the third version to be built on the Enys estate; the foundations to the first house lost somewhere in the grounds, the second house burnt down to the ground.
Behind the house, more outbuildings can be found, including the derelict 'RUST KAMER' - dutch for Rest Room. This harks back to when Enys was requisitioned by the war office during the second world war and used as a training center for the Royal Netherlands Naval College. Peeping through the broken window I could see a large bowl of marbles (could this game have been a past time of theirs?) , an old brown leather suitcase (I'd love to know what's inside) and stacks of wood.
There's much more to tell about Enys, including the interesting story of the New Zealand garden, but that'll have to wait. I am absolutely gasping for a cuppa, and you may be too!
What a fabulous and magical place, with or without visits by the fairies. My husband would love to be poking about in the house and outbuildings... I love the giant dandelion sculpture too.
ReplyDeleteThanks for taking us along!
Best wishes
Ellie
Thank you Ellie :) It is the first time we have seen fairies there. Wouldn't it be fun having outbuildings to rummage through ?! Lulu xXx
Deletecor that's an enchanted little place and those fairies aren't shy. Would love to spend a night there creeping about that house too.....
ReplyDeleteSome of them were outrageously brazen Betty. You are brave! The thought of camping out in a big old house for the night terrifies me :0 Lulu xXx
DeleteThose willow sculptures are enchanting.. I need to master the art of willow weaving.
ReplyDeleteMe too Cherie! Very tidy willow weaving. I might have a go at a 'looser' rendition of a toadstool.... Lulu xXx
DeleteHi Lulu, What an enchanting place! I need to pay a visit some time. That dandelion seed sculpture is a thing of beauty - so exquisite! The garden’s occupants have reminded me of the Cottingley fairy photographs taken by the two young girls in 1917. Loving the long con ghost story. It’ll be worth the effort I’m sure. xxx
ReplyDeleteThose Cottingley fairy photos had me convinced when I was a wee sprog Claire! Enys is very special. Thank you, I need to get to work on that ghost story ;) Lulu xXx
DeleteThanks for showing us round - this looks right up my alley: faded gradueur, beautiful gardens, managed decline, care, fun, and a lil mystery!
ReplyDeleteI use an RSS aggregator to keep up with all the blogs I sub to. Personally I love The Old Reader. I was surprised to see that so many folk were reading blogs via email when Feedburner was discontinued!
Hello and a very warm welcome Riverside Hermit, great to cyber meet you :) Managed decline, great phrase, yes you have that spot on! I am a bit confused by Feedburner's announcement that the email service would cease mid August, as I still got an email alert (have my own email registered to test it) :0 Thank you so much for the recommendation. Lulu xXx
Deletewhat dramatic stories about enys......
ReplyDeletethankfully its peaceful there now!
love all the fairy sculptures and the giant dandelions too - and how your little ones fitting right into the scenery <3
by reading "rust kamer" and that cadets lived there i thought it meant "rüstkammer" which is an old german word for a room where weapons are stored...........
enjoy your tea and biscuits! i have hot chocolate today :-D
xxxxx
Thank you Beate :) How interesting about the old german "rüstkammer". I got my Dutch translation from t' internet but I'm thinking now I may have to ask real person from Holland :0 One translation did hint at 'changing room' or 'through room'...Sadly I couldn't find anything about that particular building in the History Room. I very much hope you enjoyed your hot chocolate. Lulu xXx
DeleteWhat a magical place, I have never visited the Enys Estate, so must put this on my list, I'd enjoy walking there. Loved the story about your 'Cornish bird neighbour.'
ReplyDeleteYou asked 'What are you up to ?' My highlight today has been visiting my son's house, who is on holiday, and feeding my grandchildren's rabbits - Bernard and Precious - and also feeding Poppy their black cat who misses them all so much when they are away. They took their dog, Max, with them, a red fox retriever.
All good wishes.
My naughty Cornish neighbours (there's a few of them) have some great stories Mike! Always good fun to have a natter with them. Bernard and Precious!... brilliant rabbit names :) Hope you and the fury gang have a good week. Lulu xXx
DeleteWhat a fabolous place! I'd move into that house straight away, it's just the kind of elegantly wasted abode I love. The 'shrooms, fairies and maypoles must have utterly captivated your little 'uns.
ReplyDeleteLoved the story of your thieving neighbour. I got barred from a pub from helping nick the Xmas tree many years ago in my mispent 30s!
No tea and biscuits for moi, I'm off to meet an old blog friend for a pint in Spoons - eeek! xxx
Oh to have a whole Estate of land and ruined grand house to waft around Vix! I think the roofing bill might bring me out in a bit of a sweat though. It is a good job Monsieur didn't come ... maypoles terrify him. Haha, what a way to get barred from a pub! I think trying to steal a pub Christmas tree is a rite of passage. Well, Spoons should be safe from you at this time of year at least ;) Lulu xXx
DeleteWhat beautiful instalations in the gardens ...so magical. I especially liked the fairies.
ReplyDeleteThank for joining us on a fairy hunt Ivana :) Hope you are well. Lulu xXx
DeleteI haven't been to Enys for a while but may go next week. We sang there one summer evening and it was fabulous - must do so again! X
ReplyDeleteOh lovely Sue! My brother has been to a few outdoor Miracle Theatre shows there, and the string quartet night too. The fairy trail is full of noisy little folk until 12 midday, so the afternoons may be more relaxing. Lulu xXx
DeleteOh what a wonderful place! I LOVE how thy have constructed the fairies! They are so beautiful! Thank you for sharing them!
ReplyDelete