It may come as a shock that Barnsley has two of the countries finest stately homes and one of the best gardens in the country

The houses were built by two factions of one family trying to outdo each other for much of the early part of the eighteenth Century (1710-1750 approx). This involved great houses, mausoleums, strange pyramids and best of all enormous obelisks shaped like single fingers pointing up to the sky. These were erected on the boundaries of the two landowners land but were built so they could be seen from the neighbours house.

I may post photos if anyone is interested.

Last Sunday we went to Stainborough and the following are a few photos of the castle that was built as a folly in the 1720's. The Earl built four small towers one for each of his 4 children. It is really an early playhouse built on the site of an iron age fort.

The gardens are really spectacular at this time of year and I have posted a few photos to give a general flavour of the place. Well worth a visit.Gardens 1ViewWindow viewGardens 1Look out

Mind the dragon. It bites. Its tail forms the handrail all the way down the stairs!