Hard graft, an arm and a leg and having your card marked.

Let's see, Tatton Hall.

Once again we opted for the guided tour. I can safely say that the guided tours at the heritage sites we have visited have all been worth while. Free or otherwise. The Tatton Hall one was particularly good. An old chap of suitably British demeanor and deportment lead us around the old Georgian mansion in a timely manner.

The house was built by a commoner who rose to fortune and fame after winning a case in court against Queen Elizabeth the first. The queen was heard to say of Samuel Egerton, "I do not wish to meet this man under these circumstances again". She then gave him a job as the Queens counsel and he continued to be her lawyer for many years.

The place is great and we wandered the stat rooms , family residences and servents quarters for a few hours soaking up the differences between them crying out on occasion, "oh, ów the uvva árf live"

We did learn the origins of three phrases though.

"Cost an arm and a leg" this comes from commisioning portraits. Should you wish to have a full length portrait which included arms and legs it would cost considerably more than just the top half. Hence , costing an arm and a leg.

"Your card has been marked"  Upon arriving at a stately home you would present yourself to the butler and proffer up your caling card on his platter. The card would be taken to the Lord or Lady in residence who would decide if they wanted to receive you. If they didn't they would put a little mark on your card and the butler would return it to you and without a word you would leave. Woe unto you if your card was marked three times.

My favorite originated during the building of the Manchester Ship Canal. The workers spent much of their time digging with a grafting tool. This was hard work. Hence the term Hard Graft. You can see a picture of a graft in the image below. It looks like a shovel , but you can see it obviously isn't. The graft is the one in the middle with the long blade.

I never took much notice of Tatton hall during school trips , perhaps that's for the best really. Had I misspent myyouth by learning things Tatton Hall wouldn't be the interesting place it is today. Well that's my excuse and I'm clinging to it.

I am a fair bit behind in my blogging so here is a quick catch up.

Monday - Pick up car and drive to Banbury to see a fine lady upon a white horse and Nicola's Grandma Beryl. More of that later. We stopped at Warwick castle and had a pint in a pub.

Tuesday - Drive to Stone Henge then Bath to see the Roman Baths and then back to Banbury with rings on my fingers and bells on her toes.

Wednesday - Blenheim palace in the morning and then back oop north to Blackpool for more donkey hunting.

Thursday - Nottingham, Robin Hood? Sherwood Forest? NOPE , Warhammer World :) Exciting. Yay, Bugmans Brewery and nerdiness. Nicola went to Hardwick Manor and then back up to Blackpool.

Friday - Back down to Manchester after visiting the John Ditchfield glass blowing foundry, to visit the Museum of Science and Industry.

I will endeavor to get up to date as soon as possible.
Meanwhile , I have updated the slideshow for your delectation.

Ok, it is time to go to the pub, again, Nicola seems to have taken a shine to going to the pub.

Here is a picture especially for Peter :)