Dare you enter the fairy ring?

 Hello m' wishing ribbons,

Wishing Ribbon Tree
 

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. 

Enys Garden

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

 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.

hollowed out tree magic
Creatures hiding in hollowed out trees
 
giant dandellion sculpture
 
Giant dandelions scattering their seeds, beyond a bed of purple floating pom poms (Verbena bonariensis) -

giant dandellion garden

Close up of wire metal construct

 
Giant Toadstools made from woven willow -

sculpted willow toadstools
 
A safe look out point ... 
 
look out hut

... but beware, you are being watched too! and the fairy folk might just come down and land -

fairy hunt
fairy in mossy garden
fairy houses in tree
stealth tree fairy
fairy by reflective pool

There are other creatures to be wary of too -

deer stag antlered willow sculptures

 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.

Enys House fairy trail
 
The three story wing is the old servant quarters. I like to tell the kids that this is the most haunted part. Of course I haven't perfected the actual story yet. These long con hauntings take time.
 
Enys house servant quarters

back of Enys house

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.
 
RUST-KAMER Dutch Rest Room
Rust Kamer (Rest Room)
 
 Looking in the history room (old stables) it seems the dutch cadets, who had escaped the Nazi occupation of Holland,  formed fond memories of their time staying at Enys.
 
Dutch navy cadets
 SOURCE: History Room, Enys Garden

This Triumph No. 5 Roadster bicycle was found in a sorry state in one of the outbuildings and lovingly restored by Ben Evans from the Tearooms. It is likely to be one of 15,000 service cycles used as transport by the Royal Dutch Navy. Apparently, it is ridden round the estate from time to time.
 
Triumph no. 5 bicycle
 
Looks like one of the gardeners found this love heart shaped tile (or soap dish?) in the grounds recently -
 
garden treasures

Back in the History Room, there is a fine collection of found plant labels -

found old plant labels

 

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!


When I've restocked on tea and biscuits, I am going to have a jolly good catch up on blog reading. What are you up to ?


Lulu xXx

For those of you that used to get email alerts when a new blog entry was posted ... 
Google Feedburner have now stopped this service.
Please bookmark my blog and bear with me until I find a new service.
(I wonder if any of my blogger friends can recommend one?)
 
 
Thank you for visiting :) 
You may like these other related posts -
Faces in the Trees (Enys Garden)



Comments

  1. Ellie Foster21 August 2021 at 09:24

    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.
    Thanks for taking us along!
    Best wishes
    Ellie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lulu25 August 2021 at 03:24

      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

      Delete
  2. Elderberry-Rob21 August 2021 at 09:41

    cor that's an enchanted little place and those fairies aren't shy. Would love to spend a night there creeping about that house too.....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lulu25 August 2021 at 03:25

      Some 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

      Delete
  3. Cherie21 August 2021 at 11:56

    Those willow sculptures are enchanting.. I need to master the art of willow weaving.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lulu25 August 2021 at 03:28

      Me too Cherie! Very tidy willow weaving. I might have a go at a 'looser' rendition of a toadstool.... Lulu xXx

      Delete
  4. Winter Peach Photography22 August 2021 at 01:32

    Hi 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

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lulu25 August 2021 at 03:32

      Those 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

      Delete
  5. Riverside Hermit 22 August 2021 at 01:57

    Thanks for showing us round - this looks right up my alley: faded gradueur, beautiful gardens, managed decline, care, fun, and a lil mystery!

    I 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!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lulu25 August 2021 at 03:38

      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

      Delete
  6. bahnwärterin22 August 2021 at 08:13

    what dramatic stories about enys......
    thankfully 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

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lulu25 August 2021 at 03:47

      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

      Delete
  7. Mike Perry22 August 2021 at 10:01

    What 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.'
    You 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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lulu25 August 2021 at 03:54

      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

      Delete
  8. Vix23 August 2021 at 02:52

    What 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.
    Loved 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

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lulu25 August 2021 at 04:04

      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

      Delete
  9. Ivana Split23 August 2021 at 07:47

    What beautiful instalations in the gardens ...so magical. I especially liked the fairies.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lulu25 August 2021 at 04:05

      Thank for joining us on a fairy hunt Ivana :) Hope you are well. Lulu xXx

      Delete
  10. Flowerpot25 August 2021 at 06:27

    I 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

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lulu28 August 2021 at 08:42

      Oh 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

      Delete
  11. Kezzie29 August 2021 at 14:34

    Oh what a wonderful place! I LOVE how thy have constructed the fairies! They are so beautiful! Thank you for sharing them!

    ReplyDelete

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