Broughton Manor and Warwick Castle

Hello all!

I'm really excited about this post because I get to share so many amazing photos of Broughton Manor and Warwick Castle with you! Also, you'll get to see my wedding photo! Haha! I'll explain later.

For now, you should just know that visiting these two places made for one of the most amazing days of my life! Our group got a tour of Broughton Manor, which is a large and gorgeous house that has been owned by the same family for the last 600 years. There is a ton of history there, and it's still a private home, owned by Lord and Lady Sayre. Needless to say, I felt like Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice when she tours Pemberley. It was so cool!

Here are some photos of the manor:

This is the steeple of their private chapel, which is still used a few times a year.

More of the chapel and part of the cemetery which is on the grounds. Since the house was built in the Medieval Period, I can only imagine how old some of the graves are. Kinda cool, kinda creepy!

See that water? Can you guess what it is? Yes, it's a moat! Every house needs one!

Broughton Manor!! It's so awesome!

What? Doesn't everyone have a room in their house where they store all of their armor and weaponry from the English Civil War in the 1600s?

Just some stuff from the Middle Ages. No big deal.

This is the corridor in the house. The colors are gorgeous! And it's really long because back in the day, they would walk up and down the corridor for exercise when it rained, prohibiting them from walking outside.

Some of the super-expensive and super-beautiful trinkets in the corridor!

There were many beautiful alcoves off the corridor, like this one.

This is a portrait of Jane Austen's mother's cousin, who was an intimate friend of the owners of the manor. Jane Austen and her mom used to visit the house. Yes, that means that I was standing in some of the same rooms that Jane Austen used to stand in!

Photos of the Queen's Bedroom. This is the bed that Queen Anne slept in when she visited the manor! That's her portrait above the fireplace.

The most magnificent part of every room was definitely the fireplace. And this last room is where they shot some of the latest Jane Eyre film, which will come out soon. Judy Dench was in this room!!

Chairs from the coronation of the current queen and her coronation clothes!

Canonballs that were found in the moat from when the house was under attack. They keep these in The Room that Hath No Ears, named because you can't hear anything going on in that room if all the doors are closed. This house was against the king during the civil war, and this is the room where they discussed what they were going to do concerning the war. This would have been considered high treason!

Really ornate entry into the room, and an antique harp!

Beautiful view of the English countryside from the roof of the manor!
After visiting Broughton Manor, we went to Warwick Castle, which used to be the home of the Earl of Warwick, but is now owned by Madame Tussauds. It's way more touristy than Broughton Manor, and my camera died soon after we got there. So I only have a few photos.

My girlfriends and I had a great time at the castle! We climbed to the top of the towers, where the views were incredible! We even got to see sheep! Then we got a tour of the main hall of the castle by a guy who was dressed up as the last Earl of Warwick. It was really cool! He gave us all the history of the house, even the secret and haunted history!

And now...the photo you've all been waiting for...my wedding photo!!

The man/knight whose arm and hand/sword I am holding is my husband! Can you believe it!! I'm sorry to all of you who wanted to come to my wedding, but how could I pass up being married to a knight in a castle?!?

Ok, here's what happened: We had seen and talked to these three guys while we were wandering around the castle. They were all very nice. The one with the spear even made fun of me a little. Then we saw them all together standing by the exit when we were leaving, and we asked to take a picture with them. Now, whenever you get pictures with the men in costume, they always offer you their arm. It enhances the medieval experience. So when we went to take this last picture, I instinctively took his arm. At the second I took his arm, he said, "Do you want to hold my sword? Oh, my arm!" So then, I put my hand on his sword, but his hand was on the sword too. Then he said, "Oh, my arm and my hand! Now, you're my wife!" His name is Chris, and though this photo doesn't show it, believe me. He's REALLY handsome!!! And without giving you all the particulars of the conversation, I will tell you that we've decided to honeymoon in Spain!

So let's recap: I had a great day visiting an English manor and a castle, and by the end of it, I got myself a husband! And not an ordinary husband, a knight! And we got married in a CASTLE! Haha! But seriously, it was an amazing day! I am so blessed to have all of these experiences!

I hope all of you are enjoying my photos and their explanations/stories!
Love and miss you all!