It sounded like a terrific clap of thunder, followed by a rolling rumble. Then when it fell quiet a look outside presented her with this sight in the garden.
Behind the house at the top of the garden an old rock wall stood. It is the remains of the estate that once thrived around 200 years ago. The walls were over 8 feet in height and used to keep roaming deer within the deer park. But time is taking it's toll on these beautiful structures as they fall into disrepair.
Many just fall gently apart, gradually diminishing in size until all that exists is a pile of rocks. Others go out spectacularly, such as this one.
Men working for the estate came in and cleared the rocks from out of the garden, piling them back up behind the original position.
The wall will not be rebuilt, nobody can afford the cost of labour to rebuild a traditional rock wall. It takes skill and knowledge and lots of time and it's all very costly. So yet another small part of local history crumbles away.
The garden especially just under the wall is in a bit of a sorry state. The bed contained many lovely David Austin roses. Some will rejuvenate with the careful pruning I gave them along with plenty of organic feed.
Others though will not make it and will need replacing. Amazingly the Box hedge border sprang back from the battering it had and is none the worse for wear.
The Box hedge (Buxus sempervirens) recovered from this abuse.
